More bead crochet exploring. This time I used Perle Cotton 8 thread with size 6 glass beads. The black stripes on orange remind me of autumn and Halloween so I created a polymer clay pumpkin bead for the clasp.
So far, I like this thread the best in feel and ease of crocheting. The black color of the thread was a little tricky to find the stitch to go into but my hook slid into the stitch a lot easier than the C-lon cord. That was too stiff for my beginning skill level. This thread also gives a slinky supple feel to the finished bracelet which is a wonderful feeling on my wrist.
The loop for the clasp is a single crochet with the same thread. I then sewed terra cotta colored seed beads around the loop.
What I really loved in creating this bracelet is that it combined 3 techniques – polymer clay sculpture, bead weaving and bead crocheting.
I chose the blue graduated background because it reminds me of a clear autumn sky and it accentuates the orange beads. I love looking to nature for inspiration even in something simple like choosing a background for photography.
Art and Tea 
Hi Karen,
I enjoy reading your blog!
I love your bracelet, and the polymer clay pumpkin bead is so cute! How long did it take you to crochet that bracelet? I have started a few bead crochet projects, but I don’t think I ever finished one.
I like your graduated backgrounds, and I wonder whether one could make them from polymer clay with the Skinner blend.
Have a great day!
Hi Toine,
I’m glad to hear that you enjoy reading my blog. The bracelet took about 2 hours between stringing the beads and then crocheting it. I use a slip stitch. It’s so rhythmic and relaxing to pick up in the evenings while I’m watching a movie or listening to music or an audiobook. I bet you could make a photography background with polymer clay using a Skinner blend. What a great idea. I’d love to see your pictures with that. Let me know.
You have a great day, too!
-Karen
love that clasp! The way the bracelet is constructed hardly seems like “beginning” skills to me…
Thanks Acey, making the pumpkin was a lot of fun. Now I have visions of other veggies and fruits floating in my head!
Between the beads and the thread, this bead crochet project flowed along a lot easier than the first one I did.
-Karen
im curious if you think the perle cotton will hold up over time. i don’t mean to be negative, but these technical matters are always a consideration. the bracelet is truly stunning and the pumpkin almost looks like candy. what fun!
~sue o’kieffe
Hi Sue,
I thought it would but now that you’ve brought that up, I’m not so sure about that. Do you have any information that it doesn’t hold up? I made a knitted butterfly pouch for a dear friend using this same thread and it seems to be holding up for her. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I’m going to do some research on that!
Thanks for your kind comments about my bracelet. Yes, the pumpkins in the candy corn mix. Yum!
-Karen
hi, i stumbled upon your blog while googling bead crochet. what a lovely bracelet. i wanted to let you know i did read at another website that cotton thread is not recommended because of the weight of the beads. ( i think the website was beadcrochet.com ..something like that).. she recommended nylon?.. just thought pass along the info i learned.
–anyways…you are extremely talented and have inspired me to take the plunge into bead crochet :o)
Thanks for visiting Alexandria and sharing your comments about the cotton thread. That’s good to know. Your kind comments about my work are MUCH appreciated. 🙂
I want to know how much thread to use for a bracelet or necklace in beaded crochet, how do you figure out how much to string?
Hi Sharon, Thanks for visiting! I just strung a container’s worth of beads onto my cord and then crocheted until it was long enough for my wrist.