DIY Network

Ndebele Bracelet From "Jewelry Making" episode DJMK-108

The completed Ndebele bracelet -- with button.

Guest Leslee Frumin shares her technique for creating a beaded Ndebele (end-duh-belly) bracelet.

Materials:

15 grams of found Japanese seed beads size 11
Assortment of embellishment beads (triangles, size 8 and smaller beads in a variety of colors & shapes)
Spool of Nymo thread size D or B or one card of Silamide size A thread that matches your beads
1-2 buttons with shanks, about 1/2" in diameter (for closure)
2 size 12 beading needles
Bees’ wax
Small sharp scissors

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	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

1. Cut a thread the length of your outstretched arms. Condition and needle the thread; do NOT double or knot it.

2. Needle on 20 beads leaving at least 12" at the end to use later. Needle into the tail end of beads 17 & 18. Next needle into the tail end of beads 15 & 16 (figure A). Repeat until done; you will end up with 10 pairs.

3. To begin row 3, needle on 2 beads, and needle down through bead 3. Needle up through bead #5 and needle on 2 beads. Continue in this matter, basically adding row 3 in pairs of beads, until you needle down through bead 19. Needle up through bead 17 and angle your needle back and up through the newest added end bead. Your needle should now be coming up out of the top end bead (figure B). Notice how all the beads are starting to form a pattern.

4. Continue with row 4, adding 2 beads above each 2-bead stack. You may have to nudge the beads into sitting in the nice herringbone pattern. At the end of each row, you must reposition the needle up into the correct position to continue.

5. After row 5, start the button hole. Add beads up on stacks 1 and 2 until the side is long enough for the button (figure C).

6. Needle down, across stack number 3, and build up stacks 4 and 5 to match.

7. Move across and create a connector (figure D) by using a ladder stitch to bridge the gap and treat the new added beads as the original stack. Then continue the herringbone stitch as before.

8. To add thread (when needed), do a series of 3 half hitches and needle out of where the old thread is. Then do a series of half hitches to the end of the old thread before snipping it.

9. To add embellishment beads, start the row in the usual manner. When your needle is between pairs of beads, you may add a different color or shaped bead. Needle up into the next bead to continue as usual. If you want to add a larger bead, you may choose to use a smaller bead and then in the next row add the bigger bead. Do as much or as little as pleases you.

10. To add a closure: Use a shank button and needle back and forth through the shank and into the beadwork 3-4 times to make the button secure. It should be at least ½" from the edge of your work. Be sure the button is proportioned to the size of the bracelet.

GUESTS :
Leslee Frumin
E-mail: lfrumin@aol.com
Web site: http://hometown.aol.com/lfrumin