How to Make a Beadabead Ball From Pinch Beads

A beaded ball is just one idea of what you can make with beads.

Create a three-dimensional effect for earrings, necklaces and bracelets by making a beaded ball using pinch beads. Combine colors and different types of beads to add to the artistic creation. A pinch bead is a three-sided bead that is triangular in the cross section and it looks like it's been pinched on the ends. You will find pinch beads most commonly come from the Czech Republic.

Things You'll Need

• 6 pinch beads, 5mm
• 20 seed beads
• 3 pearl beads, 6mm
• Nylon-coated thread

Instructions

1. Cut your thread 40cm long. Thread in from the right a seed bead, pearl bead, a seed bead, pinch bead and then a seed bead.

2. Select a pinch bead and thread it through on the right side of the thread. Take the left side of the thread and put it through the same pinch bead so that both sides are crossing over to the other side, creating a circle.

3. Select the right thread and thread a seed bead, pearl and seed bead. Add a seed bead on the left side thread.

4. Cross thread lines over again with a pinch bead. Add a seed bead on the left side, then holding that same thread, circle it around clockwise and thread it through the first pinch bead.

5. Pull thread on both ends so they are snug, it should look like two circles of beads next to each other, then thread a seed bead through on each side.

   Thread through the last pearl crossing over the threads to join both lines again with the pearl. From the right side, put a seed bead, pinch bead and seed bead.

6. Thread in a seed bead from the left side. Join both lines with pinch bead crossing threads over again. Thread a seed bead through left side and thread line through pearl closest to it. Thread a seed bead into each side. Cross thread over again with the last pinch bead joining them.

7. Thread a seed bead in from the left side and insert the line into the closest pearl bead. Thread a seed bead into the right side and thread through the closest pinch bead. Thread a seed bead into the right line and crossover threads from the left side to join threads with a seed bead.

8. Pull threads from both sides gently to create a tight ball. Insert remaining threads through beads a few times and cross over threads to tie them together into a tight knot.

   Thread more seed beads onto hanging beads, if you like, and tie a charm at the bottom to put onto a necklace

References

• Bee Jang: For the Love of Sephiroth & Vincent: Tutorial: Bead Ball