Orion Earrings – Photo Tutorial
Orion earrings were designed by Zuzi Hake for The Beadingschool by Erika Sándor.
The main inspiration for this design came from Erika’s second Beadinschool Academy Box – Starry Night that has all the components for this motif. It also brings you another example of using the star-shaped WibeDuo beads in your jewelry, to create the atmosphere of the night sky.
Why Orion? Zuzi says:
Orion is one of the most obvious and recognizable constellations in the sky. It is visible only during winter time on the nothern hemisphere (I’m located in Slovakia) so I watch and seek it everytime the sky is clear and I happen to be outside in the evening. The centre of the motif is a star created with GemDuo beads, all Preciosa sew-on rhinestones shines through and Wibeduo beads are connected by Miyuki Slender Bugle beads like in a real map of the night sky.
Orion design is very versatile, you can make:
- earrings,
- connect more elements into a necklace or bracelet,
- sew the element into the filigree base to make a brooch.
For one pair of earrings you need:
GD – 8 pcs GemDuo beads
WD – 8pcs WibeDuo beads
BUG -16pcs 6mm Miyuki Slender Bugle beads
RS – 8pcs 4mm Preciosa Sew-on Rhinestones
C11 – 11/0 Miyuki seed beads
R15 – 15/0 Miyuki seed beads 2 colors (A, B)
You can decorate the earring on the bottom with different beads. I used:
R11 – 11/0 Miyuki seed beads
P4 – 2 pcs 4mm Round Glass pearl
DROP – 2pcs Preciosa Pear pearl
Would you like to get a bunch of free beading tutorials?
1.
Work with a comfortable length of thread. Pick R15A + GD, repeat 3 more times. Join them into a circle by beading through
the beads one more time. Leave a 10-12 cm / 5-6 inch tail. You can tie a knot, the center of your motif will be formed into a little dome depending on the tension.
Bead through the first GD one more time.
2.
Exiting GDs bottom hole, pass with the needle to the upper hole (same GD bead).
3.
Add groups of R15B + WB + R15B between the GD, beading through the upper holes of the GD beads. Retrace the thread path one more time to strengthen the motif.
4.
Exiting from R15B, pick up (5) C11 and bead back to upper hole of GD. Then pass through 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th C11, creating a picot. The point will be formed as you pull the thread. Bead through R15B +WD + R15B. Repeat this step all around the motif and exit from the first picot of C11.
5.
Exiting from the middle of the first picot, pick RS + C11. Bead back to RS and the C11 in the picot from the other direction. Navigate through beads to the next picot and repeat all around the motif.
6.
After adding the last RS, bead through to the nearest WD. Pass with the thread to its upper hole – this will also change the direction of your thread path. Pick up R15B + BUG + R15B and bead through the C11 above RS. Pick up R15B + BUG + R15B again and bead to the upper hole of WD. Repeat all around the motif.
7.
Exiting from R15B add a picot of (3) R15A above each C11. Pass through R15B + BUG + R15B + WD + R15B + BUG + R15B. Repeat adding the R15A picot all around the motif.
8.
Exiting from the middle R15A in the picot, you can add a drop. I used leftover beads and the Preciosa Nacre pear-shaped drop.
Pick R15A + R11 + P4 + R15A + DROP + (3) R15A. Bead back to DROP and retrace the thread path to the center bead in the picot, beading in opposite direction.
9.
Pass through beads all around the motif to the opposite side to DROP. Exiting from the center of the R15A picot, pick (2) R15A + Earhook + (2) R15A. Repeat the thread path 2 more times. Pass through beads on the side of the motif, tying several knots to secure the motif and component. Make the second earring 🙂
Congratulations, your Orion is finished!
Inspiration:
The motif itself is pretty quick to make and doesn’t need too many beads. You can create a single motif from your leftover beads and attach it to the filigree brooch base. Or you can go further and connect several motifs into a necklace or a bracelet, connecting it with crystal beads, bezelled rivolis, or square stitch bezel.
Thanks for sharing this lovely pattern — well designed and clear to follow.
Love these! I just happen to have all the beads to make these and can’t wait to work on them. Thank you for sharing your design!
Adorable! Definitely on my ToDo list!!!
Thanks a zillion, Dear Zuzi!
I’m very happy you like it, Kata! You’re welcome and enjoy!
Wow! They’re beautiful and look so light and airy!
Thank you, Robina!
Love it!