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STARLIGHT

Starlight, free design

 

This pattern can be used to make a pendant or ornament.
It’s a great stash-buster!

MATERIALS

• 5 feet of 6 lb. FireLine
• About 100 size 11/0 seed beads
• 5 size 3mm beads (can be any bead type: round beads, glass pearls or fire-polished beads)
• 5 size 4mm beads (can be any bead type: round beads, glass pearls, bicone crystals or fire-polished beads)
• 30 SuperDuo beads
• a 4mm closed jump ring
• a chain (for the pendant) and a hook (for the ornament)

Step 1: Thread your needle with five feet of FireLine.

Leave about a 6-inch tail that you can weave in and make disappear at any time (and the sooner you do this, the better, so the tail thread doesn’t get in the way), and string five seed beads.

Tie the beads together in a circle with a tight double knot, forming a ring of five seed beads:

Step 2: Go through the seed bead next to the knot on the ring (highlighted in RED):

Step 3: String a 4mm bead, a seed bead, three SuperDuo beads, a seed bead and another 4mm bead.

Go around and back across through the seed bead on the ring of five seed beads that you exited at the end of the last step (highlighted in RED):

Step 4: Go through the next seed bead on the ring of five seed beads (highlighted in RED):

Step 5: String a 4mm bead, a seed bead, three SuperDuo beads and a seed bead.

Go around and down through the 4mm bead that you added in Step 3 and the seed bead on the ring of five seed beads that you exited at the end of the last step (both beads highlighted in RED):

Step 6: Go through the next seed bead on the ring of five seed beads (highlighted in RED):

Step 7: String a 4mm bead, a seed bead, three SuperDuo beads and a seed bead.

Go around and across through the 4mm bead that you added in Step 5 and the seed bead on the ring of five seed beads that you exited at the end of the last step (highlighted in RED):

Step 8: Go through the next seed bead on the ring of five seed beads (highlighted in RED):

Step 9: String a 4mm bead, a seed bead, three SuperDuo beads and a seed bead.

Go around and up through the 4mm bead that you added in Step 7 and the seed bead on the ring of five seed beads that you exited at the end of the last step (highlighted in RED):

Step 10: Go through the next seed bead on the ring of five seed beads and then up through the 4mm bead highlighted in RED:

Step 11: String a seed bead, three SuperDuo beads and a seed bead.

Go around and through the 4mm bead, the seed bead on the ring of five seed beads and the 4mm bead highlighted in RED:

Step 12: Go back across through the seed bead, the three SuperDuo beads and the seed bead highlighted in RED:

Step 13: Go around through the circle of seed beads and the inside hole of the SuperDuo beads highlighted in RED to tighten up the circle:

NOTE: You may have to untwist the seed beads as you go around.

Step 14: Go back around through the seed bead and the three SuperDuo beads highlighted in RED:

Step 15: Go around and through the outside hole of the same SuperDuo bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):

Step 16: String a SuperDuo bead. Go through the outside hole of the SuperDuo bead highlighted in RED:

Step 17: String a SuperDuo bead. Go through the outside hole of the SuperDuo bead highlighted in RED:

Step 18: String a 3mm bead. Go through the outside hole of the SuperDuo bead highlighted in RED:

Step 19: String a SuperDuo bead. Go through the outside hole of the SuperDuo bead highlighted in RED. String another SuperDuo bead. Go through the outside hole of the next SuperDuo bead highlighted in RED:

Step 20: String a 3mm bead. Go through the outside hole of the SuperDuo bead highlighted in RED:

Step 21: Repeat Step 19 and Step 20 three more times:

Step 22: Go back through the SuperDuo beads highlighted in RED:

Step 23: String two seed beads. Go around and through the outside hole of the same SuperDuo bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):

Step 24: String a SuperDuo bead. Go through the outside hole of the SuperDuo bead highlighted in RED:

Step 25: String two seed beads. Go around and through the inside hole of the same SuperDuo bead that you just exited, the outside hole of the SuperDuo bead and the inside hole of the SuperDuo bead highlighted in RED:

Step 26: Go through the two seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 27: String two seed beads and go through the outside hole of the SuperDuo bead highlighted in RED:

Step 28: String two more seed beads. Go through the two seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 29: Go back up through the SuperDuo beads highlighted in RED:

Step 30: Go through the four seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 31: String five seed beads. Go around the top of the SuperDuo bead and back down through the four seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 32: Go back up through the SuperDuo beads highlighted in RED:

Step 33: Go back through the beads highlighted in RED:

Step 34: String two seed beads. Go around and through the outside hole of the same SuperDuo bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED).

