7/22/2019 Billies Bounce Necklace
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Rachel Nelson-Smith has one of the most
unique creative voices in beading.
Marcia DeCoster
BEADRIFFS
7/22/2019 Billies Bounce Necklace
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RACH
EL
N
ELSO
N
-SM
ITH
S
BEAD
RIFFS
BILLIES BOUNCELengths of peyote stitch connect components togetherthe beaded rings bob and
they wiggle, evoking the melody line of Charlie Parkers tune Billies Bounce.
Throw in lyrics by Eddie Jefferson for a riotously good time.
SUPPLIES
Size 11 round seed beads:
A, burnt sienna opaque, 4 g
B, olive metallic, 4 g
C, lavender opaque AB, 4 g
D, blue metallic iris, 4 g
E, maroon metallic iris, 4 g
F, olive opaque, 4 g
G, dark blue metallic, 4 g
H, olive silver-lined, 4 g
I, light topaz matte silver-lined, 1 g
J, charcoal matte metallic, 12 g
512 topaz bicone crystals, 4 mm
Size 12 beading needles
Red thread
Sharp snips
Suede or velvet work surface
TECHNIQUES
Right Angle Weave
1-Drop Bump
2-Drop Bump
Finish with Finial Beads
Right Angle Weave
Base Embellishment
FINISHED SIZE
58 inches (1.5 m) long
figure 1
Overview
A series of right angle weave and peyote
wheels are embellished with two different
techniques, then connected together with
tubular peyote stitch.
Wheel Base
Following the instructions below, make
two right angle weave wheels each
in colors A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H, for
a total of 16 wheels. Steps 1 through
4 are shown in figure 1. Work with a
single thread and reinforce each base for
strength and stiffness.
1To make the first unit, string seven beads,
tie a simple double knot, leaving a 6-inch
(15.2 cm) tail to be worked in later, and
pass through the first two beads again.
2For subsequent units, *string five beads
and pass through the last two beads
exited and the first four just added. String
five beads and pass through the last
two beads exited and the first three just
added. Repeat from * six times. String two
beads, pass through the two end beads
of the first unit, string one bead, and pass
through the two end beads of the last unit
added and the two beads just added(red line).
Made in High Times colorway
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3Repeat steps 1 and 2 to make a second
base in the same color.
4Weave through beads to exit any set of
two beads on the outside edge of the firstbase. String two beads and pass through
a set of two beads on the edge of the sec-
ond base. String two beads, pass through
the last two beads exited of the first base,
the first two beads added, and the two
beads of the next unit of the second base
(blue line). Continue to connect the bases
with two beads at a time.
5Weave through the beads to exit a bead
on the inside edge of the first base. String
one bead and pass through a bead on the
edge of the second base. String one bead
and pass through the last bead exited on
the first base, the first bead added, and the
next bead of the second base. Continue toconnect the bases with one bead at a time
(figure 2).
Wheel Embellishment
1Weave through the beadwork to any
2-drop opening on the wheel edge.
Embellish the opening of the base edgewith one round of the 2-drop bump pat-
tern in the same color as the base. Cinch
the round and add a finial bead of color
I. Repeat to add a 2-drop bump to every
other opening, and make the seventh and
fifteenth bumps without finial beads.
2
Weave through the beadwork to exitany set of two beads on the outer edge of
the face on one side of the wheel. Add a
4-mm crystal to all 16 openings. Repeat on
the other side of the wheel.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 to embellish all
16 wheels.
Finish
Working with a wheel in color A, weave
through the beadwork to exit any of the
four beads in the cinch of a 2-drop bump
where a finial bead was not added. Work
the bump into 50 rows of a 1-drop bump,
adding two Js in each row, one at a time.
Stitch the final row to a finial-free bump onthe next wheel, color B. Repeat to attach
all wheels in this order: A, B, C, D, E, F, G,
H, D, A, B, C, H, E, F, Gor improvise your
own arrangement.
RIFF IT
Make a shorter necklace by
using fewer components or
shorter lengths of 1-dropbump connections.
Add soldered jump rings to the
ends of the 1-drop bump lengths
and attach the clasp ends with
open jump rings.
Use thread of different colors for
each component.
Make a beaded belt with several
components forming fringe at
the ends.
Make an open-ended lariat
necklace.
Stitch one big bead into thecomponent center.
Make multiple strands for an
opulent beaded curtain.
Stitch a monte where the finial
bead goes.
figure 2