Friday, June 12, 2015

Beadcramé. A funny name for something old and something new.

Some of this description is found in the PDF document linked below, as well as the complete pattern to recreating the necklace.

http://beadencounter.com/private/SixteenNeedleBeadcrame.pdf

Beadcramé, what is it?

Starting the rectangle section
It's a combination of macramé and beadweaving, where a macramé-type arrangement of threads uses beads instead of knots at the intersection of each thread. The threads switch places with each row just like in some macramé.

Original neckband
This technique was new to me, and it came about when I was asked to repair a necklace for an acquaintance. It had worn and broken over many years. She said it came from her great-grandmother, who is long gone, and so it had great sentimental value to her.

Original pendant
I took it apart to salvage the beads, which make up about 95% of the reconstructed necklace. The construction method was confusing at first.I didn't know how this thing was put together, and asking online got me to something that looked similar, Ukrainian 3-bead netting as described by Maria Rypan. I found a pattern on the Bead & Button website and purchased it, but something was telling me that while close, this wasn't it. The rest of the story continues in the PDF....

FInished reconstruction
Long story short, this is a post so the Facebook group All About Beadweaving can find the PDF. Here's a picture of the finished necklace.

This is not a professional-quality pattern. It may contain errors. As for quantities of beads, which I forgot to include in the pattern, for size 9/0 beads as listed, about 6 grams of main-color beads and 2-3 grams of each of the other colors should suffice.

Bead in good health!