CUPOLA BRACELET

(©2015 Deborah Roberti)

Links to exact beads used and more colorways at the end of the page.

Note: This pattern is a variation of my free Pyramid Band. Although the Cupola Bracelet is made using 12mm Czech Glass Hex 2-Hole Beadstuds, it also works great with any size Czech Pyramid Beadstuds: 12mm, 8mm and 6mm (examples shown in the PDF and after the last step).

MATERIALS
(for a 6.75-inch bracelet, not including clasp)
• About 2.5 yards of 6 lb. FireLine, or Nymo or C-Lon thread, size D
• About 100 size 11/0 seed beads
• 6 size 12mm Czech Glass Pyramid Hex 2-Hole Beadstuds
• 36 size 4mm fire-polished beads
• 20 size 4mm bicone crystals (or any type 4mm bead)
• clasp

Step 1: Thread your needle with about 2.5 yards of FireLine or thread.

String a fire-polished bead, two seed beads, a fire-polished bead, a seed bead, a fire-polished bead and a seed bead.

Leaving about a 10-inch tail for attaching the clasp, tie the beads together with a double knot:

Step 2: Go back around through the beads highlighted in RED:

Step 3: String a seed bead. Go up through the left side of a Hex Beadstud.

String a seed bead, a fire-polished bead and a seed bead. Go around and down through the right side of the Hex Beadstud that you just strung.

String a seed bead and go across through the fire-polished bead that you exited at the end of the last step (highlighted in RED):

Step 4: The Hex Beadstuds are heavy so go back around through the beads that you added in the last step (highlighted in RED):

Step 5: Go back up and around through the seed bead, the left side of the Hex Beadstud, the seed bead and the fire-polished bead highlighted in RED:

Step 6: String a seed bead, a fire-polished bead, a seed bead, a fire-polished bead, a seed bead, a fire-polished bead, a seed bead, a fire-polished bead, a seed bead, a fire-polished bead and a seed bead.

Go around and back across through the fire-polished bead that you exited at the end of the last step (highlighted in RED):

Step 7: Go back around through the beads that you added in the last step (highlighted in RED):

You’ve just created a base circle of seed beads and fire-polished beads. Later, in Step 11, you’ll add a layer of seed beads and bicone crystals that will sit on top of this base circle.

Step 8: Go back up and around through the beads highlighted in RED:

Step 9: String a seed bead. Go up through the left side of a Hex Beadstud.

String a seed bead, a fire-polished bead and a seed bead. Go around and down through the right side of the Hex Beadstud that you just strung.

String a seed bead and go across through the fire-polished bead that you exited at the end of the last step (highlighted in RED):

Step 10: Go back around through the beads that you added in the last step (highlighted in RED):

Now you’ll add a layer of seed beads and bicone crystals that will sit on top of the base circle of seed beads and fire-polished beads that you created in Step 6.

Step 11: String a seed bead, a bicone crystal, a seed bead, a bicone crystal and a seed bead.
Go across through the fire-polished bead highlighted in RED and pull tight:

Step 12: String a seed bead and a bicone crystal. Go back up through the seed highlighted in RED, drawing the seed bead toward the center so that the bicone crystals start to form an “x”:

Step 13: String a bicone crystal and a seed bead. Go back across through the fire-polished bead highlighted in RED. Pull tight so the bicone crystals form an “x”:

Step 14: Go back down and around through the seed bead, the bicone crystal, the seed bead, the bicone crystal, the seed bead and the fire-polished bead highlighted in RED:

Step 15: Go back up and around through the seed bead, the bicone crystal, the seed bead, the bicone crystal, the seed bead and the fire-polished bead highlighted in RED:

Step 16: Go back up and around through the seed bead, the left side of the Hex Beadstud, the seed bead and the fire-polished bead highlighted in RED:

Step 17: Repeat Step 6 to Step 16 until your bracelet is the length you want it, minus about a quarter-inch and the length of your clasp:

Step 18: To attach one end of the clasp, string a seed bead, a fire-polished bead, two seed beads, a fire-polished bead and a seed bead. Go around and back across through the fire-polished highlighted in RED:

Step 19: Go back around through the beads that you added in the last step (highlighted in RED):

Step 20: Go back up through the seed bead, the fire-polished bead and the seed bead highlighted in RED:

Step 21: String a seed bead. Go through the clasp and then back down through the seed bead that you just strung. Continue on around through the beads highlighted in RED:

Step 22: Go back around through the beads highlighted in RED and the clasp several times:

Weave back into the bracelet, knot in several places and then cut your thread.

Step 23: To attach the clasp to the other end of your bracelet, thread your needle with the tail thread from Step 1. Go around through the beads highlighted in RED:

Repeat Step 21 and Step 22.

Beads Used in the photo above and the PDF:

Purple Hex version
• About 100 size 11/0 seed beads: Miyuki #4204 Duracoat Champagne Rocailles
• 6 size 12mm Czech Glass Pyramid Hex 2-Hole Beadstuds: White Senegal Purple
• 36 size 4mm fire-polished beads: Czech Luster-Opaque Gold/Smoky Topaz
• 20 size 4mm bicone crystals: Swarovski Cyclamen Opal

Green Hex version
• About 100 size 11/0 seed beads: Toho #221 Bronze
• 6 size 12mm Czech Glass Pyramid Hex 2-Hole Beadstuds: White Travertin Blue
• 36 size 4mm fire-polished beads: Czech Opaque Pale Turquoise-Star Dust
• 20 size 4mm bicone crystals: Swarovski Crystal Bronze Shade

Although I instruct you to use 12mm Hex Beadstuds, any size Beadstuds will work with this pattern.

Here is the same pattern using 12mm Pyramid Beadstuds (the largest):
• About 100 size 11/0 seed beads: Miyuki #1052 Galvanized Gold
• 6 size 12mm Czech Glass Pyramid 2-Hole Beadstuds: Antique Chrome
• 36 size 4mm fire-polished beads: Czech Matte Metallic Flax
• 20 size 4mm bicone crystals: Swarovski Jet

8mm Pyramid Beadstuds:
• About 120 size 11/0 seed beads: Czech #27000 Crystal Full Labrador
• 7 size 8mm Czech Glass Pyramid 2-Hole Beadstuds: Crystal Silver
• 42 size 4mm fire-polished beads: Milky Aquamarine
• 24 size 4mm bicone crystals: Swarovski Turquoise AB2x

and 6mm Pyramid Beadstuds (the smallest):
• About 150 size 11/0 seed beads: Miyuki #1052 Galvanized Gold
• 8 size 6mm Czech Glass Pyramid 2-Hole Beadstuds: Magic Wine
• 48 size 4mm fire-polished beads: Czech Magic Wine
• 28 size 4mm bicone crystals: Swarovski Crystal Aurum 2x (discontinued, Preciosa Crystal Aurum 2x is an excellent substitute)

Betsy at RedPandaBeads.com beaded up some more Cupola Bracelets for her Gallery of Color Suggestions. Just click on a picture to see the actual beads used: