LADDER STITCH
You’ll have fun playing with the new Pellet
beads while you create this flexible bangle
in a monochromatic or striped palette.
FCT-SC-101016_04
designed by Kerrie Slade
©2013 Kalmbach Publishing Co. This material may not be
reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher.
facetjewelry.com
Difficulty rating
4 x 6 mm Pellet bead, color A
b
a
Materials
all bangles
• Fireline 6 lb. test or .008 Wildfire
• beading needles, #11 or #12
4 x 6 mm Pellet bead, color B
4 x 6 mm Pellet bead, color C
d
c
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
c
b
a
a
c
b
d
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 5
stepbystep
The following instructions are for the
black/silver/topaz bangle, which results in
three long stripes around the length of the
bangle. You can also work the bangle in
all one color, as in the silver version, or
modify the pattern for short vertical
stripes, as in the blue/green/ivory bangle.
[1] On a comfortable length of thread
and leaving a 6-in. (15 cm) tail, work in
ladder stitch (How-Tos) to make a threebead ladder using a color A, a color B,
and a color C 4 x 6 mm Pellet bead. The
holes in the Pellets should be parallel to
each other and oriented horizontally with
the flat round ends facing you (figure 1).
[2] Pick up a C and a B, and sew through
the B in the previous row. Continue
through the C in the previous row and
the C just added (figure 2, a–b). The new
Pellets should be positioned so that
the indented sides are facing you. Sew
through the B added in this step, the B
in the previous row, and the A in the
previous row (b–c). Pick up an A, sew
through the B added in this step, and
continue through the A just added (c–d).
Make sure that the A, like the B and the
C, is positioned with the indented side
facing you.
[3] Pick up an A and a B, and sew
through the B and the C in the previous
row (figure 3, a–b). Position the new
Pellets so that the flat round ends are
facing you. Pick up a C, and sew through
the B added in this step, the B and the C
in the previous row, and the C just added
(b–c). Make sure that the C, like the B
and the A, is positioned with the flat
round end facing you.
[4] Pick up a C and a B, sew through
the B and the C in the previous row,
and continue through the C just added
(figure 4, a–b). The new Pellets should be
positioned so that the indented sides are
facing you. Sew through the B added in
this step and the B and the A in the
previous row (b–c). Pick up an A, and
sew through the B added in this step, the
B and the A in the previous row, and the
A just added (c–d). Make sure that the A,
like the B and the C, is positioned with
the indented side facing you.
[5] Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the desired
length bangle, ending and adding thread
(How-Tos) as needed and ending with an
even number of rows. Our 2¼-in. (5.7
cm) diameter bangle has 46 Pellets along
each edge. The bangle should just fit
around the widest part of your hand.
[6] To join the ends: Work a ladder stitch
thread path through the first and last
rows (figure 5). Retrace the thread path,
and end the working thread and tail. w
black/silver/topaz bangle 2¼ in.
(5.7 cm) diameter
• Preciosa traditional Czech beads
8 g 4 x 6 mm Pellet beads in each of 3 colors: A (23980, jet), B (29942, crystal volcano), C (23901, crystal blond flare)
silver bangle colors:
• 24 g 4 x 6 mm Pellet beads
(27400, crystal full chrome)
blue/green/ivory
bangle colors:
• 6 g Pellet beads in
each of 5 colors:
(teal; www.kandrasbeads.com), (ivory;
www.kandrasbeads.com), (aqua;
www.kandrasbeads.com), (6NB185,
opaque turquoise; www.shipwreckbeads.com), (6NB173, opaque blue;
www.shipwreckbeads.com)
Beads available at www.redpandabeads.com unless otherwise noted.
Kerrie Slade teaches
beadwork internationally. Visit her at
www.kerrieslade.
co.uk.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
If your tension is a little loose,
you can tighten it up after you
complete the bangle: Add 1 yd.
(.9 m) of thread to the beadwork, exiting an edge bead.
Sew through the beads along
one edge, sew through to the
opposite edge, and repeat.