Multi Strand Bracelets Variations - Rules are Made to be Broken

I have been enjoying making these bracelets. There are so many possibilities... as to beads and cord colors... And the pattern can be changed, rules are made to be broken. Here are some variations showing what's possible and how to deal with unanticipated occurrences.

When I first encountered etched beads, I was not sure if I would like them... I have since fallen in love with them. However I encountered a challenge: the bead holes of the etched beads are larger than most other Czech Fire Polished Beads, and the beads were sliding around the C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord... But hey I still wanted to work them into the design... The solution was to frame the larger holes etched beads with other beads with smaller holes.

This bracelet is made with 4mm Czech Fire Polished beads, Etched Gold Ore and Indigo Gold Ore. The etched gold ore beads were a bit loose on the C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord, so to keep them from sliding around I boxed them in with the Indigo Gold Ore beads. Some of the cords have 3 beads, 1 Etched Gold Ore in the middle with one Indigo Gold Ore on each side, keeping the beads in place. Other cords have 5 beads, 3 Etched Gold Ore in the middle with one Indigo Gold Ore on each side.

The C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord colors are AGO Antique Gold, IND Indigo, and GR Grey.

This next bracelet is a variation of the bracelet shown above with NK Nickel instead for GR Grey and added beads, Etched Argento, also with larger holes, surrounded and blocked by Crystal Argento. The Etched Argento and Crystal Argento beads are loaded onto the Nickel cord. The Etched Gold Ore and Indigo Gold Ore ones are loaded onto the Antique Gold and Indigo C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cords.

Other options I like: 6 cords with 3 beads, 3 cords with 3 sets of 3 beads, so 9 beads altogether. 

For more info on these bracelets, go to the previous post. 

Find the beads listed here –> 4mm Czech Fire Polished Beads

Multi Strand Bracelets with Floating Beads and C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord

To make these bracelets, get the tutorial, C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord, 4mm beads, and a few tools and supplies. 

–> More Info, Kits, Tutorial, Tools

Necklace Cord for the Knotted Beaded Charms

To make the necklace cord for the knotted bead charm, you will need the following:

–> 1mm Chinese Knotting Cord

–> 1.5 mm Sterling Silver or Gold Filled Clasp

–>  Poly Zap Super Glue

–> Thread Burner

–> Chain Nose Pliers

For longer cords and smaller charms, I like to use a thinner Chinese Knotting Cord, so look at the New Fine and Fine size, and even the Extra Fine size as possible options. Or choose a thicker Chinese Knotting Cord such as the HDQ weight cords for a heavier charm. 

Or forgo the clasp and use a square knot slide closure. That's the same closure used for the Square Knot Bracelet Trio. 

–> Square Knot Bracelet Trio Kits and Tutorials

Go to the previous post for the tutorial on how to make the Knotted Bead Charm. 

Here are some bracelet - beaded charm combo, I like...

Gold Halo Beads, with Hematite Bead Centers

Bracelet Knotted with C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord

Charm knotted with C-Lon Fine Weight Bead Cord Tex 135

Necklace cord made with 1mm Black Chinese Knotting Cord

All Hematite, with Pearlescent White Hematite Beads
Bracelet Knotted with C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord
Charm knotted with the standard size of C-Lon Bead Cord
Necklace cord made with New Fine 201 Pearl Grey Chinese Knotting Cord

Bracelets made with Gunmetal Halo Beads, and Pearlescent Pink Coral Hematite Beads, knotted with Chinese Coral, Pink Lemonade and Charcoal C-Lon Tex 400 Bead Cord.

Charm knotted with the standard size of C-Lon Bead Cord, with Hematite Ring Beads and Pearlescent Pink Coral Hematite Beads.
Necklace cord made with 1mm Black Chinese Knotting Cord

Knotted Bead Charms with Hematite or Halo Ring Beads | DIY Video Tutorial

Hematite and Halo Ring Beads are very inspiring... I just designed the Square Knot Bracelet Trio using these beads... and I wanted a small necklace to go with them, a small addition that could be made with either leftover beads or just a few additional purchased beads... the idea became the knotted bead charms.

–> Square Knot Bracelet Trio Kits and Tutorials

For making the charms use the following materials:

Hematite or Rainbow Titanium Coated Hematite Ring Beads available HERE

or

Halo Zamak Beads made in Greece available in Antique Brass, Copper or Silver, Gunmetal, Gold or Rose Gold finishes available HERE - All nickel and lead free and meeting European jewelry standards. 

+ 

6mm Hematite, Rainbow or Pearlescent Hematite Beads for the center, available HERE

or 

6mm Swarovski Crystal Pearls available HERE

+

4mm Hematite, Rainbow or Pearlescent Hematite Beads for the center, available HERE

or 

4mm Swarovski Crystal Pearls available HERE

As for tools, you will need a macrame board, a bead mat, 1 1 3/4" T-pin, beeswax, a large fine point reamer, a thread burner, beading tweezers, scissors. All these are available HERE. 

