2014. 12. 21. African Helix Stitch | Beading Techniques | Fusion Beads

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African Helix Stitch

See the tabs below for all products and tools used in this technique, plus any additional tips that may be helpful to you!

Create a supple and flexible beaded tube that can be used for a bracelet or necklace. The thread only passed

through the beads once, unlike most other types of weaving, so the designs work up quickly.

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Step 1

Cut a 3 foot piece of

beading thread. Thread a

needle.

Step 2

String one size 11 accent

color (A - green) and three

size 11 main color (B -

blue) seed beads. Repeat

three more times. Tie a

knot, and then pass back

through the first size 11

seed bead. This forms row

1.

Step 3

Slide the loop onto a rod to

stabilize the loop and

provide a structure for the

rope as it forms. String

three main color (B) beads

and two accent color (A)

beads.

Step 4

Pass the needle over the

base row thread between

the second accent (A) bead

and the third main color (B)

bead in the first row.

Step 5

Pull the tension snug.

Step 6

String three main color (B)

beads and two accent color

(A) beads.

Step 7

Rotate the pencil. Pass the

needle over the base row

thread between the third

accent (A) bead and the

sixth main color (B) bead in

the first row. Pull the

tension snug.

String three main color (B)

beads and two accent color

(A) beads.

Step 9

Rotate the pencil. Pass the

needle over the base row

thread, between the fourth

accent (A) bead and the

ninth main color (B) bead

in the first row. Pull the

tension snug.

Step 10

String three main color (B)

beads and two accent color

(A) beads.

Step 11

Rotate the pencil. Pass the

needle over the base row

thread between the first

accent (A) bead and the

last main color (B) bead in

the first row, right next to

the knot. Pull the tension

snug.

Step 12

String three main color (B)

beads and two accent color

(A) beads.

Step 13

Pass the needle over the

thread of the first loop,

Step 14

String three main color (B)

beads and two accent color

Step 15

Rotate the pencil. Pass the

needle over the thread of

Step 16

String three main color (B)

beads and two accent color

Step 17

Repeat step 16 until the

spiral reaches the desired

Step 18

If your thread becomes too

short, pass back through

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2014. 12. 21. African Helix Stitch | Beading Techniques | Fusion Beads

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between the three blue

beads and the two green

beads.

(A) beads. the next loop, between the

three blue beads and the

two green beads.

(A) beads. Rotate the

pencil. Pass the needle

over the thread of the next

loop, between the three

blue beads and the two

green beads.

length. It takes at least six

or seven rows before the

pattern begins to form and

look somewhat orderly.

several rows, working up

one of the accent color

spines.

Step 19

Pass under the thread

running through the beads

and tie a half-hitch knot.

Step 20

Continue up through the

accent color beads, and tie

another half-hitch knot.

Step 21

Use sharp scissors to trim

the thread close to the

beads.

Step 22

Use sharp scissors to trim

the thread close to the

beads.

Step 23

Pass a new thread down

through the accent color

spine counterclockwise to

where the previous thread

ended. This will orient the

thread in the right position

to continue.

Step 24

Tie a half-hitch knot.

Step 25

Continue down through

structure, and tie another

half-hitch knot.

Step 26

Continue down through

structure, and tie another

half-hitch knot.

Step 27

Pass down through the

accent color spine, and

turn into the last loop

added before weaving in

the old thread.

Step 28

String three main color (B)

beads and two accent color

(A) beads.

Step 29

Pass the needle over the

thread of the next loop,

between the three blue

beads and the two green

beads and continue

beading as before.

Step 30

When the spiral reaches

the desired length, you will

need to finish the second

end so that it matches the

first end. Pass over a loop,

and then go back under.

Step 31

Pass back through the last

two beads added.

Step 32

String three main color (B)

beads.

Step 33

Pass through the endmost

accent color bead the next

spine over.

Step 34

String three main color (B)

beads.

Step 35

Rotate the pencil. Pass

through the endmost

accent color bead the next

spine over.

Step 36

Rotate the pencil. String

three main color (B) beads.

Step 37

Pass through the endmost

accent color bead the next

spine over.

Step 38

String three main color (B)

beads.

Step 39

Pass back through the

accent color bead where

the end row began.

Step 40

Remove the rod and pass

back through all of the

beads in the ring around

the end of the spiral.

Step 41

Exit one of the spine

beads, and string three

size 11 seed beads, one

8mm round bead, and a

lobster claw clasp. Pass

back through the 8mm

round and the three seed

beads.

Pass back through the

accent bead, working in the

opposite direction, until you

pass through the next

accent bead.

2014. 12. 21. African Helix Stitch | Beading Techniques | Fusion Beads

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Step 43

String three size 11 seed

beads and pass through

the 8mm round and

through the attachment

loop on the lobster claw

clasp. Pass back through

the 8mm round and the

three seed beads, and the

accent bead.

Step 44

Continue through loop to

the next accent bead. Add

three more size 11 seed

beads, pass through the

8mm round and the clasp.

Pass back through the

8mm bead, the three seed

beads just added, and the

accent bead.

Step 45

Continue through loop to

the next accent bead. Add

three more size 11 seed

beads, pass through the

8mm round and the clasp.

Pass back through the

8mm bead, the three seed

beads just added, and the

accent bead. Weave the

thread back into the rope

as described in steps 19-

22.

Step 46

Use the starting thread tail

to attach a soldered jump

ring to the opposite end of

the rope.

Step 47

Congratulations, you have

learned to weave and add

a clasp to an African Helix

rope.