18

IS rRO)£CT THREE • BEADED AMULET PURSES

To apply edge bcading to the ribbon. After the ribbon is stitched to the top of the purse, you may want to add a row of edge beading to the top of the ribbon. Figures 5a and b show' two alternatives.

Figurę Sa 6r b

To close the purse. Flatten the tubę so the seam of the ribbon is on one side. Align the center beads of each bot-tom loop and stitch closed (figurę 6).

Figurę 6. The gray beods represent the connector beods ond ore for clorily only.

To make the fringe. Select the beads for the long, straight fringes. Remember, these straight fringes are longer in the middle of the purse. Zig-zag in a new thread if needed and exit the first connector bead used to "zipper" the purse closed. Working from right to left, string enough seed beads and focal beads for the first fringe. In order to hang a pendant or bead at the bottom of a fringe, create a smali cirde of beads before doubling back (see Fringe, page 51).

After attaching the first fringe, bring the needle back through the beads to the next connector bead used to "zipper" the purse closed. Create the next fringe. Continue across the bottom, hanging a fringe from each connector bead.

To make the branched fringe. See Branched Fringe on page 51. Choose a color or combination of colors for the branched fringe. Bring the needle out a few beads above the long fringes and string 14 seed beads. Skip the last bead and pass back through the next three seed beads. String four seed beads and return through all but the last bead — a branch. Continue up the original strand for four morę beads and repeat the branch. Pass back through the last six beads of the original 14. Carry the thread through a few beads on the bottom of the purse and make another branched fringe. Continue to make these fringes until the bottom of the purse resembles the canopy of a tropical rain forest.

Figurę 7

To make the strap. Think of the strap as a necklace. Decide the ideał length. String on a size 6° green seed bead, approximately six inches of size 11° orange seed beads and then another size 6^r' green seed bead. Continue stringing size 11° orange seed beads with an intermittent size 6^r green seed beads until the strap is the desired length. End with a size 6° green seed bead. Be surę to have at least 20 inches of thread on each end of the strands for finishing the strap.

Take a second strand through the first size 6° green seed bead. String enough size 11° green seed beads to match the initial section of size 11° orange seed beads in the first strand. Pass the needle through the next size 6° green bead and again string enough size 11° green seed beads to match the next section of the first strand. Continue stringing and connecting the second strand until you pass through the last size 6° green seed bead.