Scalloped bracelet

Make a wavy wristband

with Ndebele stitch
by Jane Tyson

As an avid beader, I decided I had to attend the Bead&Button Show – even

though my home in Australia is about as far as you can get from Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. In May 2001, I achieved my goal and joined hundreds of other
beaders for the annual festivities. This was my first visit to the U.S., and with the
help of friends new and old, I had a ball. My wonderful friend NanC Meinhardt
made the trip possible, helping me with my arrangements and graciously putting
me up in Chicago. NanC also helped me register for the B&B Show class I want-
ed to take almost as soon as class registration opened. Thus, I was lucky enough
to enroll in Margo Field’s class “Rhapsody in Flowers.” I drew inspiration for this
Ndebele bracelet from one of the chains that Margo taught in her class.

108 beadandbutton.com
stepbystep figure 1
The bracelet is stitched with waxed, row. Pick up 2 CC beads and sew
doubled thread to help maintain firm through the second CC bead and the
tension. After stitching each row, pull to next MC bead in the row. Pick up 2
keep the thread tension taut. If the MC beads and and sew through the last figure 2
beads do not sit in cupped pairs, coax MC bead in the row (figure 6). Repeat
them into place to form the herringbone step 2.
pattern. Try to use slightly smaller Repeat step 4 three times. figure 3
contrast-color beads on your increase To sew the first decrease row, pick
and decrease rows to keep the bracelet up 2 MC beads and sew through the
from bulging. second MC bead in the previous row.
Sew through the 2 CC beads and the
bracelet base next MC bead in the row. Pick up 2 MC
Thread a needle to the center of 10 beads and sew through the last MC bead
ft. (3m) of conditioned Silamide. Pick in the row (figure 7). Repeat step 2. figure 4
up 2 main color (MC) beads and Repeat step 1 to insert one CC bead
move them to 10 in. (25cm) from the between the 2 pairs of MC beads added
tail ends. Sew back through the first for the next row (figure 8). Repeat step 2.
bead strung. The two beads should sit Repeat steps 3-4 of the bracelet base
side by side. Sew through the second four times.
bead. Note: you are making a 4-bead, Repeat steps 1-7 to add a third scallop
brick-stitch ladder. to the bracelet. figure 5
Pick up 1 MC bead and sew through Repeat steps 8-9.
the bead just sewn through and the bead
added. Pick up 1 MC bead and sew back completing the bracelet
through the third bead. Zigzag back to Repeat steps 3-4 of the bracelet base
the row’s first bead (figure 1). above until the bracelet encircles your
Pick up 2 MC beads and sew wrist with a 1⁄2-in. (1.3cm) overlap. After
through the previous row’s second adding the last row of Ndebele, sew
bead. Sew up through the row’s third back through the 2 previous rows, figure 6
bead. Pick up 2 MC beads and sew repeating the thread path and keeping
through the previous row’s last bead the tension taut.
(figure 2). Sew one side of the snap fastener to
Pick up 1 contrast color (CC) bead this end of the bracelet. Finish the
and sew through the last MC bead thread with a few half-hitch knots (see
added (figure 3). “Basics,” p. 136) and glue the knots.
Repeat steps 3-4 until the strip is When the glue is dry, trim the thread.
about 2-21⁄2 in. (5-6.3cm) long or about Thread a needle to the thread tail at
one-third of your wrist’s circumference. the other end of the bracelet. Sew the
second half of the snap to the other side
scallop insets of the bracelet and finish the thread as
To start the first increase row, pick in step 2. w
up 2 MC beads and sew through the figure 7
second bead in the previous row. Pick Jane lives in Hobart, Tasmania, in Australia.
up 1 CC bead and sew through the third She has been beading for ten years and
MC bead in the previous row. Pick up 2 teaching beadwork for eight years. You can
MC beads and sew through the last bead contact her at jrtyson@netspace.net.au.
in the row (figure 4).
Pick up 1 CC bead and sew through
the last MC bead added. materials
For the next row, repeat step 1, • 20g 80 Seed beads, main color
inserting 2 CC beads in the middle • 10g 80 Seed beads, contrast color
instead of one (figure 5). Repeat step 2. • 1 3⁄8-in. (6mm) Snap fastener
Pick up 2 MC beads and sew • Silamide or other thick, strong thread
through the second MC bead and the • Beading needles, size 10
next CC bead added in the previous • Beeswax or Thread Heaven figure 8

Bead & Button • October 2002 109