Purple Rain Rope Necklace Tutorial

Gather Materials: Collect all necessary beads (15/0, 11/0 seed beads, 3mm pearls, 4mm bicones, Round Duo Minis, Round Trios, Faceted Round Trios), thread (Size 6 Green Dragon), and a Size 10 needle. Create the Core: Begin by stringing three sets of (15/0 seed bead, 11/0 seed bead, 15/0 seed bead, 3mm pearl) to form the central core. Form the Starter Loop: String back through the first set of beads, leaving a 5-inch tail, to create your starter loop. Build the First Rows (Pearls): Add a 15/0 seed bead, a pearl, and another 15/0 seed bead. Skip the seed beads on the core and sew into the next pearl. Repeat this pattern, always working in groups of three. Step Up: At the end of each row, "step up" by going into one of the first beads added in your last row to position your thread for the next layer. Continue Pearl Rows: Keep building with the 15/0 seed bead, 11/0 seed bead, 15/0 seed bead pattern when pearls are sitting up, and 15/0 seed bead, pearl, 15/0 seed bead when they are even, for approximately 10 rows. Transition to Bicones: After the pearl rows, switch to 4mm bicones, continuing the same netting pattern. Maintain tight tension as the size of the tube increases. Add New Thread (if needed): If your thread runs short, tie a new 5-foot piece of thread onto the old piece with a simple knot, then tie the two thread ends together with a simple knot, followed by a sewer's knot. Retrace your steps through some beads to secure it. Introduce RounDuo Minis: Switch to Round Duo Minis (two-hole beads). Use a 15/0 seed bead on either side of the Round Duo Mini, going through one hole. Create the "X" Effect: After the first pass with RounDuos, step up through the first hole. Add an 11/0 seed bead between two 15/0 seed beads and go through the first hole again. Then, utilize the second hole by adding a 15/0, going through the second hole of the RounDuo, adding another 15/0, and passing through the relevant 11/0 and 15/0 seed beads to form an "X". Transition to RounTrios: Move on to Round Trios (three-hole beads). Use the first and third holes, not the center hole. Increase the seed bead count to two 15/0s before and after the 11/0 seed bead when working with RounTrios. Integrate Faceted RounTrios & Downgrade: Incorporate faceted RounTrios, then gradually decrease bead size, reversing the pattern to use non-faceted RounTrios, 6mm bicones, RounDuos, RounDuo Minis, and finally pearls to match the starting end. Close the Tube for Clasp: To prepare for the clasp, close the tube by coming out a pearl, picking up two 15/0 seed beads, skipping the 15/0-11/0-15/0 section, and sewing into the next pearl. Repeat this to reduce the opening. Add Finishing Seed Beads: Step up into the 15/0s and add three 11/0 seed beads, sewing into the 15/0s you just added to further close the tube. Then add three more 11/0s between the previous 11/0s. Attach the Clasp with Wire Guard: Sew around all six of the final seed beads. Coming out one bead, pick up a wire guard (horseshoe-shaped metal piece) and string through it. Add your clasp to the middle of the wire guard. Secure the Clasp: Go over to the opposite side (count over two beads) and sew through the third 11/0 seed bead. Re-pass through the wire guard and clasp multiple times (3-4 strands of thread total) to reinforce the connection. Finish Thread: Sew down into the beadwork, under a "bridge thread" (thread connecting beads), tie a sewer's knot (loop once, then twice), pull tight, and continue sewing away from the knot. Repeat tying knots in different areas. Burn Off Thread Ends: Cut excess thread, leaving a small tail. Use a flame shooter to carefully burn down the thread end close to the beadwork.