With a name like Bead&Button,
we occasionally hear from readers looking for projects that incorporate
buttons in jewelry designs. In honor of National Button Day on November 16th, here is
a versatile project using both beads and buttons!
This project uses a vintage 35 mm shank button as a focal,
but it can easily be adapted for a shank button of just about any size. It's
probably a good idea to use a button that is at least 20-25 mm in size so it stands out on your wrist.
Materials
wrap bracelet 27 in. (69 cm)
- 35 mm vintage-style button (www.spiritbeadsandbuttons.com)
- 17.5 g 2 x 4 mm peanut beads (Matsuno P4007-MA, matte old
rose)
- 10.5 g 3 mm magatamas (Toho 1627F, opaque rainbow frosted
khaki)
- 1 g 15/0 seed beads (Toho 617, matte color dark olive)
- 6 mm jump ring
- Fireline 6 lb. test
- Beading needles, #11
Right-angle weave
rope
[1] On a com
fortable length of thread, pick up four 2 x 4 mm
peanut beads. Sew through all the beads again to form a ring, leaving a 6-in.
(15 cm) tail, and continue through the first three beads (figure 1, a-b).
[2] Working in right-angle weave (Online Beading Basics), pick
up three peanut beads, sew through the peanut bead your thread exited at the
start of this step, and continue through the next two peanut beads just picked up (b-c).
[3] Keeping a firm tension, continue working as in step 2 until
your rope is the desired length. End and add thread (Online Basics) as needed.
Keep in mind, the rope will shrink some as you add the "Edge embellishment." To adjust for this, do not end the working thread
after the last right-angle weave stitch so you can add or remove stitches as
necessary once the first edge is embellished. I stitch with a fairly tight tension, but my right-angle
weave rope was approximately 28½ in. (71 cm) long before I embellished the edges.
My completed wrap bracelet is 27 in. (69 cm) and is designed to make four wraps
around my 6-in. (15 cm) wrist.
Edge embellishment
[1] Add 2 yd. (1.8 m) of thread to one end of the rope,
and exit the end peanut bead in the first stitch (figure 2, point a). Pick up a
3 mm magatama, and sew through the adjacent edge peanut bead in the same stitch. Pick up a 3 mm, and sew through the edge peanut bead in the next stitch
(a–b). Continue working in this manner, keeping a consistent tension. Do not
snug the beads up too closely or your rope will curl.
[2] To add the last 3 mm along this edge: With the thread
exiting the edge peanut bead in the last right-angle weave stitch, pick up a 3
mm, and sew through the adjacent end peanut bead in this stitch (b–c).
[3] Test the fit of the rope around your wrist, and add or subtract right-angle weave stitches as needed. Wrap
bracelets should not fit too snugly. You should be able to insert
your index finger between the bracelet and your wrist for a bracelet that is comfortable to wear.
[4] With the thread exiting the end peanut bead in the last
right-angle weave stitch, work as in step 1 to embellish this edge.
Button closure
[1] With the thread exiting the end peanut bead in the last stitch
on the first end of the rope, pick up seven 15/0s, and sew through the end peanut
bead again to form a loop. Retrace the thread path through the loop several
times, and then sew through all four peanut beads in the last right-angle weave
stitch. End the thread.
[2] Open a 6 mm jump ring (Online Basics), and attach the loop
and the button shank (photo a).
[3] Add 12 in. (30 cm) of thread to the other end of the
rope, and exit the end peanut bead. Pick up a repeating pattern of a 15/0 and a
peanut bead, ending with a 15/0, to make a loop long enough to fit over the button. Sew
through the end peanut bead, retrace the thread path through the loop
several times, and then sew through all four peanut beads in the last
right-angle weave stitch in the rope (photo b). End all remaining threads.
