How to make a beaded cat. A jewellery making tutorial
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Information about this project
Designed by: Alicja Czapla
Difficulty: Intermediate
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 2
Pass through all the beads.
Step 3
Pull the thread to make a circle. Tie a knot.
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 5
String 1 bead and pass through the fourth one.
Step 6
Repeat until you complete the whole circle.
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.
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 9
Pass through, so that the thread comes out of the 11/0 bead.
Step 10
Add 15/0 TOHO beads between 11/0 TOHO beads. Pull the thread tightly. Our work should raise a little.
Step 11
Pass through so that the thread comes out of the 15/0 bead.
Step 12
Put in the crystal.
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 14
As you complete the circle…
Step 15
… add 15/0 beads again, as shown in the picture.
Step 16
Complete the circle.
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 18
String 1 x 15/0 TOHO bead and pass through not one, but two beads, as shown in the picture.
Step 19
Pass the thread to the top and add 1 x 15/0 bead in the places marked with red dots.
Step 20
The belly is done.
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 22
Pass the thread through so that it comes out of the 11/0 bead.
Step 23
String 1 x bicone crystal and 1 x 15/0 TOHO bead.
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 25
Pass the thread so that it comes out of the 11/0 TOHO bead.
Step 26
String 5 x 15/0 TOHO beads and a bail.
Step 27
Pass through the other side of the 11/0 TOHO bead.
Step 28
Make a circle. Pass the thread so that it comes out of the nearest 11/0 bead. Pull it tightly.
Step 29
String 1 x bicone crystal and 1 x 15/0 TOHO bead.
Step 30
As previously, pass the thread back.
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.
Step 32
Pass through the 11/0 TOHO bead – the one in the belly.
Step 33
Pass through the 11/0 TOHO bead in the head, as shown in the picture.
Step 34
Pull the thread tightly and pass through this bond several times, so that the two elements are stitched to each other tightly.
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 36
Pass the thread through the beads again.
Step 37
Pull the thread to make a circle.
Step 38
Tie a knot. Pass the thread through two beads.
Step 39
String 2 x 11/0 TOHO beads and pass through as shown in the picture.
Step 40
The thread should exit as shown.
Step 41
Pass through the nearest bead and pass through 2 x 11/0 TOHO beads.
Step 42
String 2 x TOHO beads and pass through one TOHO bead, as shown in the picture.
Step 43
Repeat until 10 x 11/0 TOHO beads are stitched.
Step 44
String 1 x 11/0 and 1 x 15/0 TOHO beads.
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.
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.
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 48
Pass the thread through the two elements several times to stitch them tightly. Pass the thread to the back and cut both ends. The cat is done.
Step 49
I hope you like the course and I’m waiting for your cats.
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