One advantage I’ve found of moving sewing rooms is discovering UFO’s tucked away, completely forgotten about! I found a beaded bangle I had started two years ago at Denman.

Denman is the Women’s Institute’s own residential college, it’s always a treat to go there and every other year our federation organises a big trip, three nights with a choice of courses. Last time it was beaded jewelry ( I just put my name down for whatever craft class is on!) we made beaded flowers, pendants, earrings etc. The last project was a swarovski encrusted pendant, just a bit too glitzy for me and quite expensive with all the crystals, I decided to give that one a miss. The tutor had some gorgeous bead kits, I made a necklace first, which I have to say I’ve worn quite a few times. On the last morning I started a trellis beaded bangle. It was quite complicated to get started, or rather to get the idea of how the pattern worked, so I was determined to sort it in my mind before I left, so the tutor was on hand to help. I made about an inch of the bangle, just enough to be able to pick it up again later…

…only I didn’t think it would be nearly two years!

The tutor was Sally Boehme, she was lovely and very patient. The bangle I chose was made from three different beads, some gorgeous peacock coloured seed beads, some pale amber seed beads and a lavender Czech faceted beads.

The peacock seed beads make a net around the Czech beads, with the amber ones acting like the king pin, linking everything together. It took a while to get my head round it again, it helped that I remembered how to hold it (fairly taut with the thread over a finger) to keep the pattern clear. On one row the three Czech beads are added between each amber bead, you can see them nestling here.

The next row is where the peacock beads are added, so you just keep going round in a circle.

I started it at around 9.30 last night, I thought it would take quite a while but it was surprising how quickly it grew. I had a bit of a panic when I realized I was going to have to join a new thread in, I went on you-tube and found a very helpful tutorial on Bead School!

I finished it this morning, I thought it might be a bit complicated to join the ends together, but with Sally’s instructions it was actually fairly easy, just zig-zagging with beads.

I think it’s a really pretty bangle, it’s quite flexible too so I think it will be fairly comfortable to wear. It’s a little snug getting it over my hand, I’m not pushing my luck with it until after the local show as it’s another entry completed, I’m making good progress so far 🙂