How to make earrings using GEMDUO beads – beaded earrings step by step
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Information about this project
Designed by: Honorata Bielecka
Difficulty: Intermediate
MATUBO beads provide lots of possibilities. We know you love these beads and you use them often in your designs. So, Honorata has decided to show you how to make elegant earrings using GemDuo beads. They’re amazing and you can make them with Honorata with ease. Don’t waste any time, pick up your needles and start creating miracles. It will be difficult to settle for just one pair.
Supplies used in this project:
- GemDuo Metallic Suede-Blue (U7162)
- 15/0, 11/0, 8/0 TOHO in hematite (suggestions: SB110010, U1510, 15TR611)
- 6mm round CrystaLove crystals, in black, lustered (S4898)
- 3mm CrystaLove bicone in black, lustered (U4591)
- 4mm x 3mm CrystaLove rondelle in silver, lustered (U4591)
- 11mm x 8mm faceted drops in black, lustered (alternative: B2308)
- Open earwires (or leverback earrings)
- Black One-G thread
- Beading needle
- Scissors
- Small pliers
Step 1
Cut approximately 65cm length of thread and thread the needle. Starting from a GemDuo beads, string 4 GemDuo beads and 4 11/0 TOHO alternately.
Step 2
Pass the needle through all the beads strung once again to close them in a circle.
Step 3
String a round CrystaLove crystal and again, starting from a GemDuo bead, string 4 GemDuo and 4 11/0 TOHO alternately.
Step 4
Pass through the beads just strung once again (omit the last 11/0 TOHO) to close them in a circle.
Step 5
Pass through the CrystaLove crystal and a GemDuo bead.
Don’t pull the thread too tightly – the CrystaLove crystal will need some space to place itself correctly.
Step 6
String 15/0, 11/0 and 15/0 TOHO and pass the needle through the top hole of the GemDuo bead.
Step 7
String 1 11/0 TOHO and pass the needle through a GemDuo bead.
Step 8
String the sequence of 15/0, 11/0 and 15/0 TOHO again and pass the needle through a GemDuo bead.
Step 9
Pass the needle as the thread guides you – through 11/0 TOHO and GemDuo, so that you are on the other side of your work.
Step 10
String the sequence of 15/0, 11/0 and 15/0 TOHO and pass the needle through the top hole of a GemDuo bead, creating a mirror image of the first side of your work.
Step 11
Add 1 11/0 TOHO bead between GemDuo beads, and then add the 4th sequence of 15/0, 11/0 and 15/0 TOHO. Pass the needle through 11/0 TOHO placed by the CrystaLove crystal. Pull the thread so that the GemDuo beads push the CrystaLove crystal a bit forward.
Step 12
Make a frame around the crystal by adding 4 sequences of 11/0, 8/0 and 11/0 TOHO beads.
Step 13
Pass the needle through the beads towards the top part of your work, We will make a loop for the earwire.
Step 14
String a sequence of 15/0, 11/0 and 15/0 TOHO and pass the needle through a GemDuo bead.
Step 15
String 1 15/0 TOHO, a bicone crystal and 1 15/0 TOHO and pass the needle through 15/0 and 11/0 TOHO which were added earlier.
Step 16
Pass the needle through the beads towards the other side of your work. The thread should come out of 15/0 TOHO.
Step 17
String 15/0 TOHO, a bicone crystal and 15/0 TOHO and pass the needle through a GemDuo bead.
Step 18
String a sequence of 15/0, 11/0 and 15/0 TOHO and pass the needle through a GemDuo bead.
Step 19
As the beads guide you, pass the needle through the beads added at the very beginning of your work towards the top 11/0 TOHO bead.
String 7 15/0 TOHO.
Step 20
Pass the needle through the 5 last beads to close them in a circle.
Step 21
String 2 15/0 TOHO beads and pass the needle through 11/0 and 15/0 TOHO on the opposite side. The top part of the earring is done.
Step 22
Pass the needle through the beads (as the thread guides you) towards the opposite side of the earring.
Step 23
String 15/0 and 11/0 TOHO, a bicone, 11/0 and 15/0 TOHO and pass the needle through 11/0 TOHO.
Step 24
Again, pass the needle towards the opposite side of your work (as the beads guide you)…
Step 25
… so that the thread comes out of 15/0 TOHO.
Step 26
String a sequence of 15/0 and 11/0 TOHO, a bicone, 11/0 and 15/0 TOHO and pass the needle through 11/0 TOHO. Both sides of the earring are finished.
Step 27
The thread comes of the top part of the earring. Pass the needle through the beads (as the thread guides you) towards the bottom part of the earring, so that the thread comes of a GemDuo bead.
Step 28
Make the bottom part of the earring the same way as the top one. Add a sequence of 15/0, 11/0 and 15/0 TOHO.
Step 29
Add a sequence of 15/0 TOHO, a bicone and 15/0 TOHO.
Step 30
Pass the needle through the beads towards the opposite side of your work and, as it was done previously, add a sequence of 15/0 TOHO, a bicone and 15/0 TOHO.
Step 31
Add a sequence of 15/0, 11/0 and 15/0 TOHO.
Step 32
As the beads guide you, pass the needle towards 11/0 TOHO. String 3 15/0 TOHO, 1 11/0 TOHO, a faceted drop, a silver rondelle bead and 15/0 TOHO.
Step 33
Omitting the last added 15/0 TOHO, pass the needle through the beads, the drop, the rondelle bead and the 11/0 TOHO again.
Step 34
String 3 15/0 TOHO and pass the needle through 11/0 TOHO.
Step 35
As the thread guides you, pass the needle around the GemDuo bead and pass through 15/0 TOHO.
Step 36
String 1 bicone crystal and pass the needle through 2 15/0 TOHO.
Step 37
Go back passing through 2 15/0 TOHO and pass through the bicone crystal just added.
Step 38
Pass the needle through 15/0 TOHO.
Step 39
To secure the thread, pass the needle through the following beads, as the thread guides you until you are sure the thread won’t unweave.
The earring is 5.5 cm long (earwire not included).
Step 40
The last step is to attach the earwire. Use the small pliers. The earring is finished.
You may also create an elegant, eye-catching bracelet using the earring motif.
Step 41
Now you know how to make GemDuo earrings, so we’re waiting for your versions of them. Honorata made elegant earrings and, who knows, maybe you will use some summer or more contrastive colours. Show us your work on our Facebook group.
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