ONE-STRAND WONDER
A corner on
STYLE
A single strand of diagonally
drilled squares makes an edgy set
by Linda Aspenson Bergstrom
There’s no doubt about it — the
bracelet is the star of this set. Let
your eyes hopscotch across the
squares, cleverly arranged by
stringing the wire through the
beads in unexpected directions.
Use the remaining squares to
make a necklace and earrings with
bicones and kite-shaped chandelier
components that accentuate the
angles of the beads.
1
FCT-SR-080816_03
bracelet • Cut a 25-in. (64 cm)
piece of beading wire. Center
half of a clasp on the wire. Over
both wires, string three seed beads
and a microcrimp bead. Flatten
the crimp bead (How-Tos). Over
both wires, string: three seed
beads, square, three seed beads,
square, one seed bead.
2
On each wire, string two squares.
With one wire, go back through
the last square on the opposite
wire. Gently tighten the wire until
the beads form a four-square.
Repeat with the other wire.
©2010 Kalmbach Publishing Co. This material may not be
reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher.
3
On each wire, string 13 to 17
seed beads. Over both wires,
string a seed bead, a square, and
a seed bead. On each wire, string
a square and five seed beads.
facetjewelry.com
Supplies
4
String the wires through a
square in opposite directions.
Pull the wires gently so the previous
two squares sit side by side.
6
On each wire, string a square.
With one wire, go back through
the square on the opposite wire.
Repeat with the other wire. On
each wire, string a square. These
beads will form a four-square
in step 7.
1
necklace • Cut a 1¼-in. (3.2 cm)
piece of wire and make a plain
loop (How-Tos). String a 4 mm
bicone crystal, a square, and a
4 mm. Make a plain loop. Make
four double-bicone units.
5
On each wire, string five seed
beads and a square. Over
both wires, string a seed bead,
a square, and a seed bead. On
each wire, string 13 to 17 seed
beads.
7
Over both wires, string: seed
bead, square, three seed
beads, square, three seed beads,
standard crimp bead, three seed
beads, half of a clasp. Check the
fit, and add or remove beads if
necessary. Go back through the
last few beads strung and tighten
the wires. Crimp the crimp bead
and trim the excess wire. Close a
crimp cover over each crimp.
2
Cut a 1½-in. (3.8 cm) piece of
wire and make a plain loop.
String a seed bead, a square, a
6 mm bicone crystal, and a seed
bead. Make a plain loop. Make
eight single-bicone units.
necklace 32–33 in. (81–84 cm)
◆ 16-in. (41 cm) strand 6–8 mm
gemstone squares, diagonally
drilled
◆ 8 6 mm bicone crystals
◆ 8 4 mm bicone crystals
◆ 1 g 110 seed beads
◆ 33 in. (84 cm) 22-gauge halfhard wire
◆ 13 in. (33 cm) chain, 3–4 mm
links
◆ chainnose and roundnose pliers
◆ diagonal wire cutters
bracelet
◆ 19 6–8 mm gemstone squares
left over from necklace
◆ 1–2 g 110 seed beads
◆ flexible beading wire, .010
◆ 2 crimp beads, one standard
and one micro
◆ 2 crimp covers
◆ toggle clasp
◆ chainnose pliers
◆ diagonal wire cutters
◆ crimping pliers (optional)
earrings
◆ 2 6–8 mm gemstone squares
left over from necklace
◆ 6 4 mm bicone crystals
◆ 2 three-to-one chandelier
components
◆ 8 1-in. (2.5 cm) head pins
◆ pair of earring wires
◆ chainnose and roundnose pliers
◆ diagonal wire cutters
◆ E6000 adhesive
◆ toothpick
Lapis lazuli square beads from
Fire Mountain Gems and Beads,
800.355.2137, firemountaingems
.com. Check your local bead store
for supplies.
Tip
To make the four-squares in the
bracelet, use only squares that
are the same size and drilled
perfectly corner to corner.
1 in.
3
4
Open a loop (Basics) of a
square unit and attach a loop
of another square unit. Close the
loop. Attach four squares to make
a linked-square segment. Make
four linked-square segments.
5
1
2
3
Cut a 1-in. (2.5 cm) piece of
wire and make a plain loop.
String a seed bead, a square,
and a seed bead. Make a plain
loop perpendicular to the first.
Make 16 square units.
earrings • On a head pin,
string a square. At the end of
the head pin, make a plain loop
(How-Tos). Open the loop (How-Tos)
and attach the top loop
of a chandelier component.
Close the loop.
Slide the square up and use a
toothpick to spread adhesive
on the lower part of the head pin.
Slide the square over the adhesive
and let dry.
Tips
4
Attach a bicone unit to each
bottom loop of the chandelier
and complete the wraps. Open the
loop of an earring wire and attach
the dangle. Close the loop. Make
a second earring. ✳
• Diagonally drilled squares
may also be called diamonds
or rhombuses, depending on
where you buy them.
• For the bracelet, use a microcrimp bead for the end with two
passes of wire and a standard
size crimp bead for the end with
four passes of wire. Crimp covers
will make both crimps look the
same size.
½ in.
½ in.
1 in.
Cut eight ½-in. (1.3 cm) and
eight 1-in. (2.5 cm) pieces of
chain. Attach: linked-square
segment, 1-in. chain, single-bicone
unit, ½-in. chain, double-bicone
unit, ½-in. chain, single-bicone unit,
1-in. chain. Continue attaching in
this pattern. Attach the final chain
to the first linked-square segment.
On a head pin, string a bicone
crystal and make the first half
of a wrapped loop (How-Tos). Make
three bicone units.
Linda Aspenson
Bergstrom
Linda has been beading
for just over a year and
already her jewelry
business has become
her full-time job. As a
former journalist and artist, she is familiar
with all kinds of designer’s block. “When
I experience beader’s block, I have
found the best cure is to head for the
bead shop. There is nothing like a new
strand of beads I have never used
before or a new finding to get me going
again!”