All images are clickable for a larger view.
***********************************************
|
Double-Triple Spiral
Materials:
1 color size 6/0 seed beads for the core.
3 colors size 11/0 seed beads for the base loops.
6 colors size 15/0 for the splitted part of the loops.
6 colors size 8/0 seed beads for the accent in the splitted loops.
Important notes:
There are going to be many thread passages to make this spiral, so it's important that the size 6/0 seed beads, used for the core, have a large hole and are consistent in size. Japanese transparent matte seed beads work best for me, as they don't slide around as much as the other finishes and it's easier to hold them in place while adding the first loop after the step up.
I use C-Lon D thread and a size 13/0 beading needle.
|
|
|
My beading tray
|
I pick up my beads from right to left and bottom to top.
This is how I arranged them on my tray:
The 6 colors of size 8/0 in the top row, the 6 colors of 15/0s in the center, the 3 colors of 11/0s in the bottom and the size 6/0 to the right.
If you look at my tray from the bottom up, I have divided the colors in 3 colorways (right to left). To make this easier and avoid to use the whole alphabet, despite of the colors, I will call the first colorway: A (11/0), A (15/0 lt), A (8/0 lt), A (15/0 dk), A (8/0 dk). The second colorway: B (11/0), B (15/0 lt), B (8/0 lt), B (15/0 dk), B (8/0 dk). The third colorway: C (11/0), C (15/0 lt), C (8/0 lt), C (15/0 dk), C (8/0 dk).
|
|
|
IMG 1
|
Pick up 3 X 6/0, 3 A 11/0, 4 A 15/0 lt, 1 A 8/0 lt, 4 A 15/0 lt, 3 11/0 and go up through the 3 X 6/0 to form a loop.
Leave a long tail, about 16" - 18". It will be used later to decrease the loops at the tip of the necklace and to attach the clasp.
|
|
|
IMG 2
|
Now go back down through the top 3 A 11/0; pick up 4 A 15/0 dk, 1 A 8/0 dk, 4 A 15/0 dk ;
|
|
|
IMG 3
|
go back down through the 3 bottom A 11/0 of the first loop and go back up through the 3 X 6/0.
Pull the thread enough so that it won't show up, but don't pull it too tight, or you won't be able to pass through the core beads.
You will have to fiddle around a little bit to keep the 11/0s from covering the hole of the 6/0s.
|
|
|
IMG 4
|
Hold the work with the first colorway loop to the left and the core beads to the right.
Pick up 3 B 11/0, 4 B 15/0 lt, 1 B 8/0 lt, 4 B 15/0 lt, 3 B 11/0 and go back up through the 3 X 6/0.
|
|
|
IMG 5
|
Go back down through the top 3 B 11/0; pick up 4 B 15/0 dk, 1 B 8/0 dk, 4 B 15/0 dk and go back down through the 3 bottom B 11/0 of the second loop and then up through the 3 X 6/0.
|
|
|
IMG 6
|
Hold the work keeping the first and second colorways to the left and the core beads to the right.
Pick up 3 C 11/0, 4 C 15/0 lt, 1 C 8/0 lt, 4 C 15/0 lt, 3 C 11/0 and go back up through the 3 X 6/0.
|
|
|
IMG 7
|
Go back down through the top 3 C 11/0; pick up 4 C 15/0 dk, 1 C 8/0 dk, 4 C 15/0 dk and go back down through the 3 bottom C 11/0 of the third loop...
|
|
|
IMG 8
|
...and then up through the 3 X 6/0.
Be careful, as usual, not to pierce the threads and don't tighten too much.
|
|
|
IMG 9
|
Now it's time to make the first step up.
Push the loops around, so that you have the colorway A to the right.
It's important that each time you add a new loop, it lies *in front* of the previous one of the same colorway.
Pick up 1 X 6/0, 3 A 11/0, 4 A 15/0 lt, 1 A 8/0 lt, 4 A 15/0, 3 A 11/0 and go up through the top 2 core beads (X 6/0) and the X 6/0 you just added.
|
|
|
IMG 10
|
Go back down through the top 3 A 11/0; pick up 4 A 15/0 dk, 1 A 8/0 dk, 4 A 15/0 dk, go back down through the 3 bottom A 11/0 and go back up through the top 3 X 6/0.
|
|
|
IMG 11
|
Turn the work so that the colorway B is to your right.
