Beaded Jewelry Diva

Superduo Bracelet Tutorial – Herringbone Style

Herringbone Bracelet Using Superduo Beads This superduo bracelet tutorial features the herringbone beading weave.Â Right now, the Czech Superduo beads are all the rage, but what can you do with them?Â They are two-holed beads, so they can’t be used in traditional weaves.Â Or can they?

This bracelet shows that the herringbone weave for beading can quite nicely accommodate the new 2-hole beads.Â What’s more, it works up very quickly, especially when done 2 beads across.

If you’d like to make your own bracelet, you’ll find a supply list and the video tutorial below.Â 🙂

First, a Review of the Beads

Superduo Beads Here’s a quick review of the beads.Â These are from the Czech Republic and they have an unusual shape.Â Overall, you could call them oval-shaped, but in profile they are raised in the center and tapered on the end.

Note:Â There are three (at the time of this writing) “versions” of the Superduo; the original and two variants.Â The variants are thicker on the ends, instead of being tapered.Â And while they are very nice beads in their own right, they are not necessarily interchangeable with the Superduos.Â The most common one that I have seen is called the Twin bead, and it’s made by the Czech firm Preciosa.

The colors of the Superduos include neon (a few of which are in the photo), as well as traditional colors and some of the new color treatments like Vega, Picasso, Travertine and many others.

Now on to the supply list and tutorial!

Supply List and Video Tutorial

Here are the supplies that you will need for the bracelet in the tutorial, as well as the colors in the other two examples I have in the video.

And of course, when you are done watching, please take a look at some of the other videos and projects on this website!Â In particular the Basics page and the Project Tutorials pages have lots more to see and do!Â 😀

Video Project Supplies

10 grams Superduo beads, Chalk Travertine
< 2 grams magatama beads, Bronze
< 2 grams size 11 seed beads, turquoise colorlined clear
Thread of your choice (I used One-G in Beige)
Clasp of your choice (I used a magnetic clasp)
Beading needle, size 11 or 12 suggested
Scissors
Thread Burner (totally optional)

Double Herringbone Example

10 grams Superduo beads, Turquoise
10 grams Superduo beads, Black
< 2 grams size 11 seed beads, topaz AB
< 3 grams size 6 seed beads, copper-color
Thread of your choice (I used One-G in Beige)
Clasp of your choice (I used a copper toggle clasp)
Beading needle, size 11 or 12 suggested
Scissors
Thread Burner (totally optional)

Example With Corrugated Copper Breads

10 grams Superduo beads, Aqua Apollo Gold
< 2 grams size 11 seed beads, topaz AB
40 – 50 3mm beads, copper
Thread of your choice (I used One-G in Beige)
Clasp of your choice (I used a copper magnetic clasp)
Beading needle, size 11 or 12 suggested
Scissors
Thread Burner (totally optional)

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Starflower Earrings Video Tutorial

Starflower Earrings This Starflower video tutorial with Superduo beads came about because I had bought a bunch and then…what do I actually do with them?Â The shape seemed to lend itself well to right angle weave, but I wasn’t sure that was the direction I wanted to go.Â Hmmm, why not just play around and see what happens?

So I started with right angle weave, then decided to go another way altogether.Â Voila!Â The starflower was born!

About Superduo Beads

The Superduo beads are from the Czech Republic, and they have two holes instead of one.Â They are also somewhat oval in shape; between the shape and the two holes.Â The size is 2.5mm x 5mm, and it seems like these seed beads can be incredibly versatile.

I have to hand it to the Czech beadmakers — they have really come a long way in the last few years.Â The different shapes they are coming out with, and the color combinations they are dreaming up are absolutely to die for!

Very recently they’ve come out with some neon colors, which is the pair I feature in the video.Â I just couldn’t resist! Doubled Starflower Earrings Starflower Earrings with Superduo Beads

Not a fan of actually wearing neon colors?Â Not to worry, the Superduo beads come in more traditional colors, as well as beautiful marbled, metallic and half-coated colors.

