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Onyx Flower cuff bracelet tutorial

by Miannda on 12/26/12


About this design:

Happy New Year to all my fellow Limabeaders! Hope you enjoy this tutorial. I tried to make it as simple and clear as possible.

Components:

Adirondack Sunset Orange Alcohol Ink 15ml , Adirondack Wild Plum Alcohol Ink 15ml, E-6000 adhesive, Crafter's Pick - The Ultimate! Glue, Lacy's Stiff Stuff beading foundation, Ultra Suede backing, Bronze cuff blank, TOHO Metallic Moss Round 11/0 Seed Bead, TOHO Metallic Moss Round 15/0 Seed Bead, TOHO Montana Blue (with Oxblood Lining) Round 11/0 Seed Bead , TOHO Opaque Oxblood Round 15/0 Seed Bead , TOHO Rainbow Light Sapphire (with Opaque Teal Lining) Round 11/0 Seed Bead, TOHO Higher Metallic Frosted Carnival Round 11/0 Seed Bead , Oxblood Crystal Faceted Rondelle 4mm , TOHO One-G Thread

Additional Images:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Step 1:
Create a paper template for your cuff. Because my cuff blank was this unusual surfboard shape, I created my template by taping a piece of paper to the cuff and cutting the shape out.
Step 2:
Take your paper template and trace it onto the denim, add about 1/8" on each side. It is always a good idea to leave some room, you can always cut away the excess when needed. Cut it out.
Step 3:
Take the denim shape and glue it to the Lacy's Stiff Stuff foundation for stability. Make sure to spread the glue thoroughly, especially around the edge, as this will keep the denim from fraying. For this step you can use regular school or fabric glue. I used Crafter's Pick glue. Cut it out
Step 4:
Cut the flower shapes from the piece of fabric dab them with Adirondack Alcohol Inks until they become the color you desire.
Step 5:
Arrange all of you pieces on the denim outer backing and glue them. I used Crafter's Pick glue for the fabric flowers and E6000 for cabochons and beads. In this step I also traced the outline of my original paper template onto the front and back of the outer backing. I will use this outline as my guide when embroidering.
Step 6:
Start embroidering the first base row. For this row I used size 11 TOHO seed beads. Thread a needle with a comfortable length of thread. For this step and almost everything else, I use a bead embroidery stitch called a "two-three backstitch", because you add two beads and then stitch back three. a) Bring the needle from the underside, try to insert the needle as close as possible to the edge of the cabochon. Leave a 3" tail thread in the back. You may tie a knot at the end of the thread or leave the tail loose. b) Pick-up two size 11 beads and stitch down throughout the backing. c) Bring the needle back toward the starting point, leaving room to add one bead between the point where the needle entered and the two beads already added. Pick-up one bead and pass the needle through the two beads creation a row of three. d) Pick-up two beads and stitch down into the backing. From the back side, bring the needle back up to the top, counting back three. e) Repeat the "add two back three" around the cabochon. To close the loop , change the number of beads to fill the remaining space. f) To finish bring the needle and thread trough the entire row of beads several times.
Step 7:
Base row finished, here how it looks from the back.
Step 8:
Add the bezel row. The bezel row will keep the cabochon in place. For this row I used size 15 TOHO seed beads in Metallic Moss color. To create the bezel row follow the instructions in step six but stitch the beads in the "valley" between the base row and the cabochon.
Step 9:
Continue to add rows following the flower outline.
Step 10:
Once the embroidery part is finished, you are ready to glue the denim outer backing and the suede inner backing to the cuff blank
Step 11:
Trace the denim outer backing onto suede, this will be your inner backing. Cut it out. Glue the finished embroidery to the brass cuff blank. For this step I used E6000 industrial strength glue.
Step 12:
Trim the excess from the outer backing. Glue the sued inner backing to the inner side of the cuff, trim the excess.
Step 13:
Finish the cuff with the basic edge. a) Thread a needle with a comfortable length of thread. Pick-up one bead. Stitch from the front through the under backing and suede outer backing near the edge. b) Bring the needle up through the added bead. c) Repeat steps b and c around the edge.
Step 14:
To finish, push the needle down into the first bead before stitching through the backings to the back side. Bring the needle up through the fist bead and tie several knots. Cut the thread. You are done.
Step 15:
As a finishing touch, I dabbed some alcohol ink onto the gray thread that I used for the edge row, to mask it better.

Enjoy! Happy New Year!


Read the comments (or add your own)

  1. Asia

    On Dec 26, 2012 at 1:10 pm #

    Asia says:

    Happy New Year to you too, great design and tutorial :D , maybe one day I will try. There is so much to learn in beading I never realized that when I decided to start this hobby this year :D

  2. Deb Harding

    On Dec 26, 2012 at 1:23 pm #

    Deb Harding says:

    This cuff is gorgeous. Thanks for doing a tutorial. I’m not sure I’m ready to try that though. I’m.thinking I’m going to start on clothing…something.easy ;) .

    Happy New Year and hope you had a good Christmas

  3. NY Bella

    On Dec 26, 2012 at 1:37 pm #

    NY Bella says:

    What a gorgeous cuff, Miannda! You are so talented! Thank you for the tutorial! I’m going to keep it my faves. Perhaps, one day, I’ll attempt it when I get more confident in my beading skills! Happy New Year! Be well and safe!

