Tutorial: Summer Medallions and Introducing the Super Duos

There is a new Czech Glass bead on the market and it has two holes! Introducing the Super Duo!

These beads can be used in a number of stitching and stringing projects. Inspired by summer, here are the Summer Medallions:

These adorable little pieces really shine with the summer palette. What colors will you use?

Supplies (for one medallion)

• Two colors of Super Duos: 6 of COLOR A and 12 of COLOR B.
• 16 3mm beads, firepolished Czech Glass or Swarovski Bicones.
• Size 10 beading needle or a big eye needle
• Thread: 6lb Fireline, Size D Nymo, or the popular Japanese K.O. Thread

Directions

1. Cut 6-7 feet of thread and thread on the needle. String on 6 of COLOR A beads and tie them into a circle. Make sure the knot is doubled.
2. First, string through one COLOR A bead, then turn and string through the second hole of the same bead, going the opposite direction. String two COLOR B beads and then through the second hole of the next COLOR A bead.
3. Repeat around the circle.
4. Like before, string through a COLOR B bead, turn and string through the second hole of that bead, going the opposite direction. String on one COLOR C bead and through the second hole of the next COLOR B bead.
5. Repeat around the circle.
6. Once finished, string the thread back through the piece and tie off the ends, hiding the tails.
   Not sure how to do this? Read the finishing instructions for the Sunburst tutorial!

These medallions can be used in any kind of beading – stretch your imagination! We used them to make summer themed chandeliers.

Additional Supplies

• Make sure to multiply the supplies for one medallion by 8; i.e. 48 of COLOR A, 96 of COLOR B, and 128 of the 3mm beads/bicones.
• 2 Wire Guards
• 1 pair of earwires

Directions

1. Following the instructions for each medallion, stitch a total of 8 medallions – 4 for each earring.
2. Lay two side-by-side to see the beads that touch. String a circle through these beads, capturing at least 2 COLOR C beads and one COLOR B bead on each medallion. String through the circle twice, and tie it off.
3. Lay a third symmetrically above the first two. Again, see which beads meet each medallion in order to attatch them. String through the circle made up of these beads.
4. Repeat for the fourth medallion.
5. String around the outside of the third or fourth medallion to the middle.
6. String through up through a wire guard, and back into the beads.
7. String through the beads, tie off, and hide the tails.
8. Repeat for the other earring, attach earwires, and flaunt your hand-made summer-chic earrings!