Beading Tutorials: Spiral Rope

In this tutorial two different colors of beads are used. The Color A beads will become the core of the spiral, and the Color B beads will make up the spiral rows. These directions use 3 beads in the core chain. If more beads are used, be sure they are large enough to take an equal number of thread passes.

Materials Needed:

Size 11o or 10o seed beads in two colors (A and B)
Beading Thread
Beading Needle
Scissors

Step 1) Pick up 4 Color A beads and 4 Color B beads. Slide them down the thread, leaving an 8 inch tail.

Step 2) Stitch back up through the Color A beads and pull tight. You should now have two stacks of beads side-by-side.

Step 3) Pick up one A bead and four B beads.

Step 4) Stitch into the main beadwork through the top 3 core (Color A) beads . Pull tight.

Step 5) Stitch through the last A bead added and pull tight.

Step 6) Repeat steps 3-5 until the rope is the desired length. Finish the ends as desired, secure threads and trim.

Adding and ending thread:

With about 6 inches of working thread remaining at the end of Step 4, stitch back into the last stack of Color B beads added, and follow the thread path into the core. Stitch back through the beadwork, tieing knots along the spiral if desired.

Attach a stop-bead to the new thread, leaving a six inch tail. Stitch into the core beads, at least 6 beads away from the end of the rope. Exit the last core bead and stitch into the Color A bead remaining from the last stitch. Continue stitching as before. (Steps 3-5 above.)

This free-form style of spiral rope is great for using up beads left-over from other projects. If you are using large or heavy beads such as firepolish or stones, it is recommended that you stitch with a braided line such as Fireline 6 or 8 pound test.

In the spiral rows, it is recommened that you use a maximum of 10 beads for the best drape. If you are using larger beads for the core row, or a greater number of beads, you can increase the number of B's used. Bugle beads count as 4-5 seed beads.

Materials Needed:

Size 10o or 11o seed beads in one color (A)
Seed bead mixture, including different sizes, styles and colors of beads (B)
Beading Thread
Beading Needle

Step 1) Pick up 4 color A beads and 6 or more B beads. Slide them down the thread, leaving an 8 inch tail.

Step 2) Stitch back up through the A beads and pull tight.

Step 3) Pick up one A and 6 or more B beads.

Step 4) Stitch into the main beadwork through the top 4 core (Color A) beads . Pull tight.

Step 5) Stitch through the last A bead added and pull tight.

Step 6) Repeat steps 3-5 until the rope is the desired length. Vary the number of B beads in each row, if desired, to create an even more eclectic look.

Finish the ends as desired, secure threads and trim.

Tip:

If you use bugle beads in your spiral rows, prevent the threads from fraying by using seed beads as bumpers.

The more seed beads you add on either side of the bugles, the nicer the beads will drape along the spiral.

In this variation of spiral rope, drop beads are used in the spiral rows to create texture. By placing them at even intervals, the rope will be supported on the drops like tiny feet.

Materials Needed:

Size 11o or 10o seed beads in 2 or more colors
Drop beads
Beading Thread
Beading Needles
Scissors

Step 1) Pick up 6 core color beads and 6 spiral color beads. Slide them down the thread, leaving an 8 inch tail.

Step 2) Stitch back up through the core beads and pull tight.

Step 3) Pick up one core bead and 6 spiral beads. Stitch into the beadwork through the top 5 core beads. Pull tight.

Step 4) Stitch through the last core bead added and pull tight.

Repeat steps 3 and 4 five times.

Step 5) Pick up one core bead, 3 spiral beads, one drop bead, and 3 spiral beads.

Step 6) Stitch up into the beadwork through the top 5 core beads and pull tight.

Continue adding rows in this manner, with a drop bead on every sixth row, until the rope is the desired length. Finish the ends as desired, secure threads and trim.

Beaders may copy or print the above patterns for personal use.
Simply right-click on the picture for options.

Materials Needed:

Size 10o or 11o seed beads in:
Dark Green
Pale Green
White
Yellow

Beading Thread
Beading Needle

Step 1) Pick up 5 dark green and 5 pale green beads. Slide them down the thread, leaving an 8 inch tail.

Step 2) Stitch back up through the dark green beads and pull tight.

Step 3) Pick up one dark green, one pale green, two white and two pale green beads.

Step 4) Stitch back up through the top 4 dark green beads in the core and pull tight.

Step 5) Stitch up through the last dark green bead added and pull tight.

Step 6) For the next row, pick up: one dark green, one pale green, one white, one yellow, one white and one pale green bead.

Step 7) Repeat steps 4 and 5.

For the next row, pick up: one dark green, two pale green, two white, and one pale green bead.

Step 8) Repeat steps 4 and 5 to complete the set.

Continue adding sets of four rows to create a spiral daisy pattern. When the rope is the desired length, finish the ends, secure tail threads and trim.

For more beaded daisy ideas, visit Beading Tutorials: Daisy Chain

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