Tutorial: Sunburst

Very cute, fun, and easy to make. This is a great beginners project for stitching using a Brick Stitch that produces some fantastic results. We’ve split the tutorial into three parts: the first round, the second/third, and the fourth with finishing. Test your skills!

The pendant ends up being about 1-1/2″ tall and can be stitched in any color. We suggest pastels or neon colors for a bright and joyful piece. The instructions are for the stitching, so if you would like to hang it as we did, find a jump ring that is large enough to go around the ring and beads (see picture) to attach a bail.

This piece can be adapted to earrings by making two of them! We used the same jump rings as the pendant and added our favorite easy-to-do earwires: kidney earwires.

We were inspired by these Pantone Spring/Summer 2013 colors, what will inspire you?

Supplies

• TierraCast 1 inch ring Buy Online!
• Three different colors of size 6 seed beads (COLOR A,B, and C)
• ~14 6mm beads
• 6lb Fireline
• A big eye needle or a size 10 needle

We used:

• Silver Hammertone 1 inch Ring Buy Online!
• COLOR A: 572A
• COLOR B: Silver colored metal seed beeds
• COLOR C: 412D
• COLOR D: Peridot Czech Glass Firepolished

Round One!

Directions

1. Cut about two yards of fireline and tie the end onto the ring.
2. Thread your needle, and thread two COLOR A beads.
3. Thread through the middle of the ring, keeping the beads in place.
4. String up through the second of the two COLOR A beads and pull tight
5. String on one COLOR A bead.
6. Again, thread through the middle of the ring.
7. String back up through the COLOR A bead that was just added and pull tight.
8. Repeat all around the ring and back to the first.
9. String down through the first COLOR A bead.
10. Go through the middle of the ring.
11. String back up through the very first COLOR A bead and pull tight.
12. Make sure that the beads sit evenly together not too tight and not with any significant gaps.

Phew! That’s the first round of the piece completed. Make sure to take a break, get a glass of water, or just catch your breath before continuing.

Second and Third Rounds!

Directions

1. String on two COLOR B beads.
2. Instead of going through the ring, find the string between each of the COLOR A beads from the first row. String through the SECOND thread from the two COLOR B beads, not the closest.
3. String up through the second COLOR B bead and pull tight.
4. For the next beads, don’t string through the second thread from the bead, but the EMPTY one next to it.
5. Continue until you are about half way around the circle.
6. String on two COLOR C beads
7. As before, string through the SECOND thread from the beads, not the first, and then back through the second bead.
8. Continue around the second round until they are about even.

It is important to note that the beads of the additional rounds will not always line up perfectly with the threads over the gaps you are stringing through. If the beads are “falling behind” where they need to be threaded, continue until a bead doesn’t sit properly. The next bead string through the same thread you had previously, doubling up the beads. If the beads get “too far ahead” skip one thread and string on the next once the middle of the beads rests far enough forward.

Fourth Round and Finishing!

Directions

1. String on three beads: COLOR D-B-D.
2. String through the second thread from the beads and back through the COLOR D bead.
3. String on one COLOR B bead and then one COLOR D bead.
4. String through the next thread and back through the COLOR D bead.
5. Continue all the way around the half circle from the other rounds, repeating the pattern.
6. To end, start by threading the needle back through some beads, following the general path of the stitch so the thread won’t be seen. Pick up one of the threads in the middle of the piece.
7. Tie a couple of knots and glue. Before cutting off the tail, feed it through a couple more beads and then cut it.
8. Now, let the glue dry and figure out how you are going to rock this piece of jewelry!