Christmas Tree Beaded Baubles
Here are some of the Christmas Tree baubles we have been making in the shop this week. They look great and are are also fun to make.They require a tube of No. 11 rocailles, a reel of "Nymo", a needle, a few No. 8 rocailles, and some feature beads for the fringe, and of course a bauble. We bought a whole lot of really cheap silver baubles at are local discount shop so they really are quite reasonably priced. The only other thing you need is a little bit of patience! |
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| We used a size 7 1/2 ins bauble. You can use any size bauble you choose but you will have to alter the number of beads in each row to fit. We used size 11 rocailles in blue and silver in size 8. |
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Row 1 Thread 3 blue and 1 silver rocaille onto a double thread, repeat this 5 more times.Join into a circle and tie around the top of the bauble. Run the needle once more through the beads.
Row 2 Bring the needle out to the left of the last silver bead. Pick up 5 blue and 1 silver and 5 blue beads. Take the needle through the next silver bead of the first row. Repeat 5 times until you have a 6 pointed star. |
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Row 3 Run the needle through the first 5 blue beads of row 2 and bring it out to the left of the silver bead on thr point of the star. Pick up 5 blue 1 silver 5 blue and go through the next silver bead on the last row. Repeat five more times continuing round to the start of the row and as before take the needle back through the beads exiting to the left of the silver bead on the point.
Row 4 Repeat as above picking up 7 blue 1 silver and 7 blue
Row 5 Repeat using 9 blue 1 silver and 9 blue
Row 6 Repeat using 11 blue 1 silver and 11 blue
Row 7 Repeat row 6
Row 8 Repeat picking up 10 blue, 1 silver and 10 blue
Row 9 Repeat picking up 8 blue one silver and 8 blue
Row 10 Repeat picking up 5 blue 1 silver and 5 blue
Row 11 Repeat row 10
Row 12 Pick up 3 blue rocailles and then go through the next silver bead on the last row, repeat this five times back to the start of the row. Pull tight into a neat ring and go back once more through the beads on this last row. Finish off. |
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You may find you have to adjust the number of beads in rows 8, 9, and 10. This is because all beads vary slightly in size. Each of these rows should make points that lie comfortably on the bauble. If it lies in a tight straight line you will need to add one exta bead either side of the siver bead for each repeat of that row. It does not matter very much if it works out a bit loose. (see the purple and silver bauble) But if you want it to lie snug against the bauble then reduce the number of blue beads in each repeat of that row by one.
If you use a lager bauble you may find you will have 7 or more repeats in your first row which is fine. You will then have 7 points to the star of row 2.
N.B. I always wax my threads when doing any kind of bead work. It makes it stronger and is much easier to work with, especially when working with a double thread.
The Fringe
Next comes the fringe. This is the creative bit and is fun to do. The basic fringe when doing any beading is very simple.
Take you needle through the starting point, whether a bead or on fabric, and make secure. Then pick up as many beads as required for the finished length. Add one feature bead and go back up all the beads again to the top. Take your needle through to the top of the next stating point and repeat. Do this as many times as needed to make the desired fringe.
On our bauble we have used a branched fringe which makes the finished fringe look much fuller than the straight fringe. Start in the same way going through one of the beads at the bottom of the bauble but only pick up about 10 or 11 of the size 11 rocailles. Add one size 8 rocailles or a small feature bead. In this case we have used little cube beads. Turn and go back up the last 5 or 6 rocailles (not right to the top). |
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Repeat this as many times as you wish, choosing random numbers of beads each time, varying the length of stem and branch. When long enough add a feature bead and go back through the beads of the stem only, repeating this as many times as necessary varying the lengths.
The final part is a loop to hang it up by. There are many ways of doing this. You may like to add a larger, decorative bead, or simply thread beads using the same ones that you used in the fringe or main part of the bauble. |
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Thread onto the needle 3 size 11 beads, 1 size 8 and repeat until it measures the required length ending with a size 8 or lager bead. Next thread on 15 size 11 beads and then go back through the size 8 bead, to form a loop. Thread on 3 size 11 beads and go back throught the next size 8 bead. Repeat to the end, then add a few more size 11 beads, enough to thread through the loop attached to the top of the bauble. Tie the threads together and go back through all the beads once more for added strength, and finish off. (You may leave this row out if you are satisfied that your loop will take the weight of the bauble.)
Now hang it on your tree!
(If you have problems with these insructions or don't understand them, send me an e-mail and I will try to help.) |
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