Rocailles are the most frequently used type of seed beads. They have been used for stringing and embroidery for hundreds of years. This tutorial will enable you to make a timeless bracelet in very current colors.
We present a tutorial to make a bracelet in cool tones of menthol, blue and grey. Thanks to the wide offer of seed bead colors in the PRECIOSA Traditional Czech Beads range, you can harmonize everything with your wardrobe according to your current mood and the season. It is entirely up to you! The perfect combination of various stitches, colors, sizes and surface finishes on the rocailles creates an interesting effect as if the bracelet had been woven.
PRECIOSA ORNELA wishes you much enjoyment from your beadworking and from the finished products.
PRECIOSA rocailles (R1)
311 19 001; 8/0; 03050 (396x) chalk
PRECIOSA rocaille (R2)
311 19 001; 10/0; 03050 (24x) chalk
PRECIOSA rocaille (R3)
311 19 001; 10/0; 33020 (224x) blue
PRECIOSA rocaille (R4)
331 19 001; 10/0; 48020 (186x) grey
PRECIOSA rocaille (R5)
331 19 001; 10/0; 18565 (1230x) menthol
silver: hollow arms (width: 2 cm); ovals; an adjusting chain; a carabiner
a 0.20 mm nylon line; a thin needle; scissors; flat nose pliers (for flattening the beginning of the line before threading it onto the needle, closing the ovals); snipping pliers
First sew the initial band using the "right angle weave stitch" and the chalk R1. Sew a column (the narrower size) from arm to arm - a total of 30 columns of six "squares" (six rows) = the length.
Step 1:
The first column – string 15x R1 onto the line. String and add the R1 so that they create "squares" of 4x rocailles.
Tie off the ends of the line (fig. nos. 1a, 1b).
(fig. no. 1b)
Step 2:
The eyes next to the arm. Thread the line to the outer rocaille of the fifth "square". String 3x R2. Thread the line through the outer R1 from the opposite side. Thread the line through the R2 and R1 one more time.
Repeat this step in the 4th, 3rd and 2nd "squares" (fig. no. 2).
Thread the line through the first "square" from the 1st column.
Step 3:
The second column – always string 3x R1 and thread the line through the outer rocailles of the "squares" from the 1st column. Add the beads and thread the line through the strung and outer rocailles of the "squares" so that they create new "squares" (fig. no. 3).
Step 4:
The third column – always string 3x R1 and thread the line through the outer rocailles of the "squares" from the 2nd column. Add the beads and thread the line through the strung and outer rocailles of the "squares" so that they create new squares (fig. no. 4).
Step 5:
Repeat step three and four and alternate them until you create 30 columns.
Step 6:
Create eyes next to the second arm = step 2.
The top "herringbone" pattern: sew the rows along the length, arch by arch. Sew the first half of the arches in one direction and add the second half when returning to the beginning of the row. Use the central R1 in the rows (formerly the outer rocailles by the columns).
Step 7:
Thread the line through the central R1 in the outward direction. String 10x R5. Span the arch over two "squares". Thread the line through the central rocaille from the inwards side and emerge outwards. String 10x R5 again. Span the arch and thread the line through the central rocaille. Continue in this way until the end of the row (fig. no. 5).
Step 8:
Thread the line through the last "square" to the penultimate one.
Emerge from the central rocaille in the downward direction. String 10x R3. Span the arch over two "squares". Thread the line into the central rocaille from the outer side. Continue in this way, alternate the arch colors (R3, R5, R4, R5), (fig. no. 6).
Step 9:
Sew the pattern in the 2nd row. Thread the line through the 1st "square" of the 1st row to the outer central R1 of the first "square" of the 2nd row. Thread the line through it inwards. The arch once again consists of 10x R5. String the line through 8x R5 again; use 2x from the arches in the first row. As such, you will thread the line through 8x R5. Span the arch over two "squares". Thread the line through 2x R5 from the already sewn arch. Insert the line into the central rocaille from the outside direction. Continue in this way to the end of the row (fig. no. 7).
Step 10:
Thread the line to the penultimate "square". Thread the line through 2x R10/0 from the already strung arch. String 8x R5. Alternate the colors R3, R5, R4 and R5. Span the arch across two "squares". Thread the line through the central rocailles from the internal side. Continue to the beginning of the row (fig. no. 8).
Step 11:
Thread the line to the 1st "square" in the 3rd row, to the outer central rocaille. Thread the line through it in the outward direction. Thread the line through 2x R 10/0 from the already strung arch. String 8x R3. Span the arch across two "squares". Thread the line through the central rocaille from the internal side. Alternate the rocailles R3, R5, R4 and R5. Continue to the end of the row (fig. no. 9).
Step 12:
Thread the line to the penultimate "square". Thread the line through the central rocaille from the outer side. String 8x R5. Span the arch. Thread the line through 2x R10/0 from the already strung arch. Thread the line through the central rocaille from the outer side. Continue to the beginning of the row (fig. no. 10).
Step 13:
Continue similarly as in Step 9. Alternate the colors.
Step 14:
Continue similarly as in Step 10. Only use R5.
Step 15:
Continue similarly as in Step 11. Only use R5.
Step 16:
Continue similarly as in Step 12. Alternate the colors.
Step 17:
Continue similarly as in Step 9. Only use R5.
Step 18:
Continue similarly as in Step 10. Alternate the colors.
Step 19:
Slide the arm onto the outer R2 and close the top.
Step 20:
Use the ovals to attach the carabiner and both ends of the adjusting chain.
Designer: Helena Chmelíková
Download Cool menthol bracelet in PDF
