Last week, I showed you how to make French beaded rosebud earrings. It was going to be just an one-off jewelry project but then I had the idea to turn it into rings. But not just a simple ring…but stackable rings that you can interchange the rose with the leaves. Oh how fun is that to make a series of rosebuds in different colors and then match it with with the leaves ring? I introduced the technique of making beaded rings without any findings in my book and another pdf. This is the first time I’m making this technique available for free.
French beading Pre-requisite Techniques:
If you need to learn the techniques, here are some free pdfs along with video demos.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Materials:
- 2 grams 11/0 petal color seed beads
- 3 grams 11/0 green seed beads
- 30 inches (76.2 cm) 26 gauge silver wire
- 25 inches (63.5 cm) 24 gauge green wire
Tools:
- Wire cutters
- Chain nose pliers
- Measuring tape/Ruler
These are basic written instructions to accompany the video for your reference.
Rosebud ring:
- On a length of of cut 26-gauge wire, string on about 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 cm) of green beads.
- Leave a 2 inch (5 cm) tail and wrap the beads around your finger to get the right size. Twist the wires together to form a loop. Make sure it goes through your finger. If it does not, adjust the loop. Alternately, if you have a ring sizer doodad, you can use that.
- Create a series of 7-bead scallop sections through the whole ring.
- String on 10 inches (25.4 cm) of petal color beads.
- Make three 5-bead CWL for the inner petals.
- Wrap the working-wire around the base of the petals. Make five 7-bead CWL.
- Wrap the petals around the inner petals and then wrap the working-wire around the base twice.
- Make five 8-bead CL. Making the first loop here can be a challenge because of the tight space. (Watch the video for tips on this step).
- Wrap the loops around the base. Wrap the working-wire between the calyx and the petals a few times tightly. Cut and tuck. Do the same with the tail wire. Finishing the wire in between the calyx and the petals hides the wires and prevents it from scratching you as you wear it.
Leaves ring:
- On a length of cut 24-gauge green wire, make the ring base according the Step 1 to 3 from the Rosebud ring directions but leaf a 6 inch (15.4 cm) tail. You do want to use 24 gauge wire here because the leaves need the stability of the wire.
- String on 12 inches (30.4 cm) of green beads.
- Twist the working-wire and the tail wire (now acts like a basic wire) to form an 1/8 inch (.3 cm) twisted wire.
- String 3 beads onto the tail/basic wire.
- Make a 7 row leaf with PT RB.
- String on some beads onto the tail wire and bend it along the back of the leaf. Remove any excess beads and wrap the wire around the base of the leaf. This will prevent any scratching from the wire as you wear it.
- Twist the tail wire and the working wire to form a 1/4 inch (.6 cm) twisted wire.
- String 3 beads onto the tail/basic wire.
- Make a 9-row leaf with PT RB.
- Follow Step 6 and wrap around the base two times.
- Cut the working-wire off and tuck with your pliers.
