Beautiful Majorelle blue crescent beads that came with the newest Beadingschool Academy box were calling Zuzi to use them in her first design – a beaded bead! The name of the design comes from a city in Morocco, called ‘Blue Pearl’ – Chefchaouen, or Chaouen [SHAH-wehn]. This city has a long tradition of handicrafts and arts what we’re reminded by this little beaded bead.
Chaouen beaded bead tutorial
Inspired by various kinds of cacti, Zuzi recreated the signature rounded form. Each of the crescent beads created the texture, with the little herringbone embellishment on the top that looks like a flower.
You can make a simple variation without the extra seed beads above the beaded bead and following tutorial provides you with steps for both options!
You can download the tutorial as a pdf from here.
Happy beading!
This is what you need for one beaded bead:
CR – 3×10 mm Crescent Bead (8pcs)
BIC4 – 4 mm Preciosa bicone bead (2pcs)
R15A and R15B – 15/0 Miyuki round seed beads
R11 – 11/0 Miyuki round seed beads
C11 – 11/0 Miyuki Delica
Pick up (8) CR and (8) R11 interchangeably.
Join them into a circle with CR creating a rounded ball-shape.
You can bead through all beads one more time to strengthen the connection and tie a knot.
Bead through the second CR for the second time and exit from its open hole.
Add (1) R11 between every CR.
Pass through CR and the first R11 added in this step to exit.
Your motif formed a little ball you can hold between your thumb and index finger.
At this stage is the motif a bit wobbly. It will get sturdier in next steps.
*Exiting from R11, pick up (1) C11 and pass to the upper R11.
Bead back through C11 + R11 + CR + R11.
Repeat from * 7 times all around the motif.
Turn the motif upside down as you’re exiting from R11.
*Pick up R15A + (2) R15B + R15A.
Bead back through (2) R15B + R15A. Pass through R11 + CR + R11 according to the illustration.
Repeat from * 7 times all around the motif.
TIP from Zuzi: You don’t need to bead back and forth between top and bottom side of the motif. Turn it upside down in your hand to continue in your beadwork 😉
Navigate from R11 to the top R15A.
*Pass through next R15A.
Pick up R15B and bead to R15A.
Repeat from * 3 times all around the motif.
Bead through (2) R15A + R15B to exit.
NOTE: You can finish this side of the bead by passing through the newly added R15B, or continue with little embellishment using the herringbone stitch in next steps.
You’re working with herringbone stitch in following Steps 6-9.
Exiting from R15B, *pick up (2) R15A and bead through the next R15B.
Repeat from * 3 more times.
Exit from the first R15A you added in this step.
Exiting from R15A, *pick up (2) R15A and bead through the (2) R15A from previous step.
Repeat from * 3 more times.
Exit from the first R15A you added in this step.
Exiting from R15A, *pick up R15B and bead through the next (4) R15A.
Repeat from * 3 more times.
Exit from the first R15B you added in this step.
You don’t add beads in this step.
Navigate from the top R15B down through (2) R15A + R15B + R15A + (2) R15B + R15A + R11 + both holes of CR to R11 as shown on the picture.
Turn the motif upside down, you’re exiting from R11.
*Pick up (4) R15B .
Bead back through (3) R15B. Pass through R11 + CR + R11.
Repeat from * 7 times all around the motif.
Navigate from R11 to the top R15B.
*Pass through next R15B.
Pick up R15A and bead to R15B.
Repeat from * 3 times all around the motif.
Finish by beading through the newly added (4) R14A, tie knot and trim.
Use the headpin or eye-pin with (2) BIC4 from each side to secure your beaded bead.
Create loop with round-tip pliers.
Add the components as desired to finish your jewel.
This beaded bead can be also stringed into a bracelet or necklace. You can use it to decorate larger jewel or to connect different motifs together.
Katalin Dudas says
Such a cute piece, thank you Zuzi! I will bead them and let them shine but also use them as complementary motifs, teaming up with other designs.
Cindy Smith says
It is a gorgeous Design Suzi. I absolutely love it. So pretty. 💘💖💕😘🌹💞
Antoinette Murphy says
Unbelievable,what a great design in first two minutes of reading this post I was thinking all the beautiful bracelets and necklaces something really different I love your design zuzi thank you so much for everything 😊 ❤️.