String a SuperDuo bead. Go through the outside hole of the next SuperDuo bead highlighted in RED:

Step 35: String two seed beads. Go around and through the inside hole of the same SuperDuo bead that you just exited, the outside hole of the SuperDuo bead and the inside hole of the SuperDuo bead highlighted in RED.

Go through the two seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 36: String two seed beads and go through the outside hole of the SuperDuo bead highlighted in RED.

String two more seed beads. Go through the two seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 37: Go back around through the SuperDuo beads and the four seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 38: String five seed beads. Go around the top of the SuperDuo bead and back through the four seed beads highlighted in RED.

Go back through the SuperDuo beads highlighted in RED:

Step 39: Go back down through the beads highlighted in RED:

Step 40: Repeat Step 34 to Step 38 to create a third “arm” for your star:

Step 41: Go back down through the beads highlighted in RED:

Step 42: Repeat Step 34 to Step 38 to create a fourth “arm” for your star:

Step 43: Go back across through the beads highlighted in RED:

Step 44: Repeat Step 34 to Step 38 to create the last “arm” for your star:

Step 45: Go around through the seed beads highlighted in RED:

Next you will add seed beads on either side of the 3mm beads to fill in the gaps.

Step 46: String a seed bead and go through the 3mm bead highlighted in RED:

Step 47: String a seed bead and go around through the seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 48: String a seed bead. Go through the 3mm bead highlighted in RED. String another seed bead and go around through the seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 49: String a seed bead. Go through the 3mm bead highlighted in RED. String another seed bead and go up through the seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 50: String two seed beads. Go through the jump ring and back down through the second seed bead that you just strung:

Step 51: String another seed bead and go across through the seed bead highlighted in RED:

Go back around through the seed beads and the jump ring two more times to strengthen your attachment to the jump ring.

Step 52: Go down through the seed beads highlighted in RED. String a seed bead. Go through the 3mm bead highlighted in RED. String another seed bead and go around through the seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 53: Go down through the seed beads highlighted in RED. String a seed bead. Go through the 3mm bead highlighted in RED. String another seed bead and go around through the seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 54: Go back around through the outer edge of seed beads and 3mm beads highlighted in RED:

Weave your way back into the star, knot and cut your thread.

If you want to make your star more stiff and less floppy, dip it into some floor polish and let it dry overnight on wax paper.

Attach the jump ring to a hook for an ornament or slip a chain through the jump ring for a pendant.

 

Finishing Tips

If you are using the motif to create a small holiday ornament or suncatcher and wish to stiffen the beadwork, these methods and products have all worked for me, even on crystal. Test any product on some beads before applying it to your beadwork to make sure there is no unwanted discoloration. You probably won't want to use any of these products on porous Czech coatings such as Bondeli.

Acrylic Floor Polish:
If you have beaded up any of Sandra Halpenny's gorgeous snowflake patterns, then you are familiar with using acrylic floor polish products to stiffen beadwork. Although it has changed names several times since I started beading, Sandy recommends Pledge Floor Gloss, Original by Johnson (formerly SC Johnson Pledge Future Shine and Future Floor Finish). Simply dip the finished motif in the liquid, shake off the excess and let it dry overnight on wax paper. You can find Sandy's directions at the bottom of one of her free snowflake patterns by clicking here: Beaded Snowflake #31 Ornament Pattern.

Clear Nail Polish:
A quick and easy way to stiffen beadwork is to paint the back of your beadwork with clear nail polish and let it dry overnight. Linda Genaw of Linda's Crafty Inspirations recommended that I try clear Sally Hansen Hard as Nails nail polish and it does work well.

Permalac NT:
Permalac NT Semi-Gloss is my favorite when it comes to stiffening beaded ornaments. PotomacBeads.com sells it in handy little bottles that look and work just like nail polish. Although they are marketing Permalac as a protective coating and sealant, I love the way it works to stiffen most any type of beadwork. I have used it on crystal, too, without any problems. Make sure that you brush it on in a well-ventilated locale since, like nail polish, it is a bit stinky, and let your beadwork dry overnight. You can find out more about Permalac NT by watching the video and the product is also available for purchase by clicking here: Permalac NT.

 

RedPandaBeads.com has many more Starlight color combinations for inspiration. For the exact beads used in the photo below, click HERE to go to the RedPandaBeads.com Gallery of Color Suggestions and scroll down.