I've had this beautiful black and copper swirl dichroic glass pendant for a long time, and it is certainly large enough to just wear on its own by adding a large jump ring, but I wanted to do a bit more. Not too much more, though! I'm very happy with the compromise I came up with.
If you are new to bead embroidery or to making pendants, step-by-step instructions for putting together a bead embroidered piece, including back stitch, edging brick stitch, and stack stitch can be found in the free first chapter of Every Bead Has a Story. Chapter two has instructions for stitching a peyote stitch bezel, and Chapter three teaches the square stitch bail.
1. I decided to stick with only the colors already found in the pendant. I used some double stick tape to hold the pendant down temporarily while I bezeled it with size 11/0 seed beads, topped by a row of size 15/0 seed beads to cinch it in. I used a Swarovski marguerite to hide the pendant hole and to secure it to the foundation fabric even more securely.
2. Cut a piece of backing fabric to match the top and add edging brick stitch in size 11/0 seed beads around the outside, trapping a large jump ring at the center of the bottom.
3. Use size 15/0 seed beads to add stack stitches to each edging bead. I alternated colors and height.
4. Stitch a square stitch bail to the back of your pendant.
5. Add a chain or cord to the bail, and use a bead pin to add a couple of beads to dangle at the bottom. I used another Swarovski marguerite and a Swarovski crystal pearl.
Copyright 2015 Cyndi Lavin. All rights reserved. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. May be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact.
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