Beaded Ball Bracelet Pattern By Allegra

Welcome to the beaded ball bracelet pattern instructions! If you have any difficulty following this tutorial, please post a comment at the bottom of the page and one of us will get to you as soon as we can.

The beaded ball bracelet by Allegra

Before you begin ...
Materials:
~0.5 meters of fishing line per beaded ball
Enough elastic string to wrap around your wrist and make a knot (with a little extra to account for the beads strung)
12 to 14 beaded balls, each consisting of:
30 x size 6/0 seed beads (large seed beads) or crystals or round beads
60 x size 11/0 seed beads (smaller seed beads) - note that you can use any size seed bead that is smaller than 6/0, like 8/0 or 15/0, but 11/0 has the best contrast while providing a good ball size; the bigger the beads you use, the bigger each ball will be
Optional - one large wooden or plastic bead to insert inside your beaded ball so it becomes rigid; not necessary, but otherwise your beaded balls will be compressible if pressed on; size needed will depend on bead sizes used, but for the recommended bead sizes, a 10mm or 15mm bead should do the trick
For the earrings, you can replace the size 6/0 seed beads with 3mm bugle beads, as they will look daintier this way. You should insert a large pearl in the earring to make it look more feminine.
Time required:~5 to 10 hours in total (for the bracelet) - one advantage to using bigger beads is that the balls are bigger, so you fit less balls around your wrist (ie, saves you time)
Techniques: Beadweaving, right angle weave
Difficulty: Medium

Step 1 - Bead circle inner row

Step 1: We are going to go through the steps of making one beaded ball, then I'll show you how to attach them together to make the bracelet. Start at bead 1, using fishing line, thread on beads 2 to 5, crossover threads at bead 4. This is the first bead circle of the smaller sized seed bead. Next, string a large bead (bead 6), small bead 7, large bead 8, small bead 9, large bead 10, and cross strings through bead 10. You've just made a circle of alternating bead sizes. Make sure that every alternating size bead circle in your pattern consists of 3 large beads and 3 small beads (6 beads total). Every circle of small beads should consist of 5 small beads. The entire pattern will consist of these two types of bead circles. So after crossing at bead 10, string through bead 3 with the black string (this bead is already in your pattern), and to the red string, thread on beads 11 to 14, crossover strings at bead 14. Continue in this manner (following the diagram arrows and bead numbers) until you have fully made a row of alternating size bead circles around your initial small bead circle. Cross strings at bead 25, where we will start the next row of bead circles in the next diagram.

Step 2 - Bead circle row 2

Step 2: This step is very similar to the first one, even though it may look different in the diagram. We are still making the same types of bead circles, but in this row of beads, we are going to make 5 small bead circles, and 5 alternating size bead circles. The beads from step 1 that are no longer in use are paled out for clarity. However, some of the beads from step 1 are used again (you'll string through them). Those beads are labelled with the same bead numbers as in step 1, so look back at the first diagram to see where they are. They are beads 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, and 25. Bead 25 is where we are starting in this step, and it is exactly where we left off in the previous step. The bead numbering is going to continue from 25 upwards (until bead 55, the last bead in this step). So, from bead 25, we are going to make an alternating size bead circle. To the black string, add beads 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30. They are all new beads in the pattern. Cross over your strings through bead 30. Now, here's where we reuse old beads. With the black string, thread through beads 23 and 21, which are already in the pattern. Thread beads 31 and 32 onto the red string, and cross over strings through bead 32. You've just made the first small bead circle of the row. Continue beading in this manner (making an alternating size bead circle, then a smaller size bead circle) until you've completely encircled the previous row, following the diagram carefully. Cross strings through bead 55, then thread the black string through bead 53, and the red string through bead 27, both of which are in your pattern.

Step 3 - Bead circle row 3

Step 3: This row of beads is made in a very similar way to the previous row. The diagram looks a bit different because you're starting from a small bead instead of a large one, and because we're moving upwards, which can't be shown in 2D, so I had to show it going outwards instead. But your beaded ball won't actually be getting wider at this point. It will be growing upwards. As before, there are some beads faded in this diagram because they are no longer used in this step. As well, there are some beads that are reused from the previous step, because you'll be stringing through them again. They are labelled with the same bead numbers as in the previous diagram, so have a look to see where they were. They are beads 27, 28, 29, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 39, 40, 41, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 51, 52, 53, and 55. Bead 55 is our starting bead for this diagram, and the beads are numbered upwards from there. Starting at bead 55, thread beads 53, 56, 57, and 58 onto the black string. Thread through bead 27 with the red string, then cross both strings through bead 58. We have just completed our first alternating size bead circle of this row. Next, string through bead 28 with the black string. Thread beads 59, 60, and 61 onto the red string, then crossover through bead 61 with the black string. I know it's hard to see in the diagram, but you've just made another circle of small pink seed beads. Continue this way, making one alternating size bead circle and one small bead circle, until you have completely encircled the previous row of beads. Your beaded ball should be getting more spherical and 3D now. If you want to insert a large wooden bead, pearl, or plastic round bead into your beaded ball, insert it now. We'll be beading right over it in the next and final step to enclose it.

