Free Beaded Jewelry Pattern Ideas

Use a Variety of Beads to Create Your Own Free Designs

Knowing a few design techniques can help you develop your design sense, and put you on the path to creating free beaded jewelry design patterns. Using any of these techniques can help you create dozens of new patterns for making barrettes, belts, hairbands, pins and flat weave jewelry.

Use the Bead Card Method for Barrettes and Pins

Make large, flat bead designs for barrettes and pins by using the bead card method. A bead card can be made from any lightweight cardboard or other materials, as long as you can insert a beading needle through it without damaging the needle. Recycle and make a waterproof bead card by cutting a piece from the flat side of an empty plastic milk or water container.

Use markers or pencils to sketch a design motif directly on the bead card. Try a simple design like a violet or a rose to start. Pick up two or three beads at a time and stitch them in place directly on the card. When your design is complete, carefully cut around the outline of your bead design, and make a backing.

To make the backing, place the beaded design on top of a piece of heavy fabric and trace around the edges. Cut out the fabric piece. Use hot glue or jewelry glue to adhere the backing to your design and then glue or stitch the barrette or pin to the back.

Plan Larger Designs, Like Belts, On Graph Paper

For making belts or other large objects, use markers or color pencils to design your pattern on graph paper. This method is ideally suited for beaders using bead loom or bead-weaving techniques.

Use Motifs Designed for Cross Stitch or Other Media

Make your own free designs by borrowing patterns designed for other crafts. Cross stitch and other sewing patterns can be used to create bead designs. Simply use the color chart to represent different colors or types of beads instead of stitches.