Beaded Square Cabochon Tutorial

Materials Needed:

1 square cabochon - may be porcelain, glass, plastic, polymer clay or gemstone
Seed beads in 2 sizes (10,13)
Nymo beading thread size B in coordinating color
Size 12 or 13 beading needle
It is suggested that you use an oval porcelain cab to learn this technique, because the porcelain back keeps the beads from sliding around. Gemstones typically are very slick and highly domed, making them harder to bead. Make sure that your needle is small enough to fit the smallest beads.

1. Thread about 2 yards of  Nymo, or whatever length you feel comfortable with.
2. String enough size 11 seeds to go around the outside of your cab, making sure that the number of beads comes out even. Then go through 6 or 8 beginning beads to form a circle, which is row 1 and 2.
3. Begin circular peyote, doing 2 more rows of peyote with the size 11 beads.
4. The next row, start with the smaller beads, and do 2 or 3 more rows of peyote snugging the thread, these rows should be pulling in toward the center. For a square cab, you are working front to back. Usually a nice picot will give it a finished appearance (such as thread 3 beads, go thru 2 beads, etc).
5. If you are running out of thread, weave the loose end into your work, and weave a new thread to come out at your stopping point.

   Example of a square high domed cab beaded using this technique

6. Work your thread towards the first row of peyote, and then lay your cab face down on the beadwork that you've done so far. From this point on, you will be working towards the bottom of the cab.
7. Put in another 2 or 3 rows of the smaller beads to secure the cab in place, decreasing at the corners every other row.
8. To help secure the cab, thread back through the last row of peyote. Work remaining thread into the existing peyote.
9. If you want to add fringe, work your way to the center bottom of the cab. I find that it is easier to work from the center out to the right side, and then return to the center and work the other side to insure symmetry.  Decide on a simple pattern using an odd number of rows and repeat it, but vary the number of the first color of beads to make it longer in the middle. For example, in the hummingbird cab, I added 9 strands of fringe. Working from the center column S, top to bottom,  the pattern would be as pictured:

In this example, color A was 10/0 silver lined pink seeds, color B was 11/0 pink luster seeds, color C was 13/0 burgundy luster seeds, and H was 6mm rose quartz hearts. The formula for this type of fringe is to keep everything constant but to vary the number of initial color A beads.

S * A A A A B A A A B B A A A B B A A B B A A A B A A A B B A A A B A A A A B A A A B A A A B B A A B B B A A B B A A B B C A A B C C A B B C C A B C C H A B C H C B C C C B C H B C C C H C C C H C

After completing this pattern, work your thread back to the center and repeat in reverse order from the second column starting at the asterisk *. You could also incorporate crystals or other types of beads into the pattern.

Many thanks to Red Ventling for introducing me to beaded cabs and for the basics for these instructions. You can buy her cabs and cab kits here: http://www.angelfire.com/wa/kristicomowa/vcab.html

Please note: these instructions are copyrighted and may not be given, shared, or sold to anyone. When you purchased this bead kit, you have the right to use the instructions to create one kit for your use. These instructions remain the property of Karleen Page Cole and may not be used to manufacture products for sale. ©2000, Karleen E. Page Cole, All rights reserved.

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These instructions online:

http://www.vibrantjewels.com/jewelry/Patterns/beadedsquarecab.htm