- Step by Step instructions on CD
with text, diagrams and images

Supplies Needed:
3mm Cube Beads
6/0 seed beads
8/0 seed beads
3.4mm mini fringe drops
Clasp
FireLine size D
Bees Wax or Microcrystalline Wax
Beading Needles, Size #12

 FORMAT OPTONS

(1) Instructions Digital Download

About the Project...

The Square Stitch is one of the better bead weaving stitches to begin with. It is a good stitch to give you a sense of how to hold your piece. It is a good stitch to get a feel for managing the tension of your thread, as you weave through your project. It is easy to create patterns and to read these patterns on a graph.

The Square Stitch mimics the pattern of pieces done on a loom. The Square Stitch can utilize patterns developed for Loom, Cross Stitch or Knitting. Because each bead is woven together with the 3 beads around it, thus forming a square, it is very strong.

There is little concrete information about the Square Stitch prior to the early 1990's when it began showing up in instruction books. The Bead Society of Great Britain does have an earlier illustration of how-to-do the stitch, but no information in the organization of the stitch. Some people say it can be traced back to early African beadwork and some work dating back to the 15th century beadwork out of England.

The Square Stitch lends itself to uniform, square cut beads, such as cubes or delicas (cylinder beads). These will produce even, straight rows. With rounder beads, it is more difficult to maintain a tight thread tension. These rounder beads can often produce a slight curve to your piece, as well.

In this bracelet, we will be make a 6 ½” strip, with five starting and five ending rows of 3mm cube beads. When we add a clasp, this will make the bracelet fit comfortably around a 7” wrist. The instructions detail steps for making a bracelet for a 7” wrist.

To make a shorter bracelet, say for a 6” wrist, we would use fewer starting and ending rows. In this case, we would use two starting and two ending rows.

To make a longer bracelet, say for a 7 ½” wrist, we would add 3 more starting and ending rows, for a total of 8 rows each.

In the ABACUS Bracelet project...

LearnToBead Goals:
- Basics of Square Stitch
--- How to hold your piece while working it
--- How to create negative and positive spaces
--- How to add different size and shape beads
--- How to add a simple edge embellishment
--- How to add thread
--- How to finish off your piece
--- How to add a clasp

TABLE OF CONTENTS

This set of instructions is organized as a series of 
Jewelry Design Choices:
SUPPLIES LIST

Section 1: Begin Square Stitch
Adding a Stop Bead
Section 2: Creating Negative Space, Partially Filled with 6/0 Seed Beads
Section 3: Creating Negative Space, Partially Filled with 8/0 Seed Beads
Running Our of Thread/Adding Thread/ Snagging Thread-Loop

Repeat…
Section 4: Test Bracelet Size
Section 5: Add Edging
Section 6: Attach Clasp

By completing a purchase of any of our kits and/or instructions, you agree to our terms and conditions:
1. Customers are allowed to make 3 copies of instructions for personal use
2. Permission is required from LandOfOdds.com, Be Dazzled Beads, or LearnToBead.net, when teaching for fees, with any of our projects