We all know that copying is not allowed but no one can deny you getting inspired of other people’s work. In the June issue of Bead & Button magazine there was an amazing but really difficult pendant made of twin beads. But why do it the hard way when easy ones can be as pretty? I had some twin beads and seed beads at home, I just needed to add needle and some thread. Twin beads are rice-shaped beads that have two holes. They look like two beads had been melted together. Superduos are a bit different, this instruction may not work with them. Here’s how to make twin bead earrings.
Ingredients
– a needle and thread
– twin beads
– seed beads size 11
– 2 crystals
– 2 hooks
– scissors
Take 11 twin beads and pass the thread through them. Go back to the beginning and take the needle through the same holes for the second time. When you tighten the thread, the beads form a circle. These beads can be real jumping beans but don’t let it bother you. They did that to me, too. Something I recommend not to do is a knot. It’s more trouble than it’s worth.
When the beads have nicely set themselves to a floral shape, it’s time to move your needle to outer circle. The picture below shows how to do that. On outer circle you add a seed bead between every twin bead. Work your way like this through the whole circle, until you are back where you started.
When you have a seed bead in each space between twin beads, bring your needle out from that very seed that you placed first. Then you’ll begin a new round with two seed beads. Blue dots represent seed beads on this new round: add two seed beads between each existing seed beads. Make a full round around the flower.
After the round, add the crystal with three seed beads, then the hook and again three seed beads. If it suits you better, you can replace seed beads here with a horseshoe. The benefit of using seed beads is that you can go through them several times, whereas you can only go couple of times through the horseshoe. Every now and then you can return through the crystal, make a turn through the nearest seed bead and come back. This way your outcome will be sturdy.
When you’re ready to exit, end the thread by tying it with the thread that holds the circle together. Finish, by exiting from twin bead, and cut the thread. Finalize the the earlier tail in the same manner.
Now you have earrings that would make even Scarlett envious.
