You will need:
*3 colors of seed beads size 11
choice of matching thread (silamide or nymo)
Needle
scissors
*For this bag, I used cream colored Japanese 11 seed beads, pale pink size 11 Czech beads, and pink iridescent delicas.

This first part of this project is the most tedious, but hang in there. Once you get past it, the rest of it moves very quickly. You will start by using one color of seed beads to make four "ladders" that are 40 sections (I call them rungs) wide. Then connect the ends of each ladder together to form a loop. You will need four ladders for this bag that is approximately 1.5 inches wide and 2 inches long. Obviously, this can vary depending on the size of bag you want and the size of beads used.

If you’ve never done a ladders stitch, then you might want to use the instructions I’ve written up. If you already know how to do the ladder stitch, start by selecting the color of beads you want to use. (Remember, this will be the predominant color of your bag.) Then use 3 beads to create each rung. My instructions use seed beads, but you could substitute bugle beads if you prefer.

Start with 2 of your circular ladders and connect them using the steps below.

1. Assign a letter (A, B, C) to each of the color beads you will be using. (In my case, A = cream, B = pale pink, C = iridescent pink).

2. Insert your needle through one of the ladder rungs and leave a 6 in. tail.

3. Thread on beads in this order: 1A, 2B, 3C, 2B, 1A.

4. Insert your needle through a loop in the second ladder.

5. Bring the needle back down through the bead closest to the needle (color A) and (hold the tail) pull the thread so all the beads are snug.

6. Thread on beads in this order: 2B, 3C, 2B, 1A.

7. Skip a loop, and then insert your needle through the next loop in the first ladder. You beads should be forming a "V".

8. Bring your needle back down through your A bead as you did in step 5.

Continue making this "V" pattern in order to connect 2 circular ladders. Once you are finished connecting these ladders, continue this same pattern only go through the loops that were previously skipped. Go all around the ladders so that all skipped loops have been attached. This will then look like the pink part of the bag pictured in my examples above.

After connecting the first 2 ladders in this fashion, continue to connect other ladders onto this piece. You will end up with a tube to create the pouch portion of this project. Now move on to Part II of this project I will show how to finish the bag by adding fringe and a strap.

Here's a printer friendly copy of this file.

Comments? Questions? Ideas? Share them on the jewelry making forum.

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