This week I am going to show you how to do a Cellini spiral. Cellini spiral is a variation on Tubular Peyote. If you are not sure how to do
Tubular Peyote I would suggest checking out the tutorial on it that I previously presented, as this tutorial assumes a knowledge of it.
Ok, first up you need to gather some supplies. You will need seed beads in various sizes. The larger the range of sizes the more 'deep' the spiral will appear. In this tutorial I have used Delica 11/o (Bead A), two lots of Toho 11/o (B and C) and Toho 8/o (D). You will also need some thread and a needle. Thread choice is up to you, use whichever thread you prefer. I have used KO thread in this tutorial.
On to your thread string 6A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2C and 2B. Tie the seed beads into a tight circle and bring your needle and thread out through the first A strung.
Pick up an A and take your needle through the third A on the base row, pick up another A and pass the needle through the 5th A in the base row. Add your 3rd A and take the needle through the first B in the base row, then pick up a B and take the thread through the first C of the base row. Continue around adding the same seed bead as the bead you are coming out of until you reach the start, then step up as you would for Tubular Peyote.
Now start your next row and keep your thread tension fairly firm. This will help the seed beads pull up into the start of the tube. Remember to add the type of seed bead that you just came through, and step up at the end of the row so your needle and thread are coming out of the first bead added in that row.
Continue adding rows in the same fashion. It takes a few before the spiral becomes obvious, and the further you go the deeper the ridge seems to sit. These two photos show the progression of the spiral.
You do not need to use the same sizes of beads that I have. This is a great weave to play around with and try different looks. You can achieve a fabulous look by using drop beads, such as magatamas, in place of the largest sized seed bead. You can also use size 6/o, 3 or 4mm beads, triangles or even cubes. The main thing to make sure you do is grade the beads from smallest to largest then back down to the smallest so that you get the proper ridge effect.
So that is the basic steps to achieving a Cellini Spiral. Next week I will show you a couple of ideas for finishing off the ends and turning your Cellini Spiral into a piece of jewellery.
Cellini Spiral Tutorial8 April 2010, 5:57 amSource: Jennifer Mercer, Handmade News ColumnistDon't forget to check out
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