Step 4 - Bead circle final row

Step 4: This is the final row of our beaded ball. It's easier to make than the previous two rows, so if you've made it this far, you're sure to make it to the end! This step is very similar to the first step. What we are going to end up with is a mirror image of the first step. It doesn't look like it in our diagram because we've been building it outwards, but really the beads will be coming together in your real beadwork. Again, there are some beads faded out in this step because they aren't used anymore. And there are some beads reused from the previous step, as we'll be stringing through them again. They are beads 57, 59, 60, 62, 64, 65, 67, 69, 70, 72, 74, 75, 77, 79, and 80. Sorry about the bead numbers being hard to see in this diagram. Basically, those are the inner beads all along the border of the faded beads. We're starting where we left off, at bead 80. We're going to be making only alternating bead size circles in this row, just like in step 1. String beads 81, 82, and 83 onto the black string. Thread through beads 57 and 59 with the red string, and cross through bead 83. String beads 84 and 85 on the red string, and thread through beads 60, 62, and 64 with the black string. Crossover through bead 85. Continue in this manner, making alternating size bead circles, until you have crossed over through bead 90 (small pink seed bead in the bottom right corner of the diagram). At this point, we no longer add any new beads to the pattern, but we must string through the last circle of 5 small seed beads at the very top of your beaded ball, to enclose it. Take the black string (either string will work, but I used black in the diagram) and string right through all 5 small seed beads at the top of your beaded ball (in the diagram, beads 82, 84, 86, 88, and 90). You will be stringing right back through bead 90 again (making a loop) to join these 5 beads together. Although these 5 beads look very far apart in my diagram, they are actually forming their own circle of 5 beads, and in reality are right next to each other. To see what I mean, look at the next diagram (step 5 diagram) in the very center of the diagram, you see a circle of 5 small pink seed beads. That is the same 5 beads. That's how they should look when you pull tight (closely knit together in a circle). Okay tie a knot with your fishing line, you're done your first beaded ball. You can make it into an earring, or you can continue making more balls to make a bracelet.

Step 5 - Attaching another beaded ball (Optional)

Step 5 - Optional: Note, this step is optional. This is just one method of attaching the balls together. You have two options. If you plan to make each ball separately and then string them together using elastic string, then skip this step. If you plan to use a loop clasp to close the bracelet, then use this method to attach the balls together as you make them. As well, if you plan to seamlessly attach the last ball back to the first one (you'll have to make the bracelet wide enough to roll over your hand in that case), use this method as well. Basically, with the attachment method, you don't make individual balls, but one continuous bracelet, building each ball onto the previous one, via the very last bead circle in the ball. I've shown it in the diagram by showing you the very first bead circle of small pink seed beads, because these are the last beads from the previous beaded ball. The rest of the beads in the new ball are a different colour because they are new beads that you will add onto that first bead circle to complete the second beaded ball. If you are planning to use a loop clasp (ie, make a loop of seed beads on one side and loop it through the ball on the other end to close the bracelet), you can just keep beading the balls on the previous one until you get to a bracelet length long enough for you, and then bead a little loop of seed beads onto the end and you're done. Otherwise, if you want to seamlessly blend the last ball into the first one so you can't tell where the bracelet begins and where it ends (note, make the bracelet wide enough to roll over your hand, or make the whole thing out of elastic string), I've also shown you how to attach the last ball back to the first one (in the diagram). Basically, look at the outer small pink seed beads in the periphery of the diagram. Those beads represent the first circle of small pink beads from the first ball of the bracelet. As you are stringing together the last beaded ball, when you get to those pink beads in the diagram, don't add new beads like you usually do, but rather string through the corresponding beads in the first circle of small beads in the first ball (on the other end of the bracelet). This probably sounds challenging, and I won't lie that it's not the most comfortable technique in the world, but I've done it before and it works. If you can't get it to work, don't worry about it, just make all your beaded balls individually, and string them together at the end with elastic string. That is the easiest method. And then if you have extra ones left over, you can make matching earrings out of them! If you make enough of them, you could even string a necklace out of them.

