Experiment with size of thread and size of beads - instead of 3 seed beads each time you could use just one larger bead.
DIRECTIONS for this illustration:
Load 108 seed beads on a #20 thread. Wind 3 yards onto a shuttle pushing the beads towards the ball as you go. Divide the beads in half and put 54 on the shuttle anchoring them with 2 turns of thread and leave the other 54 with the ball.
Also have a large bead to sew on at the end for fastening.
Start by making a ring to fit over your large bead.
Reverse work, * Chain 4, pass 3 beads along from the ball, Chain 4 reverse stitches (i.e. don't let the knot flip), pass 3 beads along from the shuttle.
Repeat from * for the length required.
Fasten off to the large end bead.It is tricky and hard to get the zig-zag going at first. One tip is to hold onto the last lot of beads with the finger and thumb of your left hand at the beginning of each chain.
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Pages last updated June 2003