Tutorial - Starburst Earrings

Perfect for using up those last few cylinder beads, these pretty Starburst earrings are also very quick and easy - they take literally minutes to make!

You will need:

• A small amount of cylinder beads in colours A (centre colour), B (main colour) and C (accent colour).
• A size 10/12 beading needle threaded with about half a metre of beading thread.
• Pair of earwires
• 2 x 4mm jump rings, thin enough to go through a cylinder bead.
• Pliers

How to make:

Pick up 4 A beads and sew through them all again plus one more to create a circle.

Pick up 1 A bead and sew through the next bead in the circle. Repeat another 3 times.

Step up at the end of the row by passing the needle through the first bead you added, ready for the next row...

Pick up 2 B beads and sew through the next bead. Repeat another 3 times.

Step up through the first bead you added...

Pick up 1 B bead and sew through the next bead. Repeat another 7 times. Some of the beads will be added between the pairs from the last row, as shown below...

Repeat the last row once more, picking up 1 B bead each time. Step up.

The key to this design is to keep the tension light. Don’t pull the thread too tight as this will cause the edge to curl!

Pick up 2 B beads and sew through the next bead. Repeat another 7 times and step up through 2 beads at the end.

Pick up 1 C bead and sew through the next 2 beads. Repeat another 7 times and step up.

Pick up 2 B beads, 1 C bead and 2 B beads and sew through the next C bead. Arrange the beads so that they form a triangle with the C bead at it’s tip. Repeat another 7 times.

Follow the thread path another couple of times to stiffen the points (if necessary) before weaving both ends of the thread into the beadwork and trimming. Open up a jump ring with your pliers and slide it through one of the cylinder beads on the points, add an earwire and close the jump ring to finish. Repeat to make a second earring.

Hope you have fun making these! Liz x

Mondrian Cuff Pattern

Regular readers of the OTTBS blog will recognize this fabulous design as one of the entries to our January challenge, where the theme was 'famous paintings'. Jeanne Evans chose a Piet Mondrian painting and has very kindly allowed us to share the pattern she created with all of you! The pattern is for either square stitch or loom work.

Free Jack 'o' Lantern Cuff Pattern

Here's a little treat for you (as opposed to a trick!) to go along with our October challenge - a fun Jack 'o' Lantern Peyote Cuff Pattern designed especially for OTTBS in this month's challenge colours! As well as a cuff, the pumpkin motifs would also work well on their own as earrings. While there is a bead legend and amounts needed on the pattern, I haven't included exact shades so that you may choose your own.

Free Pattern - Diamond Lines Peyote Bracelet

You may recognise this pattern as I designed for my entry in this month's Moodboard Challenge. I thought that you may enjoy it too. It is odd count peyote, although you could use even count, leaving off the last bead in each row and brick stitch them on at the end. Happy beading!

Sarahx

Free Pattern - Double Negative Brick Stitch Earrings.

Hey gang, hope you have all been enjoying the beautiful sunshine we have had this week! I'm not sure that this pattern is very seasonal but it is striking! I am a big fan of black and white, maybe with a touch of red and I hope you like this double negative brick stitch earring pattern.

Happy beading!

Sarahx

Free Pattern - Triple Diamond Brick Stitch Earrings

You have probably already noticed that I quite like very long earrings. It's an inherited taste from my grandma who always wore what she called Gypsy Rose Lee style earrings. This weeks pattern is inspired by the colours in our February moodboard challenge but feel free to use whatever combinations you like. I'd love to see them if you make a pair! Happy beading!

Sarahx