How to Create Beaded Bandana Shawl Collars

Like that Western look? This beaded shawl made with half of a colorful bandana can be worn facing the front, draped over the back of your neck with a beautiful pin, or slightly to the side for an alluring look.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bandana
• Beading thread
• Beading needle of your choice
• seed beads in your choice of colors.

1. First choose your bandana and seed beads in the colors you prefer.
   For this example I've chosen purple, lavender and white, with a purple and white bandana.

2. * Cut the bandana diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner. (see diagram shown).
   * Hand roll and sew a 1/8"- 1/4" hem on the raw edge.

3. Begin beading by inserting the threaded needle from the back to the very front edge on the left end that was already hemmed.
   * Then thread on: ** 3 lavender beads, 1 white bead, 3 purple beads, 1 white bead, 3 lavender beads, and 3 white beads**
   * At the end -skip over the first 3 white beads you just put on and run the thread back up through the entire row of beads.
   * At the top insert the needle right next the bead row you just finished and follow the pattern from ** to ** again. Run the needle back up the same as the first one. Continue this pattern until you have placed rows of beads along both bottom sides of the bandana half.
   Finish it off at the end the same as you would for any other sewn item.

Tips & Warnings

• Pull firmly on each row of beads as you complete them, but don't make them too tight . You want them a little loose so they will dangle.
• This beaded shawl collar can also be created by just using a triangle shaped piece of fabric. In this case you will need to hem all three sides before beginning the beading.
• If you make a mistake or see that a bead was skipped when you were running the needle back through - just back track through each bead until you reach the mistake, and correct it.

[ibloomdrop]

on 4/14/2009 Great instructions to create a beaded bandana shawl collar. Good work.