Beaded Bell Ornament

Materials Needed:

• 1 - Lanyard Hook OR 1 - Key Ring

  The lanyard or keyring are just a standard recommendation. If you are making an ornament out of this pattern you might want to use a decorative ornament hook instead, or even a jump ring and decide how to connect it later.

• Cord - Approximately 2 yards

  There are lots of different types of cord you can use for your beaded Mrs. Claus. Of all the different kinds of cords we've tried, a flat plastic lacing such as Rexlace (also called boondoggle or plastic lace) seems to work best on all of these types of patterns. It just seems to help the rows of beads sit neatly together without bunching or curling as easily and keeps your finished ornament shape better. Round cords, about 1 1/2mm to 2mm thick also works well and there is a plastic cord out there called pony bead cord that is supposed to be good but I haven't tried it so I can't say from experience. If all you have is a thinner cord, you can weave a little wire or a pipe cleaner into your ornament for extra stiffness.

  Helpful Hint: If your cord end frays easily, try dipping it into a little melted wax and smoothing it out with your fingers. This helps prevent fraying and creates a stiffer end for threading through your beads.

  Monofilament Cord OR 2mm Metallic Cord
• 73 - Pony Beads (Main bell color.)
• 5 - Pony Beads (Clapper color.)
• 27 - Pony Beads (Bow color.)

• Glue
• Scissors
• Ruler or Measuring Tape

• Optional: For a stiffer beaded bell, you can include a piece of pipe cleaner or wire through one of the wider rows to help it keep its shape.

  Beading Wire OR Pipe Cleaners

Instructions

1. Locate the halfway point of your cord or lacing and fold it in half. Attach the folded cord to your key ring, lanyard hook or other connector using a lark's head knot as shown in the photo. You should now have two cords hanging from your connector.

Note:Omit the previous step if you are using a different type of connector for your ornament. You will still want to fold your cord in half so you have two even lengths to begin weaving your beads.

2. Using the beaded bell diagram at the bottom of these instructions as your guide, begin weaving the rows of beads from the top of the bell. Thread the beads for the first row onto one cord, then pass the other cord back through those same beads from the opposite direction, as shown in the illustration. Pull both cords until the beads sit neatly together.

Note: The tension of your cord does make a difference. The rows should sit snugly together without being pulled so tightly that your bell begins to curl or twist. If a row doesn't sit straight just loosen it, straighten the beads and pull the slack out again.

3. Continue working downward through the bell pattern, following the bead colors and cord paths in the diagram. The pattern includes the decorative bow at the top, the bell itself and the little clapper at the bottom.

4. As you already know, you can use different bead colors or finishes for the bow, bell and clapper. What you might not think about is how glitter, pearl, translucent and metallic finishes can change your bell's appearance substantially. Pairing the right colors can change a pretty diy Christmas ornament into a softly colored wedding or shower decoration. And changing to different colors for your bell could also be the perfect pop needed in your wreath.

Note: If your finished bell doesn't hold it's shape well you can weave a piece of pipe cleaner or wire through one of the widest rows to help it hold its shape.

5. I always try to make my tie-off knots as inconspicuous as possible. Sometimes that means doing a little extra weaving, so here are two ways to finish your beaded bell. You can decide which one you prefer:

• Tie off at the sides (two knots): Tie off each cord where it exits on either side of the ornament. Secure each knot with a small drop of glue.
• Tie off on one side (one knot): When you finish threading through the final row, thread one of the cords back through the previous row so that both cord ends end up on the same side of your project and next to each other. Tie the cords together securely using a surgeon's knot or a double knot. Apply a small drop of glue to the knot to prevent unraveling.

Trim the excess cord after the glue has dried.

Your beaded bell is now complete! You can hang it on a Christmas tree, add it to a wreath or garland, decorate a gift package or use it as part of your party decorations.

The illustration below uses red and blue to show you how each side of your cord is woven through the beads. It opens to a larger image if you click it.

Other Ideas and Uses for This Project

Make a pair of earrings using this pattern substituting seed beads or E beads and a small gauge wire instead of the pony beads and cord.

One bell is pretty, but several together can make a lovely decoration. Try making a set in coordinating colors for a Christmas tree, hanging them at different heights in a window, or adding them to a wreath. You could even make a string of bells for a garland or decorate a gift basket with one that can be kept as a little remembrance.

For weddings, bridal showers and baby showers, the bells could be made in colors that match the celebration. They would look pretty hanging from a gift table, attached to favors or used as decorations around a guest book or centerpiece. A few different bead finishes can give the same pattern quite a different appearance.

Did You Know?

Bells have long been associated with celebrations and special occasions. Church bells have announced weddings and holidays for centuries, while small decorative bells became popular additions to Christmas decorations. Bells are also associated with good wishes and joyful occasions, which makes them a fitting decoration for weddings and showers as well as the holidays.