Woven Seed Bead Ring- Tutorial

How to make Woven Seed Bead Rings 
I made these rings with my 10yo's 4-H group, it's a great activity for kids ages 7+.  The tweens and teens REALLY got into it!  See my post here all about the project.  You'll notice in the picture that the rings all vary a bit with their bead colors and design motifs... the kids very quickly figured out that they could change the bead colors and numbers to create their own styles.  Watching this process develop was one of my favorite parts of the workshop!

Materials

18” of 26mm wire
Approx. 50 size 8 glass beads color A, approx 1.5 grams
Optional: 4 size 8 glass beads color B, or more if you get into personalizing the design
Wire cutters
Optional: Metal File


Instructions


  1.  Cut a 18” length of wire with your wire cutters.




 2.  String on 2 beads (color A) and place at middle of the wire.




3.  Thread on 2 more beads (color A), and before sliding them to the middle of the wire, thread other end of wire through them in the opposite direction.




4.  Slide down this pair of beads until “snug” up against first pair, make sure to keep the wires the same length on both sides.
5.  Repeat steps 3 + 4 five more times. (7 rows of 2 beads each)







 

6.  Thread on 3 beads (color A).
7. 
Repeat step 4.


8.  Thread on 1 bead color A, 1 bead color B, 1 bead color A. (3 beads total)
9.  Repeat step 4.





10.  Thread on 1 bead color A, 2 beads color B, 1 bead color A. (4 beads total)
11.  Repeat step 4.









12.  Repeat steps 8 + 9.




13.  Repeat steps 3 + 4 seven more times.  This is a good time to try on the ring.  The dimensions here are given for a ring that is approx. 5/8” diamater (I don’t have a ring sizer) If you need the ring to be bigger, repeat steps 3 + 4 until it fits the way you want it to, if you want it to be smaller, repeat steps 3 + 4 fewer times.


 



14. 
Finish off: Thread the wire ends through the center of the first beads again.  These will fit through because only one length of wire went through them. 






15. Snug up tight to form the ring.

16. Then weave each wire in and out of the side edge of the ring. Trim off as close as possible with wire cutters.  You may want to use a metal file to smooth the cuts sharp edges.





NOTE: 
It is really important that you don’t let the wire “kink” while you work with it.  If you do, the beads won’t be able to slide over the kink and you won’t be able to “snug” the beads down before you being your next row.



Please ask ?'s or share your own experiences with this technique... I'd love to hear what you've been making!

Comments

  1. These look beautiful! I might try one and let my little person "assist" me and make design choices. Your 4H group is so lucky to have you!

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  2. Ohh, I want to do them with your little person too! (and I have the supplies, which might tempt you : )!!)

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  3. great tutorial laura! i might try this at summer camp with the older kids.

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  5. Hi!

    I recently posted an entry on my blog with a link to this tutorial.

    I'd appreciate your letting me know if that's OK.

    Thanks,

    Nancy Ward
    http://paperfriendly.blogspot.com

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  6. These are so beautiful! And what fun for your group to have the chance to learn this.

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  7. I had some beads left over from card-making but my wire was too fat, so I used a double strand of cotton thread instead and it's worked out perfectly! This is such a great idea and now I can have jewellery to match every outfit! Thank you :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Just stumbled upon your awesome tutorial! I've done many kids parties where they enjoyed bead weaving necklaces and bracelets. Here is a post showing the results from one -

    http://www.beadinggem.com/2008/01/birthday-beadweaving-party.html

    Rings would have been fun too!

    Thanks for your inspiration. I will link in a future blog post so others can come visit.

    Pearl

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  9. fantastic...if kids can do..so can I...I discovered bead weaving recently so this would be a great addition to my work...thanks :)

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  11. These rings are beautiful...and you made it look so easy! Thank you! It will be great to learn how and teach my grandaughter!

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  25. Hello, I just wanted to add my thanks. I'm 62 yrs old and disabled, but I think I can make this ring. It is so cute. I have lots of beads, so I am gonna have some fun today. God bles you, dear. kathy

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  27. This is the first time I have seen these exact instructions, which is how we made these rings 49 years ago when I was 10, which is what first inspired me with crafts and seed beads. Thank you.

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