How to Make Small Beaded Purse Necklace
Beaded purse necklaces, often called amulet bags, are used to hold coins, good luck charms or other small trinkets. They are not difficult to make, and different colors and embellishments can make each one a unique fashion statement. This particular design uses the peyote beading stitch and is a suitable project for a beginning beader. Use glass or metallic beads to create an elegant piece of jewelry.
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Things You'll Need
- Empty cardboard toilet-paper tube
- Masking tape
- Beading thread
- Beading needle
- Seed beads in at least two different colors
- Marker
- Clear-drying craft glue
- Straight pins
Instructions
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1
Slit the tube lengthwise and roll it to the diameter you wish for the opening of your purse. Tape it together securely.
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2
Cut off a yard of the beading thread. Thread the needle. Place one bead on the thread about 8 inches from the end. Bring the needle back around through the bead, and make a knot to secure it, leaving an 8-inch tail.
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3
Hold the bead against the tube and wrap the working thread around the tube until it comes back to the bead. Make a mark on the thread so you know the length.
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4
String beads in Color A until you reach the mark. Count the beads, and if they are an odd number, remove one of them. Draw the needle through the original bead, and make another knot using the working thread and the tail. Put a tiny drop of craft glue on the knot, and put it aside to dry.
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5
Slide the circle of beads over the tube and secure the first bead to the tube with a straight pin. Using the needle, pick up one bead of Color B. Skip the first bead (indicated by the pin) and insert the needle into the second bead. Pull the thread through tightly so the new bead fits snugly against the second and pushes it slightly up. Skip the next bead and repeat the process; continue around the tube until you get back to the first bead. Put the needle through the first bead and tighten.
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6
Change colors. Pick up another bead and begin another row. Move the straight pin to the first bead of the new row, and bead all the way around in the same way. Remember to move the pin to the first bead of each row. Continue to bead in rows of alternating colors until your purse is as deep as you wish.
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7
Move halfway around the tube from the pin, and place another pin. Begin to bead back and forth between the two pins, moving the pins up every couple of rows. This will be the flap of your purse. End off when the flap is long enough by bringing the thread back through and tying it off. Place a small drop of craft glue on the knot. Run the needle and thread back through several beads before cutting off.
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8
Remove the purse from the tube, and thread the tail from the beginning. Use it to close the bottom of the purse. Finish it the same way.
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9
Cut another yard of thread, and secure it by knotting it through several of the beads on the purse, coming up at one side of the flap. Thread as many beads as you need to make the necklace as long as you want. Bring the thread back down at the other side of the flap and secure it by running it through several beads before knotting off. Cut off the thread and add a drop of glue to the knots.
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Tips & Warnings
Vary the design by using more than two colors or by making the stripes wider.
Use narrow ribbon instead of beads to hang the purse.
Add a beaded fringe at the bottom for interest.
