How to make a Kumihimo Necklace with a Rivoli Pendant

To start we cut 8 threads about 80-100cm long (this is the absolute minimum for weaving a necklace, and at the same time the threads do not get tangled).

We make a double knot on each thread that will hold the beads. The pattern will be in 4 colours arranged in a spiral.

The pattern will look like this:

We start with 3mm FP beads. We thread four beads on each string according to the diagram above.

Then we add FP 4mm beads, following the sequence of the diagram. Thread a total of 35 beads (4 size 3mm and 31 size 4mm).

Remember that the rope always ends in the same colour as it started - if we start with blue 3mm, then we end with blue 4mm.

The first half of threading on the beads is now behind us! Now we will take a break in our work which is where we add the charm carrier. We thread 2x TOHO 11/0 beads and begin to thread the FP 4mm again. We start with the colour from which we finished and continue the sequence (It should be a mirror image of the first part).

When we have everything threaded and we have all 8 beaded strands, we connect all the strings with a knot at the other end of the threads (not where you individually knotted the thread) and place this knot through the centre of your disk. 

Now place each strand on the disk according to the diagram sequence. 

At the beginning we work a few strings without beads (I do about 24 turns). We start adding the beads according to the instructions which can be found HERE. The fact that we use different sizes of beads does not matter here, so I won't repeat the instructions again. After just a few changes you can see how well the necklace pattern is forming.

Your half way point will be when you get to the TOHO beads. 

We process the first row of TOHO 11/0 beads.

We work about 8 threads without beads. We now take threads from the sides of our disk and tie them into a knot. We do the same with strings from the top of the disk.

We take our half of the necklace off the disk. Time for our charm carrier. 

We put the remaining strings with beads through our charm carrier.

When they are all done, we put the strings on the disk again. We do it according to the pattern from the beginning of the work.

We work 8 stitches without beads and start the sequence with beads again, first TOHO, then FP 4mm and so on until the end of our beads.

When you have used all the beads, continue for a few more times to create the braid without the beads and tie a knot.

The work is removed from the disk.

We cut the threads.

And stick on the end caps. FP 3mm beads easily fit in a cap with a 7mm hole.

You now know how to make a necklace on a kumihimo disk. Time for our pendant. 

Let the necklace dry. Cut 1 metre piece of thread. Thread 12x TOHO 11/0 beads and 12x FP 3mm onto the thread in an alternating sequence.

We pass the thread through all the strung beads and make a knot.

We pass the needle so that it comes out of the nearest FP bead and we thread 3 beads TH 11/0.

We lead the needle so that it is inserted into another FP bead.

And so we repeat 12.

When we make the circle, starting from the FP bead, we go through the newly added TH 11/0 beads, so that the needle comes out of the third bead.

We pick up 8 beads TH 15/0 and go through the next three TH 11/0.

Repeat pattern 12.

The 15/0 beads may look messy, but we will sort them out in a moment.

Once we finish adding all TH 15/0, we take the needle into the first sequence added so that it comes out of the fifth TH 15/0 bead. 

We take the TH 11/0 bead and go through the nearest branch TH 15/0 in the beads 4 and 5.

Coming out of the fifth bead, we take TH 11/0 again and repeat the scheme until we combine all the beads.

We have created a lace that will support the crystal.

We put the crystal in the middle of our work and tighten the thread (we can also pass it through all the beads again).

 The crystal should hold nicely, but we will provide additional security. Coming out of the TH 11/0 bead, we take 3 TH 11/0 beads and go through the second nearest bead (we skip one).

Repeat the pattern 6 times.

The needle is inserted into the first three added so that it comes out of the top bead TH 11/0. We take one TH 11/0 bead and go through the neighboring top of the nearest three. And so also 6 times.

The back of the crystal is braided, it's time to take care of the front a little

We take the beads TH 11/0 → FP 4mm → and TH 11/0 and go through the nearest picot.

And so on 12 times. When we finish the round, the needle should come out of the 4mm FP bead.

 If this is the case, we take two SuperDuo beads and go through the nearest FP.

We also repeat this action 12 times. At the end of the lap, we go with the needle through the first added SD beads and make a turn backwards (the needle should come out from the upper hole of the SD bead).

 Between the beads SD we add the beads TH 8/0, and in larger gaps 3 beads TH 11/0.

When finishing the lap, we lead the thread again through all the beads, we make a knot and secure the work (everyone probably has their own way, so I don't impose anything here).

 Our braid is basically ready.

In the same way, we can wrap different sizes of beads. Thanks to this, subtle earrings can be created for our pendant :).

Below is a small table with a breakdown:

If you would like to make earrings from smaller crystals, just add a jump ring, like for a pendant and attach to an earwire.

Back to our necklace - only the finishing and attaching the pendant is left.

We attach a clasp with jump rings to the ends.

Attach a jump ring to our charm carrier, which then connects the necklace to our braided crystal.

That's all! Our necklace is ready. I would love to see yours on our Facebook Group.

Happy beading :).