  4. Julie Shane

    On Dec 26, 2012 at 2:23 pm #

    Julie Shane says:

    WOW! Miannda your tutorial is so detailed but so clear and understandable. You make it seem so easy-ish! But you must have hours and hours of work here. I’m impressed with this just like I am with all your other cuffs. :)

  5. PPR

    On Dec 26, 2012 at 3:01 pm #

    PPR says:

    Miannda: Such a lovely cuff and design. The work is so fabulous and thanks for the instructions! WOW….

    Happy New Year to you too. :)

  6. Crazy Chick Frida

    On Dec 26, 2012 at 4:51 pm #

    Crazy Chick Frida says:

    Happy New Year to you too Miannda! Your design is beautiful and thanks for the exellent tutorial :D

  7. Little Round Chick

    On Dec 26, 2012 at 5:17 pm #

    Little Round Chick says:

    Fabulous design, great color and excellent bead work! Thanks for the tutorial, too.

    Question…How do you find the hole in a 15/0 seed bead? I don’t think I could even see it with a magnifying glass. :D

    Hope your Christmas was joyful and that your New Year is happy and filled with wonderful moments.

  8. Lois D

    On Dec 26, 2012 at 8:18 pm #

    Lois D says:

    Miannda, thank you so much for sharing this wonderful tutorial with us all. I love your design using the fabric as a pattern. When I’m feeling ‘brave’ enough to try this, I know just what fabric I’ll use – I have a vintage piece of floral print cotton which I’m going to try. Your bead work is so beautiful as always. Thanks again and grace and peace to you and yours in the New Year.

  9. foxhill designs vt

    On Dec 26, 2012 at 11:34 pm #

    foxhill designs vt says:

    Beautiful design! Thanks for sharing.

  10. Peggy3

    On Dec 27, 2012 at 11:14 am #

    Peggy3 says:

    Very creative and pretty. Thanks for sharing the tutorial.

  11. JC Hamm

    On Dec 27, 2012 at 12:10 pm #

    JC Hamm says:

    Great design, and thanks for the tutorial, very easy to follow, going to have to try making. Your work is always gorgeous. :)

  12. Ali

    On Dec 27, 2012 at 1:02 pm #

    Ali says:

    Miannda, this is amazing. Great job on the step by step instructions and materials list. You made it so easy for everyone to follow and the design is AWESOME!

  13. gembeans

    On Dec 27, 2012 at 1:03 pm #

    gembeans says:

    Thank you for the tut, your work is perfection! Hey Little Round Chic, you just have to have faith… My mantra becomes: “The hole is there and I will find it!”

  14. Miannda

    On Dec 27, 2012 at 1:29 pm #

    Miannda says:

    Thank you ladies! It was fun making the tutorial. @gembeans Great mantra! I am adopting it :-)

  15. Dora H

    On Dec 27, 2012 at 5:37 pm #

    Dora H says:

    Awesome cuff.. Thank you for sharing your creation with us and your tutorial.. :)

  16. Elis Mom

    On Dec 28, 2012 at 12:15 am #

    Elis Mom says:

    WOW! Very pretty! Perhaps I will try this one day!

  17. puppychick labratbecky

    On Dec 28, 2012 at 12:29 pm #

    puppychick labratbecky says:

    Miannda you are a born teacher! Thanks so much for the excellent how-to!! I have one question: does the Lacy’s stiff stuff keep the denim from fraying after you have glued it on? Loose weaves like denim can be a pain but it looks like this method holds all the threads in place. Otherwise my clumsy hands would fray it for sure. :)

  18. Little Round Chick

    On Dec 28, 2012 at 4:00 pm #

    Little Round Chick says:

    ….The hole is there and I will find it…The hole is there and I will find it… The hole is there now how do I find it? :D

  19. Miannda

    On Dec 28, 2012 at 4:00 pm #

    Miannda says:

    Thank you puppychick! Yes, you bring up a very good point that I forgot to mention. The denim does fray and glueing it to Lacy’s Stiff Stuff does keep it from fraying around the edges. Thank you for bringing this up!

  20. Gramnan

    On Dec 29, 2012 at 9:53 am #

    Gramnan says:

    Great tutorial….Thanks

  21. Bunny

    On Dec 30, 2012 at 12:44 am #

    Bunny says:

    Wow!! Great tutorial. I’ve been dying to try bead embroidery and you made a simple enough project with a patterned fabric to follow that I don’t feel so intimidated now. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
    Is that all done with a beading needle? Denim is such a pain to sew by hand. I used to do embroidery on my jeans with floss.

  22. Miannda

    On Jan 02, 2013 at 10:56 am #

    Miannda says:

    Thank you Bunny! Yes, all done with #11 beading needle.

  23. DB

    On Jan 03, 2013 at 9:47 am #

    DB says:

    One word. Gorgeous!!!

  24. No Photo

    On Jan 10, 2013 at 5:00 pm #

    M Valdez says:

    Wow, you are an amazing lady. You did a beautiful job on the bracelet. Your tutorial is very easy to follow.
    Thank you for sharing your gift with us.
    Hope and pray that 2013 will bring you many blessings.
    Thank you again.
    Maria Valdez

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