Puffy IrisDuo Beaded Bead Tutorial

Cut thread & anchor: Cut ~2.5 ft of thread, thread needle. Leave a ~6–8" tail or use the starter tail method described in the video (you’ll weave this later). Make the SuperDuo ring (6-unit): String: SuperDuo → 11/0 (or 15/0) → SuperDuo → 11/0 … until you have 6 SuperDuos separated by a single seed bead. Bring the ends together and sew through the first few beads to close a snug ring. Reinforce with 1 pass. Step up to prepare for IrisDuos: Position the thread so you exit a seed bead between two SuperDuos and can step up into the top hole of the next SuperDuo (follow the transcript’s step-up so holes orient correctly). Add IrisDuos around the outer edge: For each SuperDuo gap: pick up IrisDuo → 15/0 → 2mm pearl → 15/0 → IrisDuo (or the video’s exact pick-up per side), then sew into the next SuperDuo top hole to anchor the IrisDuo pair around the ring. Keep all IrisDuos oriented the same way (points facing outward) — orientation is critical for a neat puff. Crisscross 15/0 + pearl to build the puff: After the IrisDuos are in place, crisscross the thread across each IrisDuo pair: pass through the 15/0–pearl–15/0 sequence so the pearls pull up between IrisDuos and the 15/0s sit on either side. Do this around the whole bead; tension here creates the rounded (“puffy”) profile. Fold IrisDuos downward (shape the sides): Using the crisscross passes, gently fold the IrisDuos’ bases inward/down so the outer edges pull up, creating the puffed sides. Make an extra pass or two through the pearls and 15/0s while shaping until the bead holds its rounded form. Add wire guard (optional for earrings): Exit the topmost seed bead; pick up 2 × 15/0 → wire guard → 2 × 15/0, pass back through surrounding beads and the wire guard for 2–3 passes to lock it in place. Close the back with SuperDuos + 15/0: Move to the back side and add the finishing SuperDuo ring (if the tutorial uses additional SuperDuos on the back) with 15/0s between them so the back is smooth and matches the front. Sew several passes across the back beads to flatten and secure. Reinforce all joins: Make 2–3 reinforcement passes through high-stress paths: around the core SuperDuo ring, through the pearl/15/0 crisscrosses, and the wire-guard area. Keep tension even — snug, not crushing. Finish & hide threads: Weave the working thread under multiple bead bridges, make a small half-hitch or weaver’s knot tucked behind a bead if desired, trim close and zap/melt (if synthetic). Repeat for the starting tail — weave it back and hide it inside bead paths. Final checks & uses: Check symmetry and roundness. Use as earrings (add ear wires to wire guards), pendants (run a jump ring through a SuperDuo hole), or string multiple puffy beads as a bracelet/necklace element.