“Rachel Nelson-Smith has one of the most

unique creative voices in beading.”

— Marcia DeCoster

Bead Riffs

Rachel NelsoN-smith’s

Jewelry Projects in Peyote

& Right Angle Weave

44

Made in Blue in Green colorway

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RONDO a rondo is an upbeat song with a beginning thematic passage that’s repeated

after every other section. likewise, this project is an upbeat neckpiece with

a thematic pattern repeated every other section. a tribute to dave Brubeck’s

legendary tune “Rondo à la turk” in 12/8 and 9/8 time, it works up a little magic

with 12-bead bumps over a 16-bead base, 4-bead bumps over an 8-bead base,

and 8-bead bumps over a 12-bead base.

s upplie s

size 11° round seed beads:

a, olive metallic, 22 g

B, peach-lined aqua, 9 g

c, silver-lined turquoise aB, 8 g

d, opaque green, 6 g

e, yellow silver-lined matte aB, 2 g

204 round sterling silver beads, 2 mm

200 crystal aB rose montées, 3.5 mm

18 inches (45.7 cm) of 1⁄4 -inch

(6.4 mm) vinyl tubing

2 closed silver 20-gauge

jump rings, 4 mm

12 open silver 20-gauge

jump rings, 4 mm

supplies for beaded toggle,

or a purchased clasp

size 12 beading needles

Green thread

sharp snips

suede or velvet work surface

te chNi q ue s

Right angle Weave

2-drop Bump

3-drop Bump

4-drop Bump

finish with finial Beads

Montées to 1-drop Right angle Weave

tubular peyote stitch

Jump Rings

Beaded toggle closure (optional)

fiNis he d size

175⁄8 inches (44.8 cm) long

▶ Overview

You’ll bead a tubular right angle weave base around a vinyl tube core, stitch bumps onto the large units, and embellish each 1-drop unit with a rose montée. The tube ends are closed with decreasing peyote stitch, and closed jump rings are attached for connecting to the clasp. Make your own beaded toggle or purchase one and attach it with jump rings.

▶ Base

Working in right angle weave with a single thread, weave the base around the vinyl tubing as follows. Use the side beads of the first unit to complete the last unit in each round, closing the beadwork around the tube, then weave through the bead-work to get into position to begin the next round. Begin with round 1 at the bottom of figure 1 on page 46.

Round 1 Work alternating units of eight As and two As/one B/two As/one B.

Round 2 Work alternating units of one B/two As/one B/two As and four Bs.

Round 3 Repeat round 1.

Round 4 Work alternating units of one B/three As/one B/two As and four Bs.

Round 5 Work alternating units of 12 As and three As/one B/three As/one B.

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figure 2

Round 6 Work alternating units of one B/four As/one B/three As and four Bs.

Round 7 Work alternating units of 16 As and four As/one B/four As/one B.

Subsequent Rounds Work round 6 to round 1 and then back up to round 7. Repeat the sequence, finishing with any round with alternating edge beads of two As and one B to match the outer bead pattern of figure 2—rounds 1, 2, or 3.

▶ Embellish

Working around the diameter of the tube, embellish the multi-drop units with bumps topped with finial beads (2-mm rounds) and add rose montées along the way, reinforcing all thread paths. Note: Though the rounds are given below in numerical order, begin with any round, work up to round 7, then back down to round 1. Repeat working rounds 1 through 7 and then rounds 6 through 1, ending the last repeat with rounds 1, 2, or 3.

Round 1 With As, embellish each 2-drop unit with one round of a 2-drop bump, cinch, then add a finial bead.

Round 2 Embellish each 1-drop unit with one rose montée.

Round 3 With Cs, embellish each 2-drop unit with one round of a 2-drop bump, cinch, then add a finial bead.

Round 4 Repeat round 2.

Round 5 Embellish each 3-drop unit with two rounds of a 3-drop bump using Ds for round 1, and Cs for round 2. Cinch, then add a finial bead.

Round 6 Repeat round 2.

Round 7 Embellish each 4-drop unit with only three rounds of a 4-drop bump using Es for round 1, Ds for round 2, and Cs for round 3. Cinch, then add a finial bead.

figure 1

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▶ Finish the Ends

Cut the vinyl tube at the final round. Work the final right angle weave base round into tubular peyote stitch with B as follows. Refer to figure 2 for all rounds.

Round 1 With the thread exiting two As in the final round of the base, string one B and pass through the next B of the same base round; string one B and pass through the next two As of the same base round. Repeat three more times. Step up through the first bead added (red line).

Round 2 String one B and pass through the next B of the previous round. Repeat seven more times. Step up through the first bead added (blue line).

Round 3 Repeat round 2 (green line).

Round 4 String one B and pass through the next two Bs of the previous round. Repeat three more times. Step up through the first bead added (black line).

Round 5 String one B and pass through the next B in round 4. Repeat three more times. Step up through the first bead added (gold line).

Cinch Pass through the four beads added in round 5 twice and pull taut (pink line).

Stitch a closed jump ring to the round 5 beads. Repeat at the other end of the necklace.

▶ Finish

Bead a toggle closure if desired. Attach it, or a purchased clasp, to the closed rings at the ends of the necklace with six jump rings on each side—two jump rings at each connection.

color variations in high times (left) and in orange