Elastic Knot

Elastic Knot: This is a picture of how to tie a knot with elastic string, should you choose to string together your beaded balls with elastic string. Basically, after stringing through all the beaded balls with the elastic string, take the two ends together in your hand and hold them together against each other (parallel to each other). Then, holding them together, make a loop and then tie a knot. This contrasts to the knots you make with fishing line, where you don't have to hold the two ends together while you're making the knot. As an extra tip, after you've made the knot, to get it as close to the beads as you can get it (to make the bracelet tighter, rather than too loose), insert a toothpick, cue tip, or beading needle into the loop that you've made (as shown in the picture) and pull the knot tight around the needle/toothpick. Once the knot is down to where the elastic string comes out of the beads, quickly yank out the needle/toothpick. Hope this helps!

Another beaded ball bracelet

Another beaded ball bracelet: The possibilities of colours and styles are endless, and here's another example of a ball bracelet. In this bracelet, each ball is beaded separately with about 1 meter of fishing line, and then all 12 balls are strung together at the end with elastic string. I doubled the elastic string for extra security (strung through twice). I used 0.5mm diameter clear elastic string. Before closing each beaded ball with the fishing line, I inserted one 10mm diameter white glass pearl in order for the ball to keep its shape and hardness. You don't have to attach this bead, just insert it into the ball before weaving each ball shut and tying off the fishing line. When you are stringing the elastic string through each ball, use a needle to guide the string through the ball, because you will have to line up the hole of the pearl inside with the holes of the beaded ball. I used one of the holes created by a bead circle of 5 small seed beads ("the little coloured flower") as my hole through which to string the elastic string.

