Their vintage-look, special details, but also their sturdiness and feel make them ideal to become focal components in your jewels.
Today, I bring you the first of two tutorials with Table Cut beads.
By following the Dragonfly Coin earrings instructions, you’ll create a minimised square stitch bezel around a round bead, and the Flat Drop will seemingly float bellow it – while staying steadily in place thanks to the hidden part preventing it from turning.
Prepare your beads, and create your first earring in no time! The stitches are easy, you need only a handful of beads, yet, the result is eye-catching!
This is what you need for a motif / pair:
FPD – 1/2x 9×20 mm fire-polished drop
DC – 1/2x 17×17 mm Dragonfly Coin Table Cut bead
DROP – 1/2x 12×18 mm Table Cut Flat Drop
BIC3 – 2/4x 3 mm Preciosa bicone beads
SD – 1/2x 2.5×5 mm SuperDuo
R15A and R15B – 15/0 Miyuki round seed beads
R11 – 11/0 Miyuki round seed beads
C11 – 11/0 Miyuki Delica
Pick up (2) C11 + DC + (2) C11.
Bead back through the DC.
Bead through the first (2) C11 one more time.
Repeat the thread path.
Pick up (20) C11.
Bead through the (2) C11 on the opposite side.
Pick up (2) C11.
Bead through the first (2) C11.
Repeat the thread path.
Add C11 beads with square stitch one by one all around the motif.
If you need help with square stitch, download the gift tutorial about square stitch bezels!
Turn to the opposite direction and bead through all the C11 added in the previous step to join them into a circle.
Repeat the thread path at least once.
Finish by beading through the first pair of C11 that you picked up at the beginning of step 1.
The second row of C11 will sit exactly above the first row.
This is how your motif should look like from the front (and back :D).
Pick up DROP + SD.
Bead back through the second hole of SD.
Bead back through the DROP.
Bead through the pair of C11 that you picked up at the beginning of step 1.
Repeat the thread path.
Bead down through DROP + SD.
Pick up R15A + R11 + DROP + R15A.
Bead back through DROP + R11.
Pick up R15A.
Bead through the second hole of SD + DROP + (2) C11.
Pick up (3) R15A + (10) C11 + (2) R15A.
Bead through both holes of SD (down and up again towards the DC).
Pick up (1) R15A.
Bead back through (1) R15A + (10) C11 + (1) R15A.
Pick up (2) R15A.
Bead through (2) C11.
Strengthen the motif by beading down through (3) R15A + (10) C11 + (2) R15A + SD + R15A + R11 + DROP + R15A.
Bead up through DROP + R11 + R15A + SD + (2) R15A + (10) C11 + (3) R15A + (2) C11.
Bead up to the top of the DC.
After crossing the (2) C11 added in step 1 attach (1) new C11 to them with two square stitches.
Finish by beading through the new C11.
Attach the new C11 to the pair of C11 beads in the other circle of C11 beads, too.
Finish by beading through the new C11.
Attach the earstud with R15A beadsd, depending on the orientation of the loop.
Look into the ‘How to join beaded motifs and components‘ article if you need help!
Finish by beading through the C11.
Pick up BIC3 + R15B.
Bead back through C11.
Pick up BIC3 + R15B.
Bead back through C11.
Reinforce the thread path.
Secure and trim all thread ends.
Bead another earring to complete the pair!
Do you feel inspired by Table Cut beads?
Article on the Beadingschool Blog: How to use Table Cut beads
Zuzi’s Joni tutorial
Erika’s Dreaming pendant – coming, stay tuned!
I love these Erika! I can’t wait to try them! I love dragonflies. I remember being very afraid of them as a child because they were so big. I have come to appreciate their beauty and love to watch them. These have brightened my day. Thank you!