As to cords, use C-Lon Bead Cord with the Hematite Rings, and C-Lon Fine Weight Bead Cord Tex 135 with the Halos. You will need about 24 inches or 60 cm per bead charm. 

For the necklace cord for the charm, use Chinese Knotting Cord, it is a braided nylon and it look great as a neck cord and use a small sterling or gold filled clasp. Go to the next post for the video tutorial on how to make the necklace cord for the charms...

Turkish Flat Bead Crochet Tutorial on Video

The Turkish Flat Bead Crochet Bracelet tutorial got an update and is now available as a video tutorial. Enjoy!

Tools and Materials are available here: https://store.jewelsinfiber.com/kitturkcro.html

Written instructions: https://jewelsinfiber.blogspot.com/2012/12/turkish-flat-bead-crochet-bracelet.html

Tibetan Knot Bracelet Tutorial - The Easy Way to Tie Snake Knots

I have been carrying Tibetan 5 Color Cord in various sizes for a while in my online store, and I got curious about what could be made with it... 

Check this video out. Let me know what you think! Marion

The full tutorial is available HERE.

Knitted Scarf with Silk Ribbon | Free Pattern

This is a super easy garter stitch pattern requiring only knit (plain) stitch, and no purl rows. It makes a silkie, drapey scarf. The drop stitch pattern show off the silk ribbon and requires only one skein. Try it, here is the pattern!

Scarf measures approximately 3.5“ wide by 72” long [9 cm x 182 cm]

1 Skein of Silkie - Hand Dyed Silk Ribbon > available HERE

Knitting Needles Size 17 [12.27 mm] 

A friend of mine made the first couple of scarves. She used needles size 13, but when I tried to duplicate her pattern, with needles size 13, my knitting was too tight and the scarf lost its drape. I tried with size 15, but it was still too tight, size 17 is perfect for me. You may need to adjust your needle size but a looser knit is best for this pattern, so I recommend going with the larger needles. I used Japanese Clover Takumi single point 9 inch bamboo needles. They are light and comfortable to hold. I bought them at Stitches West in February. Let me know if you cannot find them, I will order some for you. 

Cast on 12 stitches using the long tail method.

Rows 1-4: Knit across row. 

Then start the yarn over row listed below as shown here, by knitting the first stitch, then wrapping the ribbon around the needle 2 times. 

Row 5: [* Knit 1 - Yarn Over Twice (Wrap ribbon around needle 2 times)]
Repeat until the end of the row. End with Knit 1.

Now you have 12 stitches, plus lots of yarn over on the needle. In the next step, you will only knit the stitches and drop the 2 yarn over ribbon in between the stitches. The next picture shows the first stitch knit and the first 2 yarn over dropped. 

Row 6: [* Knit 1 - Unwind wrapped stitches off the needle and let them drop.]

Repeat until the end of the row. End with Knit 1. 

This is Row 6 completed. 

Make sure you have 12 stitches back on your needle. 

Next Rows: [* Knit 4 rows, then repeat Row 6 and 8] - Repeat until you have either achieved the desired length or you have 12-13 Drop Stitch areas. 

If you are adding a fringe, stop when you still have some ribbon leftover for the fringe. 6 yd 4 inches or 5.6 m yields a 5 inch fringe. 

I do not like counting rows... So to recognize when all knit rows between the yarn overs have been completed, count the garter stitch ridges, 3 on one side and 2 on the other, that's when you are ready for the next yarn over row (Row 5).

Last Rows: End with 4 knit rows. Bind off in knit stitch. 

Finishing: Weave in the ends, or incorporate them into the fringe. 

Fringes: Cut 22 lengths 10 inch long for 5 inch fringes. Adjust length as needed but plan on 11 lengths per each scarf end. 

Fold 1 length. Insert the U in between the end stitches. Pull the 2 ends through the U and pull tight. Repeat for all lengths. Incorporate the ends and trim as needed.

Some of the samples scarves shown here were made with 6 knit rows in between the yarn over rows. The finish scarves made with the additional knit rows are shorter...


About the Silk Ribbon: This ribbon was hand dyed in Thailand and was a one time purchase. It is currently available in full skein in Sunset (top photo), Atlantis (shown in the step by step), Iceland, Midnight Blue, and Obsidian (shown below). It is a silk blend with 45% silk, 38% viscose and 17% nylon. It is available in 75 yd skeins and in 15 yd mini-skeins. This ribbon is also featured in a kumihimo necklace project. 

> Silkie Ribbon | Hand dyed Silk Ribbon

> Kumihimo Necklace Kits with Silk Ribbon and 4mm Magatamas

> Pattern - Printable PDF