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How to make a beaded cat. A jewellery making tutorial

How to make a beaded cat. A jewellery making tutorial

Products used in this project

Items (9)

Qty

Price

5328 Swarovski Crystal Bicones Xillion 3mm Fuchsia Pk24

AC158

Out of stock

1122 Swarovski Crystal Rivoli SS47 (10.5mm) Rose Gold F Pk2

AC1069

Out of stock

Rhodium Plated Steel Chain 2x3mm 1metre

CH237

£4.37

Toho Size 15 Round Seed Beads Ceylon Innocent Pink 10g

15TR145

Out of stock

Toho Size 11 Round Seed Beads Inside-Colour Rainbow Rosaline/Opaque Purple 7.5g TUBE

11TR928

Out of stock

Jump rings / set / 4mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm / silver plated / 4x500pcs

ST1557

£17.99

Silver Plated Small Lobster Clasp 10mm Pk5

F0899

£1.19

1122 Swarovski Crystal 12mm Rivoli Crystal Ochre DeLite Pk1

AC2376

£0.85

Charm carrier / surgical steel / 9x5x6mm / silver / hole 4mm / loop 1.5mm / 4pcs

T6588

Out of stock

Total Cost

£24.40

Not all products are available for this project

You may also need

'Professional' x4 Jewellery Pliers Set with Case

£28.99

Gunmetal Ornate Embroidery Scissors 3.5" Stainless Steel

£4.79

Beadalon Nymo Beading Thread pk 4

£9.97

Information about this project

Designed by: Alicja Czapla

Difficulty: Intermediate

Rating:

Alicja Czapla offers you a jewellery making tutorial in which she shows how to make a beaded cat. The cat is so cute that you definitely won’t make just one. What’s more, a “catty” necklace is very eye-catching for your friends who want to have their very own one. It’s not surprising, just look at those crystal bellies! We’re sure that the beaded cat will win over your hearts. Let’s stitch!

First of all, we need to prepare the materials:
1 x 12 mm and 1 x 10 mm Rivoli Swarovski crystals
Size 11/0 and 15/0 TOHO beads
2 x 3 mm Swarovski bicone crystals – you can use any 3 mm bicone crystals
Jewellery bail – e.g. 11 mm x 2 mm x 8 mm
chain – e.g. 3x2 mm links
lobster – e.g. 14 mm lobster that matches the chain
6-7 mm split rings
Jewellery needle – Big Eye needle
Beading thread – matching colour of One-G thread
Sharp scissors

While bezeling the crystals remember to pull the thread tightly. If you don’t do that, the bezel will be too loose and the crystals may fall out.

Is everything ready? Let’s start working!

Step 1

We start with the 12mm, crystal. String 32 x 15/0 beads.

Step 1

Step 2

Pass through all the beads.

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Step 3

Pull the thread to make a circle. Tie a knot.

Step 1

Step 4

Now, add 1 x 15/0 bead between every other bead. String 1 bead and pass through the second bead, counting from the knot.

Step 1

Step 5

String 1 bead and pass through the fourth one.

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Step 6

Repeat until you complete the whole circle.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 7

Where there are two beads next to each other, pass through (without adding beads) so that the thread comes out of one of the beads – as shown in the picture.

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Step 8

In this step, add 1 x 11/0 TOHO bead in each gap between 15/0 TOHO beads. Continue until you complete the whole circle.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 9

Pass through, so that the thread comes out of the 11/0 bead.

Step 1

Step 10

Add 15/0 TOHO beads between 11/0 TOHO beads. Pull the thread tightly. Our work should raise a little.

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Step 2

Step 3

Step 11

Pass through so that the thread comes out of the 15/0 bead.

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Step 12

Put in the crystal.

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Step 13

Now we need to prevent the crystal from falling out so it is more difficult to add the beads.

In this step continue adding beads in the gaps between 15/0 beads. Remember to pull the thread tightly.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 14

As you complete the circle…

Step 1

Step 15

… add 15/0 beads again, as shown in the picture.

