Plum Sorbet

Multi-Strand Rice-Shaped Pearl Bracelet with Brick Stitch Ends

Skill LevelBeginner

TechniqueSeed-Beading

Time1-3 Hours

Approximate Size5 3/4 Inches

I love the look of rice-shaped pearls. I can't help but use them in unique bead weaving designs. author signature

The rice-shaped crystal pearl is a small pearl bead with an elegant oval shape. You can work these tiny pearls seamlessly into intricate looks. Cynthia created a multi-strand bracelet with rice-shaped pearls in several different colors, and also added in some bicones and textured spacers. She finished the ends with brick stitch pieces to keep the strands together. These pearls are part of Fall/Winter 2020-2021. See more Innovations here.

Step-by-Step Instructions Expand All Steps

Make a row of seven TOHO 3mm bead cubes in Olympic bronze using the ladder stitch. Create rows with decreasing brick stitch until you have a row of three cube beads. Repeat this step so that you have two brick stitch triangles.

Brick Stitch Diagram
Basic Brick Stitch Text Tutorial
Decreasing and Increasing Brick Stitch Text Tutorial
Brick Stitch Video Tutorial

Bring your needle and thread so that it is exiting out of the bead on the longest row of one of your triangles. Then, string on a random pattern of 3mm round pearls in Elderberry, 4mm rice-shaped pearls in Elderberry, 3mm bicones in Crystal AB, and TierraCast silver 3mm faceted heishi spacers and small Turkish heishi spacers. Make the strand long enough to fit your wrist, keeping in mind that the two triangle ends and clasp will add about 2 ½ inches of length to your bracelet.

When your strand is the desired length, thread the needle through the end bead on the longest row of your other brick stitch triangle. Bring your needle through the next bead in the row and then back up through the end bead a couple of times to secure your thread. Make sure your thread is coming out of the next bead over in the row.

Add a random pattern of 3mm round pearls in Rosaline, 4mm rice-shaped pearls in Rosaline, bicones and spacers until this strand is the same length as your first strand. When it is the desired length, bring the needle through the second bead over on the longest row of your other brick stitch triangle.

Continue adding strands to your bracelet in this manner. The 3rd, 4th, and 5th strands each feature a random mix of 3mm round pearls in White, 4mm rice-shaped pearls in white, bicones and spacers. The 6th row features Rosaline pearls. The 7th row features Elderberry pearls. Add thread as needed.

Bead Weaving Basics: Starting, Ending, and Adding Thread

Bring your needle so that it is exiting out of the first end cube bead on the shortest row of one of your brick stitch triangles. Add three TOHO 11/0 bead rounds in silver-lined dark amethyst, a cube bead, and the TierraCast antique silver-plated pewter Czech rosette button, along with another cube bead and three more seed beads. Bring your needle down through the cube bead on the other end of the row. Loop around your seed beads and button several times in this manner to secure it.

On the other end of your bracelet, bring your needle so that it is exiting out of the center bead on the shortest row of your triangle. Add approximately 42 seed beads to the thread. You can add less or more depending on the fit of your bracelet. Our loop is wider for a better bracelet fit, but you could add less if your bracelet length is closer to the fit you want. Bring your needle back down into the center bead. Make sure the loop fits the button, then weave into the triangle and back up to the center bead. Loop through the seed beads. Repeat a couple of times to make the loop secure. Secure and trim your thread.

List of Components
4mm Rice-Shaped Pearl Elderberry (5824-ELB4, qty 25)
3mm Round Pearl Elderberry (5810-ELB3, qty 20)
4mm Rice-Shaped Pearl White (5824-WHITE4, qty 30)
3mm Round Pearl White (5810-WHITE3, qty 35)
4mm Rice-Shaped Pearl Rosaline (5824-ROSE4, qty 20)
3mm Round Pearl Rosaline (5810-ROSE3, qty 22)
TierraCast Silver 3mm Faceted Heishi Spacer (S-0422, qty 22)
TierraCast Silver Antique Small Turkish Heishi Spacer (SA-0425, qty 66)
3mm Bicone Crystal AB (5328-CRYSAB3, qty 55)
TOHO Bead Cube 3mm Olympic Bronze 8g Bag (TBCB3-224, qty 1)
TOHO Bead Round 11/0 Silver-Lined Dark Amethyst (TBRD11-26C, qty 1)
TierraCast Antique Silver-Plated Pewter Czech Rosette Button (SA-6544, qty 1)

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Nice choice! All or most of the products needed for this project are shown below with quantities. Sometimes we sell out of components and aren’t able to order more from the manufacturer (we know, it is very disappointing to us, too). Use the opportunity to mix up the design and make it yours by substituting similar products or altering the entire color scheme—it’s up to you!