Add a Comment (No sign-up, just post)
Name
Comment
Verification	Reload Image	Enter the code here:
Beader Comments:
julia mastrantonaki on July 31, 2010:
Fantastic. I loved it. I made it quite easily. May be It's the first time luck. Thank you very much . It's really a lesson given to the whole world. I' m sure many people will enjoy it .AND WHAT IS BETTER THAN GIVING PEOPLE JOY!!!
Allegra on July 27, 2010:
Oh wow, thank you very much!
IdeaDiva on July 7, 2010:
Let me add my "Thank You!!" to the chorus of others. I've collected many instruction sheets/tutorials for creating a beaded ball and yours is the first to really present the steps clearly and systematically. Creating a diagram of a 3D object in 2D is challenging IN THE EXTREME even for experienced pro's using high level, 3D rendering software, but you have brilliantly succeeded! Again thank you so much! I look forward to more!!!
Swarovski Crystal Jewellery on July 3, 2010:
I admit that, until now, I did not have a very good opinion on jewelry – I don’t know why but I just always related them with a lack of taste, useless starlets (a.k.a. footballers’ wives) and a cruel way of showing ones wealth (something like endangered such a nice collection of Swarovski Crystal Jewellery isn`t it?
Pink Bead Bracelet on June 30, 2010:
Hi Allegra, I read the method of making beaded ball bracelet dut sad to say that I am unable to get it , thus I go to custom jewellery and got a nice bracelet .... Thanks for the idea....
IRIS AZALIA OCASIO on June 14, 2010:
ITS VERY PRETTY
Hettie Bernhardt on June 14, 2010:
I only discovered this site now !! Thanx
Anabel on June 8, 2010:
Muchas gracias por tu tutorial, gracias por tu esfuerzo.
Ely on April 14, 2010:
Gracias por compartir !!!!
Jayne on April 11, 2010:
This bracelet is spectacular. Truly a work of art Congrats to the "Makers"!
jaya on January 30, 2010:
very beautiful and awesome tutorials, thankyouuuuuuuuuuu.
jbuell on January 25, 2010:
you can use any thread. fishing line was probably suggested because you can see the thread path. If you use matching thread you'll be fine
rama on January 23, 2010:
very nice and cute.easy steps to learn
quienlodira on January 23, 2010:
Gracias por comparti!!! un patron precioso. http://quienlodiracreaciones.blogspot.com/
pinkscooby on January 21, 2010:
I love this bracelet and really want to make it but i was wondering if you absolutely must use fishing line. can you use a different type of thread or line?
okunuga temitope on December 7, 2009:
wow there are lots of beaded wonderful patterns gret work
salma on November 8, 2009:
Não falo teu idioma, porem tuas esplicações são fantásticas, obrigada por conpartilhar. beijo desde Brasil
Beth on November 8, 2009:
On the printing note... I found that if I highlight the instructions using my cursor and right click button and highlight only what I want to print and copy it (by clicking on the right mouse button) I am able to paste it into a document on say "Word" (and it pastes very nicely), I just print it from there. I haven't tried highlighting just the directions and then clicking on file and then the print option, you would then select print the selection. I should print what you have highlighted. I will try printing it later today, but for now I am off to bed. Happy Beading everyone.
Beth on November 8, 2009:
I can't begin to tell you how long I have been looking for this pattern. Thank you so much for posting such great directions. I can't wait to try it out. Love the earrings too. Thanks again.
Sandy on October 26, 2009:
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!! Gotta try this one....What a cool idea for "mini " ornaments
Annie on October 18, 2009:
Oh wow...this is sooo time consuming. I really like it. The tutorial is great...but I stopped after the first step :). I still have a pretty start thing, now.
Arlene on October 5, 2009:
Absolutely lovely, Thank you so much for the instructions!
Lyly on August 7, 2009:
I love it i made a perl and blue one its gorgeous!! the instructions are very good easy to follow never seen a technique laki this before thank you!!!
MBear on August 4, 2009:
the best place to get s.s. findings are at your local bead shops, support them or those craft stores will cause the bead shops to go out of business. The quality of the products are so much nicer & in the long run you get more for your money! Thanks for the pattern, very good instructions. The possibilities are endless!
AnaIsabel on August 3, 2009:
I love all of them! Is there any way we can print them? I'm just beginning to make these beautiful things. Thanks for sharing....
CarOh on August 1, 2009:
Thank you for the free easy to follow patterns! They are very much appreciated. I made the ball bracelet using different mixes of blacks, whites, silver matte & regular finish's, it is one of the neatest bracelets I have made using seed beads. Thanks again.
Mosolyrend on July 15, 2009:
Merci! Fantastic!
maria on June 29, 2009:
I loved this bracelet. Thank you for sharing it.
Silver Locks on April 10, 2009:
Nice pattern! Thanks
Mini-squishy on April 7, 2009:
OMG these are SO cool I made just one but (i was really upset about this) I lost it on the bus!! :( Then I made another one using beads(pink and blue) all of the same size and hung it on my school bag, everyone wants to know how I did it.
Onye on March 29, 2009:
@Felicia: You should check out the earring findings at your local bead or craft store. Michael's & Jo-Ann's are the only craft stores I know of that sell decent sterling silver findings. I'm not a fan of the bracelet pics above, but if you do do these in Swarovski 3mm bicones (#5301) and 15/0s, they look amazing. Just remember you need 30 crystals per beaded-bead, so shop/budget accordingly! If you want a less pricey option, look for 2mm or 3mm rounded beads in place of the crystals (or large seed beads). There are lots of possibilities! Bead On! http://designsbyonye.etsy.com http://flickr.com/photos/onye http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=514892739
Felicia on March 23, 2009:
hey! this is so pretty! i haven't made a bracelet yet but i have made one crystal ball so i can hang it on my cell phone! i want to make a bracelet though, but its hard since i don't hav a lot of time with school and everything >_< maybe i'll make it soon... does anyone know where i can get those steel hooks so i can make the earrings?
vivian on March 3, 2009:
have not made entire bracelet, but used your instructions to make a pendant like crystal ball :) it turned out beautiful. TY so much for such percise directions!
Allegra on February 6, 2009:
Salhootchie, the detailed guide on how to print the patterns is located on the home page of this website, towards the bottom of the page.
salhootchie@grandecom.net on February 2, 2009:
How can I print pattern only without all the side information??
salhootchie on February 2, 2009:
Fantastic!! Thanks for all your patterns.
Kayleigh 549 on January 30, 2009:
In the process of making the earrings as a starting point, love it, so relaxing! Thank you muchly :) xx
Caitlen on January 28, 2009:
I made a knot in my head! jaja!!!
Allegra on January 28, 2009:
Has anyone made the bracelet yet? How is it going?
elisabeth navarro on January 22, 2009:
Obrigada pelo esquema da bola com cristais e miçanga, adorei! Abraço. Beth
Maria Teresa on January 22, 2009:
THANK YOU!
Jax on January 22, 2009:
Leah, I think I would go with 11/0 if you are using 15/0. Let us know how it works out and what size you decide on.
elham on January 22, 2009:
thanks and thanx
leah on January 22, 2009:
if i use size 15s on the small beads what size should i use for the bigger bead? just asking.....thanks
Barbara on January 22, 2009:
Thank you, thank you, thank you...and if that isn't enough, THANK YOU! I have so many beading projects going, which will now be put aside so I can mke this lovely bracelet. I don't see how you get this all done!
Add a Comment