Introduction: Stellated Tetrahedron Earrings
A tetrahedron is a polyhedron with four faces, one of the five Platonic solids. Strictly speaking, there is no such thing as a stellated tetrahedron. However, this is what happens when you add a pyramid on top of each face, and very pretty it is.
Mixing seed beads of two different sizes in the same color gives an elegant cluster effect for very little effort.
Mixing seed beads of two different sizes in the same color gives an elegant cluster effect for very little effort.
Step 1: Materials and Tools
You will need:
- size 6/0 seed beads
- matching size 11/0 seed beads
- a pair of French hooks or kidney wires
- Nymo thread, size B, in a coordinating color. (Size D is too heavy for how many times the thread passes through the beads.)
- sharp scissors or other cutting device
- short, sharp beading needles
Step 2: First Triangle
String a waste bead in a contrasting color and lock it on by passing back through in the same direction. Be sure it slides freely.
String large and small seed beads as follows oOooOooOo
(That is, one small, one large, two small, one large, two small, one large.)
Pass back through them in the same direction to form a tight loop. Remove the waste bead.
String large and small seed beads as follows oOooOooOo
(That is, one small, one large, two small, one large, two small, one large.)
Pass back through them in the same direction to form a tight loop. Remove the waste bead.
Step 3: Second Triangle
String oOooOo (one small, one large, two small, one large, one small).
Pass back through the adjacent edge of the first triangle so that now there are two triangles back-to-back.
Pass back through the adjacent edge of the first triangle so that now there are two triangles back-to-back.
Step 4: Last Edge
Pass the needle through the adjacent edge of one of the triangles so that it is at a point.
String oOo (one small, one large, one small).
String oOo (one small, one large, one small).
Step 5: Base Tetrahedron
Pass the needle through an edge of the other triangle. Pull tight to form the base tetrahedron.
Pass the needle in triangles through all edges until it feels firm. There should be at least one thread passing between every pair of adjacent small seed beads.
Pass the needle in triangles through all edges until it feels firm. There should be at least one thread passing between every pair of adjacent small seed beads.
Step 6: First Triangle Off Base Tetrahedron
String another group of six beads: oOooOo (small, large, 2 small, large, small)
Pass back through the same edge of the tetrahedron that you came out of. Pull tight. Run the needle through an edge of the new triangle so that the working thread is coming out of the point.
Pass back through the same edge of the tetrahedron that you came out of. Pull tight. Run the needle through an edge of the new triangle so that the working thread is coming out of the point.
Step 7: First Stellation
String oOo (small, large, small).
Pass the needle through a second edge of the triangular face of the base tetrahedron. Now you have two back-to-back tetrahedra. Run the needle around all edges of the new tetrahedron until it feels firm.
Finish with the working thread exiting one of the edges of the original base tetrahedron.
Pass the needle through a second edge of the triangular face of the base tetrahedron. Now you have two back-to-back tetrahedra. Run the needle around all edges of the new tetrahedron until it feels firm.
Finish with the working thread exiting one of the edges of the original base tetrahedron.
Step 8: Second Stellation
Do the same thing again so that you now have two tetratrahedra (stellations) sticking off of the base tetrahedron.
Step 9: Third Stellation
And a third...
Step 10: Fourth Stellation
And finally a fourth. The stellated tetrahedron is complete.
Step 11: Hanging Loop
String six small beads. Pass the needle through an edge across the point of the tetrahedron.
Go around the triangular face and come up at the same point. Pass the needle back through the six beads in the opposite direction and back through the edge you started from. Pull tight to form a hanging loop.
Go around the triangular face and come up at the same point. Pass the needle back through the six beads in the opposite direction and back through the edge you started from. Pull tight to form a hanging loop.
Step 12: Finishing
Work in loose ends by going around triangles several more times. Cut excess thread.
Attach French hook or kidney wire and you are done with the first earring!
Attach French hook or kidney wire and you are done with the first earring!