Oh, and I also used dagger beads with these earrings in the video beading tutorial.Â You can of course skip the daggers or use some other kid of bead or charm in its place.Â As you can see in the photo to the left, I have one pair where I used a beaded headpin in place of the dagger.

Video Tutorial

First is the video tutorial, then below are the complete list of supplies needed to make any one of the earrings on this page.

Before I get to the supplies, one word about the needle and thread that I used in the demo.Â Typically I use Fireline as my thread of choice, but the Superduo beads can have the thread show at times.Â So, this time I have used One-G thread, as it comes in a multitude of colors (although sadly not any are neon).

For the beading needle, I am a big fan of size 11 needles.Â The eye of the needle is easier for me to see to thread, and the thickness is suited to most projects.Â You can use a size 12 with these earrings, but I wouldn’t really suggest a size 10 — although it is possible.

Supplies Needed for the Earrings

In addition to the standard needle, thread, scissors and a pair of pliers for the earring findings, here are the supplies for each of the three earrings.

Neon Earrings

8 Superduos, neon green
12 Superduos, neon pink
2 Dagger beads, 15x5mm, neon yellow
< 1 gram size 11 seed beads, purple colorlined crystal
2 beaded earring findings in silver-filled

Green and Purple Single Starflower Earrings

8 Superduos, ruby luster
12 Superduos, crystal vega
2 Dagger beads, 15x5mm, peacock colors on antique gold
< 1 gram size 11 seed beads, seafoam colorlined crystal
2 earring findings in gold-filled

Turquoise and Pink Double Starflower Earrings

16 Superduos, turquoise
24 Superduos, ruby luster
2 beaded headpins, closed with a wrapped loop.
< 1 gram size 11 seed beads, permanently galvanized silver
12 round beads, 4mm, amethyst AB
2 earring findings in silver-filled

I hope that you enjoy making (and wearing!) your new earrings.Â Make ’em in a ton of different color combos.

In the next week or so, I will also have another video that shows how to make starflowers into a bracelet!Â So if that tickles your fancy, get busy and create around 10 starflowers (without daggers or bales) in preparation.Â 😀

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Hoops and Daggers Earrings Video Tutorial

Hoops and Daggers Earrings Tutorial The Hoops and Daggers earrings in this tutorial came about for two reasons.Â One, I wanted to play with some of my dagger beads; two, I wanted to experiment more with beading wire and how it’s different from beading thread.Â There is definitely a difference between making these earrings with wire versus thread!

First, About Beading Wire

So what’s the difference between wire, beading wire and beading thread?Â And why does it make the projects look different, based on what you use?

Wire is what it sounds like — wire in various gauges, materials and colors.Â Examples are sterling silver, copper, gold-filled and artistic.Â Using this as your base, you can use the wire to shape the beads into various positions, bends, etc. and it will hold the design.

Beading wire is made from extremely thin strands of cable (usually steel) and coated in nylon.Â The resulting wire is quite thin, but very strong.Â The number of strands used to make the beading wire determines its flexibility — more strands = greater flexibility.Â However, being made with wire to begin with, it holds curves betterÂ than the other two.

Beading thread is…well…thread!Â There are many different types — Fireline, Nymo, K.O., Silamide…the list goes on.Â Each thread has its own properties, but they all have much more drapability than beading wire.Â It’s also a lot thinner than beading wire.Â You want to use beading thread for more intricate beadwork, partly because of the flexibility, partly because it is so much thinner and most beads can take many passes with the thread — and not necessarily with the beading wire.

Although I neglected to mention it before, there is also clear monofilament fishing line that can be used.Â It’s somewhat between beading wire and thread in stiffness, and comes in everything from extremely thin to very thick.Â I don’t usually recommend the clear monofilament fishing line (not to be confused with crystal Fireline) because it doesn’t stand up to wear very well over time.

Video Tutorial and Supplies

Here is the video for how to make Hoops and Daggers, as well as the supplies for all three of the examples that I showed in the video (and are on this post).