Intro to Flat Spiral – Video Tutorial

If you’ve never done the flat spiral bead weaving, I hope you’ll find this interesting and fun.  You’ll learn how to make the flat spiral in a video, and then you’ll see more information on how I made these two bracelets.

Ready, set…let’s bead!

Supplies Needed and Video

You don’t need a lot by way of supplies.  For the video I used:

• Size 6 seed beads in silver
• Size 11 seed beads in a matte pink
• Size 11 triangle seed beads, in silver-lined peridot
• Needle; I used a size 12, but you could use a size 11 and possibly even a 10.
• Thread; I used One-G, but use the thread of your choice.

As I mentioned in the video, I only used about a 3-foot length of thread for the demo.  For a real project like a bracelet, I recommend at least a 6-foot length of thread, as it’s a bit on the tough side to end a thread and start another when working with the flat spiral weave.

Information on the Two Demo Bracelets

I did say in the video that I had more info on the two demo bracelets, what I used to make them.  Here you go!

Beige (Sand) Bracelet:  I used size 11 Japanese seed beads, in two colors — light beige colorlined clear and matte shrimp.  For the center bead, I used 4mm Czech druk (round) beads, in topaz AB.  I also used some size 11 gold triangle beads (made by Toho).

Start by stringing on a stop bead and two druk beads.  For your side beads (the “butterfly wings”, so to speak) use a size 11 light beige, two matte shrimp, the triangle, two matte shrimp and one light beige.  Run your needle through the bottom hole of the bottom druk bead.  Run your needle up through the two druk beads, and use the same color pattern on the other side.

Pink and Purple Bracelet:  I used size 11 Japanese seed beads n matte silver-lines bright pink  For the center bead, I used 8mm  round purple cat’s eye beads.  I also used some 4mm clear crystal beads.  Although I said in the video they were round Swarovski crystals, upon looking at them again, I am more inclined to think they are Czech crystals, as they are not totally round.  You can use 4mm fire-polished beads as a good substitute.

Important:  Your center bead needs to have a good-sized hole, because you are going to pass your needle and thread through the hole six times.

Start by stringing on a stop bead and two 8mm beads.  For your side beads (the “butterfly wings”, so to speak) use six size 11 pink beads, the crystal and six more size 11 pinks.  Run your needle through the bottom hole of the bottom 8mm bead.  Run your needle up through the two 8mm beads, and on the same side, string on another six size 11 pink beads.  Run your needle through the crystal that you strung on in the previous pass, then add six more pink beads.  Pass your needle up through the bottom hole of the bottom 8mm bead and do the same pattern on the other side.