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

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.

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.

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.  If you run out of pearls, just substitute a size 6/0 bead.

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.

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