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Step 2

Step 16

Complete the circle.

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Step 17

The crystal is bezeled. To make the cat look prettier, let’s create a star.

The star can me made only if the number of beads in the first circle of the bezel is divisible by 4. We used 32 beads in the first circle, so we should be able to make a star. Pass through so that the thread comes out of the 15/0 bead, as shown in the picture.

Step 1

Step 18

String 1 x 15/0 TOHO bead and pass through not one, but two beads, as shown in the picture.

Step 1

Step 19

Pass the thread to the top and add 1 x 15/0 bead in the places marked with red dots.

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Step 20

The belly is done.

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Step 21

Pass the thread to the back of the work near the tail thread. Use the working tail threads to tie a knot, cut the ends. I put a little bit of clear nail polish on the knot to secure it.

Now, make the head of the cat. Bezel the 10mm crystal. Make it in the same way as the belly, but start with 26 beads. To bezel the crystal repeat all the previous steps BUT: after having added 11/0 TOHO beads add only two rows of 15/0 TOHO beads. This bezel is tighter so if you add more rows the middle of the work will start to wave. Our rivoli should look like this:

Step 1

Step 22

Pass the thread through so that it comes out of the 11/0 bead.

Step 1

Step 23

String 1 x bicone crystal and 1 x 15/0 TOHO bead.

Step 1

Step 24

(I have changed the background so you can see the bicone crystals better.) Pass the thread back, omit 15/0 TOHO bead, pass the thread through the bicone crystal and pass through the 11/0 TOHO bead, as shown in the picture.

Step 1

Step 25

Pass the thread so that it comes out of the 11/0 TOHO bead.

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Step 26

String 5 x 15/0 TOHO beads and a bail.

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Step 27

Pass through the other side of the 11/0 TOHO bead.

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Step 28

Make a circle. Pass the thread so that it comes out of the nearest 11/0 bead. Pull it tightly.

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Step 29

String 1 x bicone crystal and 1 x 15/0 TOHO bead.

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Step 30

As previously, pass the thread back.

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Step 31

The head is done. To stitch it to the belly, pass the thread between the beads so that the thread comes out of the place shown in the picture.

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Step 32

Pass through the 11/0 TOHO bead – the one in the belly.

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Step 33

Pass through the 11/0 TOHO bead in the head, as shown in the picture.

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Step 34

Pull the thread tightly and pass through this bond several times, so that the two elements are stitched to each other tightly.

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Step 35

Pass the thread to the back and cut it.
Our cat is almost done. Now we need to make its tail. The tail is made with the herringbone stitch.
String 4 x 11/0 TOHO beads.

Step 1

Step 36

Pass the thread through the beads again.

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Step 37

Pull the thread to make a circle.

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Step 38

Tie a knot. Pass the thread through two beads.

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Step 39

String 2 x 11/0 TOHO beads and pass through as shown in the picture.

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Step 40

The thread should exit as shown.

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Step 41

Pass through the nearest bead and pass through 2 x 11/0 TOHO beads.

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Step 42

String 2 x TOHO beads and pass through one TOHO bead, as shown in the picture.

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Step 43

Repeat until 10 x 11/0 TOHO beads are stitched.

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Step 2

Step 44

String 1 x 11/0 and 1 x 15/0 TOHO beads.

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Step 45

Stitch the beads the same way as we did previously. The tail bends due to the two sizes of beads. Add about 8 pairs of beads.

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Step 46

Add more pairs if you want the tail to be longer.

As the tail is long enough, string 3 x 15/0 TOHO beads and stitch them the same way as previously.

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Step 47

This is the top of the tail. Pass the thread down the tail – now stitch it to the rivoli. Pass the thread through 11/0 TOHO bead in the belly. String 2 x 11/0 TOHO beads and pass through the bead in the tail, as shown in the picture.

Step 1