Murphy's Beads - A Rainbow of Beaded Creations by Sabina Anderson

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Double and Triple Clasp Connectors

Materials:
Size 11/0 Japanese seed beads.
Size 15/0 Japanese seed beads.
Czech Firepolished 3mm.
C-Lon D thread.
Clear Nail Polish.
Pliers to pull the needles when making the rings.
This is what I used for the sample connector.
Different sizes and shapes can be used as well.

This sample is for a double connector. To make a triple one, just follow the diagram on IMG.3 and add one more space bead, or picot and one more square stitched loop.

IMG.1

Cut about 20 inches of thread for the first triangle.
You will need one arm span for the second one.
Pick up 2 size 11/0 seed beads. Leave enough tail thread to weave in later and pass back through the first bead strung in the same direction. IMG.1
You will need to pass through these beads several times later, so it's better to start the brick stitch base in this way, instead of the ladder stich way.

IMG.2

Here you're ready to begin your first brick stitched triangle. IMG.2
Increase one bead at the biginning and at the end of each row until you reach your desired size.

IMG.3

IMG.4

Make 2 triangles following a diagram on IMG.3, or make your own.
Do not weave in the tail threads at this time; this is to avoid filling the holes of beads you might need to go through to make the loops. IMG.4

IMG.5

Place the 2 triangles on top of each other and square stitch the sides together. IMG.5 & IMG.6 (Sorry they are a bit blurry...not easy to shoot with just one hand).

IMG.6

IMG.7

Bring your needle down through the next column of edge beads.
IMG.7

IMG.8

Pick up one 3mm Firepolished (or other small bead), 1 size 15/0 seed bead and go back through the Firepolished bead and the next bead of the triangle base. IMG.8

IMG.9

Turn around and exit with your needle from the adjacent bead. IMG.9

IMG.10

Begin your first square stitched loop by picking up 2 seed beads and going back up through the next triangle's base bead.
IMG.10

IMG.11

Oh no! More yucky blurry pics!
Sorry :-( IMG.11 & IMG.12

IMG.12

IMG.13

Make a 7 beads long square stitched strip and attach it to the base beads of the opposite triangle. IMG.13 & IMG.14

IMG.14

IMG.15

Reinforce by going through these last beads again. IMG.15

IMG.16

Go through all the beads in the left column of the strip and the first one of the opposite triangle's base. Loop around and come back through all the beads of the adjacent column. IMG.16

IMG.17

Go up through a base bead and down through the next corner bead. Add a 3mm Firepolished bead and a size 15/0 seed bead. IMG.17

IMG.18

Go back through the Firepolished bead and 3 triangle's side beads. IMG.18

IMG.19

Turn around and work your way down to exit the central bead of the base row of the triangle. IMG.19

IMG.20

Add a Firepolished bead, a size 15/0 seed bead and go back up through the Firepolished and one base bead. IMG.20

IMG.21

Turn around and exit from the adjacent base bead. Pick up 2 seed beads and start another square stitched strip, just like the first one. IMG. 21

IMG.22

Attach the strip to the opposite triangle's base, reinforce and go through all the beads in the right column of the strip and the first one of the opposite triangle's base. IMG.22

IMG.23

Turn around and exit from the central bead to add a Firepolished bead. IMG.23

IMG.24

Go up through 2 beads in a diagonal, turn around and go down through 3 triangle's edge beads. Add a Firepolished bead to the corner. IMG.24

IMG.25

Turn around and go down through the opposite triangle's corner bead. Add one last Firepolished bead. IMG.25

IMG.26

Keep all the tail threads out of the way and exit at the top of a triangle. IMG.26

IMG.27

Make a square stitched strip 9 beads long. IMG.27

IMG.28

It is actually better to bead all the square stitched strips facing the inside part of the loops, so less thread will shop up when they are bended. IMG.28

IMG.29

Attach the strip to the opposite triangle to form the top loop.
Reinforce going through all the beads again. Weave in and secure all the tail threads. IMG.29 & IMG.30

IMG.30

IMG.31

String 16 or 17 size 11/0 seed beads, go through one of the loops being careful to not pierce any thread. Go through all the beads to form a ring. IMG.31

IMG.32

Keep going through all the beads 4 times. Thread a needle to the tail thread and go through all the beads a 5th time in the opposite direction. IMG.32

IMG.33

Make a 6th passage by going through 2 beads at a time, leaving a tiny loop outside (IMG.33). Apply a tiny bit of nail polish to these loops and immediately pull the thread in and pat the surface of the beads with your finger to remove any eccess nail polish. Do this evenly with both threads (3 loops on one side, 3 loops on the other side).

IMG.34

Cross the threads when making the last loops. Apply the nail polish and pull tightly in the opposite directions. Trim the threads. IMG.34
The nail polish will secure the threads and stiffen up the rings. Before the nail polish dries, insert a little stick (I use the back of a crochet hook) inside the ring and roll the ring around the stick to shape it.

IMG.35

Your little connector is done! :-) IMG.35
Now you just have to make another one and attach both of them (with more rings) to your favorite clasp.
You can see a few samples in the title image.

If you have comments, questions, or need help, please post on my Blog (I reply to the comments directly there), or Contact Me

PDF version (4.29 MB)

Click to download -----> Clasp Connectors

Happy Beading! :-)

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Sabina Anderson and may not be reproduced without written permission of the owner.
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