A few weeks ago my eyes lit up when I saw Andra’s beautiful choker design when she tagged us on her Instagram post. We’ve collaborated together to make a full tutorial on how to make her Delica bead choker design because I think you’ll agree, it’s absolutely STUNNING! The choker continues to be a huge trend for 2017, and this one catches the light and sparkles so beautifully, making it the perfect statement piece for special occasions.
You can support Andra’s work by following her on Instagram and Facebook! If you’re on Instagram and would like to collaborate on a design or have your project featured on the blog, get in touch! Tag your designs @beadsdirect and #beadsdirect.
Urban Handmade initiated during my summer break in Romania in 2011 by me and my friend as we were both passionate about handmade and being creative in general. She was living back home, whereas I continued with it in the UK during my studies. As an Aeronautical Engineer, people are usually surprised to hear I make handmade jewellery, but you need a creative mind in engineering too, and this hobby is what stimulates it. I have had some interesting projects come to me end of last year and beginning of this one, which is motivating me to become more active on the social platform. – Andra
Project Materials
3x Miyuki Delica Size 11 Beads Crystal Silver Lined 5g (DB41)
1x Silver Plated Magnetic Clasp Clear Crystal Round 8mm (F1233)
1x Beadalon Wildfire Thread 0.006 inches (0.15mm) Frost (W473)
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Tutorial
The triangles (Ladder Stitch + Brick Stitch Method)
Start by threading a size 10 beading needle, using the 10lb WildFire. (Tip: I haven’t used a bead stopper, so if you also don’t have one use a lighter and melt the end of the thread. That will seal the end and you won’t lose your beads).
Ladder Stitch Method (foundation row for the Brick Stitch)
1A. Insert 2 beads on the needle and then go up the first bead you inserted and pull tightly. The 2 beads should then sit close to one another.
1B. As you’re coming out the first bead, go down the second one.
1C. Next, pick up 1 bead. We notice the thread is coming out from the bottom of the second bead, meaning the needle will now have to go from the top of it. The idea of ladder stitching is to remember to chase the thread only after you picked a new bead. Vice-versa, if the thread is coming out from the top, your needle will go through the bottom of that bead.
1D. Come up the 3rd bead.
1E. Continue until you get 10 beads in a row. (You can increase or decrease the row, depending on how thick you’d like your choker to be, but remember to always have an even number of beads as the base).
1F. You will realise your row of beads will look slightly uneven and not sitting quite straight next to each other. As you’re coming up the last bead, go down the 9th bead, then up the 8th bead and so on until you reached the first bead.
1G. This should now straighten the row.
Brick Stitch Method
1H. Turn your work around as you are now working from right to left. Pick 2 beads, then skip the first thread bridge and pass your needle through the second thread bridge.
1I. Go up through the second bead.
1J. Pick 1 bead and pass through the next thread bridge (do not skip a thread bridge this time). Then go up the bead.
1K. Repeat 1J until you finish off the row.
1L. Repeat 1H – 1K until your top row has 2 beads. Finally, to finish off the triangle, pick 1 bead and pass your needle through the thread bridge.
The choker
2A. Starting from the ladder stitch base, you are going to create your first column. Make sure your thread is pretty long and pick enough beads to cover the circumference of your neck. The final choker/pattern will become netted so it will “shrink” in length, which is why you will need the last step of this tutorial to add to the length. If you don’t like the last step, then add more beads to your first column.
2B. For your second column, pick 3 beads and come out through the 4th bead of the first column.
2C. Pick 7 beads and then come out through the 8th bead of the first column. Continue until the end of the column.
2D. For your third column, pick 7 beads and come out through the 8th bead of the second column. Repeat until the end.
2E. As you can see, every 2 columns, you begin by picking 3 beads first, then continuing with 7 beads.
2F. Same as 2D
3. Ending
3A Secure thread from the top bead of the triangle, then pick a bead and use the ladder stitch method explained earlier until you reach the desired length.
3B. Add a jump ring and magnetic clasp to secure and complete your choker!
Thank you so much, Andra for sharing your gorgeous choker tutorial! If you make a version of this design, we would love to see it! Share your designs on Instagram (tag us, @beadsdirect), Facebook and Twitter.
