2. Spiral Bracelet

For your first attempt at this stitch it is helpful to use different colors for the core beads and the outside beads so you can tell what you’re doing

My preference for this stitch is rounded seed beads rather that those with a tubular shape.

These quantities will make a bracelet more than 8.5″ long, including a clasp.

15-1 Seed Beads You need only 0.5 of a gram of these silver-lined crystal beads for a dainty silver loop on each end.
(15-3 is the silver-lined gold color alternative)

2 small Jump Rings
(I used 20 gauge, 2.8 mm ID)

1 Clasp in a silver or gold color

Thread: Nymo D or equivalent

Needles: size 10 & size 12

Getting Started

Measure off about 1.5 yards of thread. Optional: wax it or condition with Thread Heaven. Stretch it in sections to remove kinks.

Thread a size 10 needle.

String on
4 CORE beads (colored grey in the diagram) and
3 OUTSIDE* beads (colored white in the diagram).

**See the notes above about choosing colors. For example, the first Outside bead could be a sparkly one, the second could be a metallic silver, and the third one another sparkly one. Or, all 3 Outside beads could be the same colour.**

Slide the beads down the thread so that you leave a tail of about 8 to10 inches. The tail thread will be used later to sew on the clasp.

Pass the needle through the four CORE beads. Go up from the bottom (where the tail thread is) towards the top of your work, and pull the thread upwards to form a loop. See the diagram.

Move the 3 OUTSIDE beads so they are on the left, and the CORE beads are on the right.

It is important to always have the most recent OUTSIDE beads on the left.

**String on 1 CORE bead and 3 OUTSIDE beads.

Pass the needle through the LAST 3 CORE beads.

See diagram—the beads will form a loop.
Notice that you do NOT go through the bead closest to the tail thread.

Remove the needle from the thread and replace it with the size 12 needle.

The thread is coming from the end CORE bead. Pick up 9 of the size 15 silver-lined seed beads and pass back through the other side of the core bead to make a loop of beads.

To strengthen the loop of beads, pass back through all of the beads twice more. End the thread. (See #13 below.)

Adding the Other Loop

Thread the tail thread with the size 12 needle and repeat the instructions above to make a loop at the other end of the bracelet. End the thread as in #13 below.

Open a jump ring with 2 pairs of pliers. Slip the jump ring through a loop of beads and the small ring at the end of a clasp half.

You’ve just finished adding the loop of beads, and now it’s time to end the thread.

Stitch down the first outside loop, tie a single knot around the thread at the bottom of the loop, and then go through a core bead.

Turn and go back up the closest outside loop, tie a simple knot around the thread at the top of the loop, and then turn and go down 4 or 5 core beads.

Repeat the process above—go down an outside loop, tie knot, and go through a core bead. Then back up another outside loop. Do this a couple of times and the thread will be secure. Clip the thread end.

The most useful and creative ideas for experimenting with this stitch can be found in the book The art & Elegance of Beadweaving, by Carol Wilcox Wells. This book belongs in every Beader’s library!