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Tesserae Earrings

by Marcia DeCoster

A geometric pair of earrings with all
the right angles.

MaTErials:

3 g each of size ° seed beads in 3
contrasting colors: front (A), back (B), sides
(C)
Small amount of size 5° seed beads for edge
embellishing
2 each of 2 contrasting color accent beads
(3-5mm)
2 each of 2 contrasting color accent beads
(3-5mm)Beading thread to match beads
Thread
pair of ear wires

Tools:

Scissors

TEChniquEs

Right-angle weave

step 1 In color A seed beads, stitch in flat right-angle

weave to make a strip 6 units long by 2 rows wide.

step 2 Using two of the end units, continue another

strip of right-angle weave 6 units long by 2 units wide.
Together with the 2 units from the top, your side will
now be 8 units long.

step 3 Using two beads (shown in red) of the inside end

units from Side 2, create Side 3, forming a strip 2 units
wide by 4 units long. The fourth units of Side 3 connect
to the inside beads of Side , units 5 and 6, with those
beads also shown in red.

Copyright Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved.

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Tesserae Earrings

step 4 Repeat Steps -3 in color A for other triangle front,

and create 2 more triangles in color B for the reverse
sides of the triangles.

step 5 Join color A and color B triangle together

using color C seed beads. (Note: In the necklace, large
crystals were used to form the sides. Size ° beads
work best for the smaller earrings.)

step 6 After the inside and outside edges are joined,

embellish the edges of the triangle by stitching size 5
seed beads between the size beads.

step 7 Weave a new thread into the top row and exit the

side bead that is in the middle of the top. Add size
°, 2 accent beads and 7 size 5°s to create a loop at
the top of the earring. Reinforce by sewing through all
the loop beads again.

Editor’s Note

: I choose to attach earrings to a closed jump

ring rather than a loop of seed beads to prevent the
chance of the thread slipping off the ear wire. Both
methods are popular.—Leslie Rogalski

step 8 Use the loop to suspend the triangle from an ear

wire. You may choose either color side to show. They
can be reversed simply by opening the loop on the ear
wire and turning the triangle to reveal the opposite
side.

MarCia DECosTEr has enjoyed teaching nationally
for ten years. Her design work is often component
oriented as she likes to play with variations in
design in color in small pieces that are then
joined to create fabulous jewelry. Her work has
been published in Jane Davis’s Complete Book of
Beading, Carol Wilcox Wells’s The Art and Elegance
of Bead Weaving, and Beadwork magazine. Visit
her website at www.marciadecoster.com.

Step by Step Beads is a must-have for those who love

to bead! You’ll find dozens of projects and ideas that

will inspire you to pick up your beads and create

something uniquely your own. Whether you’re going

to make something for yourself, or you’re planning

to treat friends or family to the joy of a handmade

gift, you'll find plenty of inspiration here, with

step-by-step instructions and illustrations.

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