How to Make a Beautiful Beaded Collar for Miss Revlon
By Mary Tewhey
Beads were the fashion statement in the late 1940s and early 1950s. This is also the time in jewelry history when the Egyptian influence was still felt, although not as strongly as in the early part of the decade. Perfect for the holiday festivities, this lovely beaded collar will go with almost any party dress.
MATERIALS
• Wire cutter
• Round-nose pliers
• Length of 14K GF wire (available at your local bead store)
• Beading thread
• Beading needle
• Clear nail polish
• Spool of 34-gauge wire
• Scissors
• Gold eye pins
• Red 3 mm bugle beads
• Gold-lined seed beads
• 4 mm pink tear drops with a hole that goes from side-to-side
MAKING THE BUGLE BEAD COLLAR
This stitch is a simple back and forth motion that reverses the needle every time a bugle bead is added, one at a time.
Step 1: To begin, thread the needle with about 3 feet of thread, string on a bugle bead, and leave about a 5-inch “tail.”
Step 2: Holding it in your left hand, string on another bugle bead; line it up parallel to the first bugle bead.
Step 3: Pass through the first bugle bead and the second bugle bead so your needle is pointed in the opposite direction. String on a third bugle bead. Pass through beads No. 2 and No. 3. Pull the thread snug so the beads line up next to each other. Your needle will switch direction each time you finish adding a bead. There is a rhythm to this stitch; all the motions are repetitive.
Step 4: Continue making the band until it is approximately 3¾-inches long. Note: This measurement will fit an 18-inch Miss Revlon; if the doll is larger, add bugle beads until both ends barely meet around the doll’s neck.
Step 5: Make a knot on one side, clip close, and seal the end with a small dab of clear nail polish. The band will have one side with a knot; the other side will have the tail of thread.
Step 6: Fold the band in half and find the center of the necklace. Thread the needle through one of the top loops, knot, and seal. Thread the needle down through the center bugle bead.
Step 7: String as follows: four gold seed beads, one pink drop, two gold seed beads.
Step 8: Pass the needle through the third and fourth seed bead before the pink drop and go back through the center bugle bead on the necklace. Pull snug and straighten the beads. You’ve finished the center drop!
Step 9: Pass the needle through the next two or three loops on the top of the band. Pass the needle through the fourth or fifth bugle bead counting from the center drop. Proceed as before.
Step 10: When three drops are finished, thread the needle through a top loop of thread, knot, and seal. Make two more drops on the other side of the center loop as you did before.
Step 11: When finished, thread the “tail” on the needle and weave it back and forth through the first three loops of thread. Knot, clip close, and seal. The collar is almost finished!
MAKING THE CLASP
Step 1: Thread an eye pin through the last bugle bead on one side.
Step 2: Bend the pin into a “D” shape. Clip ends close.
Step 3: Do the same on the other end. Take another eye pin, make a loop with the round-nose pliers, and attach to one “D.”
Step 4: Squeeze the loop closed with the pliers. Bend the pin and make a hook. Clip to the desired length.
MAKING THE EARRINGS
Step 1: Cut a 7-inch length of 34-gauge wire. String beads in the following order: one gold seed bead, one red bugle bead, two gold seed beads, one pink drop, two gold seed beads, one red bugle bead, one gold seed bead.
Step 2: Center the beads and bring the two ends together. Twist the two wires to make one wire.
Step 3: Using the round-nose pliers, make a loop and wind the excess wire around the loop about two times. Clip close. Do the same for the other earring. Make the earring post by taking the length of 14K GF wire and make a loop as you did for the necklace clasp. Place the earring on the loop; squeeze closed. Cut the post to the desired length. Do the same for the other earring.
Happy Beading!
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