| This rope is worked in a round of four
which is more difficult than a larger round of 10. You may want to practice working with
size 6/0 seed beads in a round of 10 first to get comfortable crocheting a rope before
working in a smaller round. Do not use dark thread such as black for your first projects;
it is more difficult to see your stitches. These ropes are glamorous, elegant and yummy! |
Pecos Bracelet or Necklace
You should make a bracelet first to get an idea of the number of
beads you use per inch. Some crocheters crochet loose; others crochet tight. The number of
beads per inch in your crochet rope will vary depending on how you crochet.
Supplies
- 4mm pearls, number required to fit your wrist. 90 pearls will
make approximately 9" of bead crocheted rope. A 16" strand of pearls usually has
89 to 92 pearls. Oval pearls work best. If you use freshwater rice pearls, they will not
look the same as the examples.
- Size 6/0 seed beads, same number as pearls used
- Size 8/0 seed beads, same number as pearls used
- Size 11/0 seed beads, same number as pearls used
- 1 medium #10 twisted wire needle
- Jeans Stitch Thread or, Cebellia #30, or other thread of the same
thickness. Pearl cotton #8 is too thick, pushes the beads out of their place on the
bracelet and will not go through some of the pearls.
- Decorative button for closure.
Tools Required
- small safety pin
- scissors
- crochet steel hook 1.25mm; use 1.50mm if you work tight
- sewing or tapestry needle with eye to accommodate thread
- 1 wire cutter
- 1 pair jewelry pliers other small pliers for attaching earring
findings
- 1 white dish to set beads on for stringing
Gauge
It takes approximately 9 strung 4mm pearls to make
1" of bead crochet. Some crocheters crochet loose while others crochet tight and this
will make a difference in gauge. Use this as a guide for how many pearls you will need for
the length around your wrist. Also figure in the length for the button and loop as the
closure. It is best to measure the length as you work and check again before you fasten
off the last time and add the button and crocheted loop.
Standard American Crochet Terms Used
- ch(s) chain stitch(es)
- sl st(s) slip stitch(es)
- st(s) stitch(es)
Bead Crochet Term
- bsc bead single crochet stitch (American sc st with
bead added)
Pre-stringing/Loading Beads
You will need to string on the beads
before you begin to crochet; use a twisted/flexible wire needle. If you want to make a
necklace, you will need to string on additional beads. If you run out of beads and need to
add more, see Adding Beads to Crochet. For this pattern, you will string on 1 pearl, 1
size 6/0, 1 size 8/0, 1 size 11/0 seed bead and repeat the number required for your wrist
size. The first bead you string on is the last bead you will crochet. I have tried
stringing the beads in different arrangements and find this grouping works best and
spirals better. So, as a general rule, always string the beads onto your crochet
thread from large to small. If you have more than one bead of the same size, refer
to the samples on my Pecos Ropes Package
page at my online shop - www.7echoes.com - and find a
sample similar to yours. The beads shown are listed in the sample in the order that
they are to be strung on your crochet thread. Use a sample that approximates your
bead colors to determine the best bead stringing order.
Adding Beads to Crochet
Beads set on the outside of the crocheted
rope. To make a bead single crochet stitch, place the hook in a stitch for single crochet,
pull up the top bead from the strung beads and push it snug next to the stitch where the
hook is setting, yo behind the bead, pull up a loop, then yo again pulling the hook
through two loops. You have captured a bead on the rope.
You will be working through the back half of the
stitch, do not go under both loops. This will give you a soft flexible fabric. Work
in a spiral, do not join with sl sts. Advanced crocheters can carry loose thread with
working thread rather than stitching them into the piece with the exception of the ending
fastened off thread. If you are not carrying the thread, start your beginning chains with
a 6" tail of loose thread.
Rope Rounds
- Ch4 and join with a sl st to form a ring
- *1bsc in each st around,* repeat from * number of times required
for length.
- Do not fasten off yet.
Finishing Touches
Put a safety pin in the loop where you are
crocheting. Put a needle on the other end and string on the button. Stitch it to the end
of the rope. Then take the needle back through the button and again into the rope. Do this
4 times, then wrap the needle around and below the button shank about 3 times. Then take
the needle back into the rope, stitch through the rope several times and cut off the
excess. If you can not get the needle through the button shank 4 times, take it off each
time and use the twisted wire needle to bring the thread through the shank. Once you have
the button attached, twist the bracelet a little and see how it looks. The various size
beads will shift the shape of the bracelet and you may need to add a little twist before
wearing it. The twist may use more beads and you will need a little more length added.
Once you have adjusted for the twist, take the safety pin off the other end and make the
number of chains required to go around the button and back into the rope as a closure.
Then sl st the end of the chains to the rope forming a loop. Turn, ch1 and work 1sc in
each ch. Once you are sure the fit is correct, fasten off and leave a 3" tail to
stitch back into the rope.
Option - Button Closure
For the closure to the button, you can string on
additional size 11/0 beads. You can make 1bsc in each ch of the loop as more decoration to
the closure.
Option - No Closure - Continuous Rope
When the bracelet or necklace is finished, you can
stitch the rope ends together, matching the beads up by size rather than having a button
closure. This is tricky and the beads must match up. Use a safety pin to put the two ends
together first and make sure it will go back over your hand for a bracelet or neck as a
necklace correctly before joining the ends. Bracelets going over your wrist will hang
loosely when worn.
Earrings
29 pearls plus the same amount of the 3 size seed
beads will make a lovely earring. Join the ends with thread and needle. Purchase a pair of
gold/silver tone or gold filled/sterling earring hoops that are open on one end and you
can slip on the circular earring and wear it like a long oval shape, or twist the circular
earring and put it through the earring end again. This will make a knotted looking
earring. For a shorter earring, make it half that size, 15 pearls and the same amount of
the 3 size seed beads. Take it over the earring end and it will hang like a small donut.
.Make several sets in different colors and use the same hoop earrings You can also make
them using the combinations I have listed without pearls.
Bugle Enhancer
Experiment and try a bugle #2 in place of the
pearl for a totally different look.
Headbands
Use the same beads listed above and make a
headband for a hat or fit one for your head.
The Beadwrangler always offers you versatility and
creative fun!
