Create a Dragonfly Pendant

Published in issue 18, August 2012

Written by Sally-Jo from The Bead Bounty

Perfect to go with your summer wardrobe, this pretty little Dragonfly pendant will fit right in.

What You will need

4 x Dagger Beads, plain or patterned (approximately 16 mm)

Size 11 Seed Beads 

5 x 4 mm Facetted Beads

1 x Head Pin

Bead Needle

Beading Thread

Sharp Scissors

Flat nose pliers

Round nose pliers

Instructions

Step 1. Thread needle with approximately 20” of beading thread. Pick up 2 seed beads, 1 dagger, 1 seed bead, 1 dagger, 4 seed beads, 1 dagger, 1 seed bead, 1 dagger and 2 seed beads. Step 2. Tie the two ends of the cotton in a tight knot.

N.B.  If you are using daggers with a pattern or coating make sure that they are all facing the same way.

  

Step 3. Add the head bead.  Pick up 1 seed bead, 1 facetted bead, and 10 seed beads.

Step 4. Pass the needle back through the facetted bead and the single seed bead and tie another tight knot.

Step 5. Pass the needle back down through all the beads to emerge at the second of the 4 bead group at the bottom of the body of the Dragonfly.

Step 6. Repeat with the second thread going through the opposite beads and tie the threads in a knot.

Neaten the threads off by passing them through several 

Beads and cutting off the excess.

Step 7. On the head pin, pick up 4 facetted beads with seed beads either side.

Step 8. Using a pair of flat nose pliers, bend the wire at the top of the beads to a right angle and cut the excess wire leaving approximately 8 mm.

Step 9. Make a loop with a pair of round nose pliers.

Step 10. Open the loop and attach it to the bottom of the Dragonfly body to form the tail. Close the loop.

The Earrings shown in the picture were made in exactly the same way as the pendant but I used smaller daggers (approximately 10 mm) size 15 seed beads and 3 mm facetted beads instead.