Pick up 3 B 11/0, 4 B 15/0 lt, 1 B 8/0 lt, 4 B 15/0 lt, 3 B 11/0 and go back up through the top 3 X 6/0.
|
|
|
IMG 12
|
Pick up 3 C 11/0, 4 C 15/0 lt, 1 C 8/0 lt, 4 C 15/0 lt, 3 C 11/0 and go back up through the 3 X 6/0.
Go back down through the top 3 C 11/0; pick up 4 C 15/0 dk, 1 C 8/0 dk, 4 C 15/0 dk and go back down through the 3 bottom C 11/0 and then up through the top 3 X 6/0.
|
|
|
IMG 13
|
Step up again and continue to work on the spiral until you reach your desired lenght. Remember to always add the new loops, *in front* of the previous ones of the same colorway and don't tighten up the loops too much, or you will not be able to insert your needle between the core beads.
|
|
|
IMG 14
|
After a few steps up, you will see that the spiral will naturally begin to twist. Don't let it do that too much and avoid to "fluff it up" to see how it looks. If you do that, you will have a heck of a time trying to open it up again and go through the core beads with your needle.
Keep untwisting the spiral every time you reposition to add a new loop.
|
|
|
IMG 15
|
This is how you need to split the loops to be able to insert the needle in the core beads.
|
|
|
IMG 16
|
When you are left with about 6 - 7 inches of thread, it's time to add a new one.
Leave the old thread exiting from the top core bead. It is better to wait until you've added a new set of core/loops, before securing it, or the knots might slip inside and clog the core beads.
Make a double knot at the end of the new thread and go through all the beads of one loop in the second, or third set down from the top and then up through the core beads.
(IMG. 16 and 17)
|
|
|
IMG 17
|
After you've added another set of core/loops, you can secure the old thread.
Knot twice around the thread of the adjacent loop and go down through all the beads of the same loop. Knot again at the base of the loop and go down through at least 6 core beads before cutting the thread.
|
|
|
IMG 18
|
To finish the spiral, make one last set of loops, but this time do not add a core bead.
Pick up 2 A 11/0, 2 A 15/0 lt, 1 A 8/0 lt, 2 A 15/0 lt, 2 A 11/0 and go up through only 2 core beads.
Go back down through the top 2 A 11/0; pick up 2 A 15/0 dk, 1 A 8/0 dk, 2 A 15/0 dk; go back down through the 2 bottom A 11/0 and back up through the top 2 core beads.
Add the other two colorways in the same way.
Repeat on the other side of the spiral, using the tail thread.
|
|
|
IMG 19
|
Now it's finally time to make the end loops.
Pick up 1 size 8/0 and 17 size 11/0; go back down through the size 8/0 bead and 2 core beads.
Pull the thread so that the 8/0 bead touches the core bead.
Go back up through one of the loops from the last set, the size 8/0 seed bead and the ring of 11/0s; go back down through the 8/0, 2 core beads and repeat going through all the loops from the last set at least once. You should be able to go through the ring beads at least 4 times ( I got 5 passages on one side and 4 passages on the other side in this case).
|
|
|
IMG 20
|
|
|
|
IMG 21
|
If you prefer, you can secure your thread by knotting, of course.
I prefer to use nail polish to stick the thread inside the beads, of the rings.
When I feel that the beads in the ring are getting full, I make one last passage in this way:
I go through the first 2 beads of the ring and pull the thread out, then I go through the next 2 beads, but before pulling the thread completely, I add a tiny bit of nail polish to the little loop of thread that's left between the beads. I pull it in and dab immediately with my finger tip to remove any polish excess that might be on the beads. I repeat this every 2 beads all the way around the ring and before going through the size 8/0 seed bead and once again between the core beads, before cutting the thread. (IMG 21)
Repeat on the other side of the spiral.
|
|
|
IMG 22
|
Now it's time to attach a clasp! :-)
My favorite choice is a beaded toggle clasp.
|
I hope you like it!
If you have comments, questions, or need help, please post on my Blog (I reply to the comments directly there), or Contact Me
|
|
|
All photography and text (unless otherwise noted) are the sole property of
Sabina Anderson and may not be reproduced without written permission of the owner.
Copyright © 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 Sabina Anderson
|
