30 Special Garden Kits Here!

10 Special Shag kits on the Journal page!

 

The Shag Carpet Of Pearls Kit

The Shag Carpet of Pearls is one of my favorite designs. It's a beginner project, yet features advanced results. To make this piece, you first wire pearls on headpins (between 50 and 300, depending on how lush you want your piece) and then the bracelet is sewn together by hand with a needle and beading thread using the square stitch. More photos at the bottom of the page.

This is a perfect chance to learn or practice these skills in a project that won't show your mistakes; the wirework on the pearl headpins is buried in the bracelet, and the edge binding that you do at the end will correct or hide any errors in thread tension. Despite the sophisticated look of this piece, I consider it a beginning project, and the instructions are written with that in mind.

Your kit comes with several hundred special niobium-plated base metal headpins (they are strong, won't tarnish, and are the only headpins suitable for this project) two strands of pearls, 4mm Czaech glass beads for the base, and beautiful Japanese size 11 round seed beads. Complete step-by-step photographic instructions make the project simple and easy to follow.

If this is the first time you have done a project like this, expect it to take you a weekend to complete. If you are an old hand, you can make a gallery-quality piece in just an afternoon.

You will need: A clasp (any clasp will work, add on one of mine below for $34), round nose and flat nose pliers for wiring pearls, a good small flush cutter for nipping the pearl headpins, and a small sharp beading scissors for cutting thread. Needles and thread are not included in the basic kit, but can be added on for $5 by clicking the second PayPal button.

$65

Basic kit, $65 (assorted colors, all farily neutral with metallic bronzy seed beads. Kit will make up to 8" of bracelet, and your clasp can add length to that.)

Foreign order? No problem! See the bottom of the page for special ordering instructions.

Add on needles and a bobbin of Nymo D beading thread for $5:

Add on a beautiful handmade fine silver clasp, $34, from Kate's studio. Each is unique, reversible, and an inch in diameter. Hand hammered fine silver bar.

 

 

Below: Donna Mehnart, of Blackberry Beads, took this photo while her kit was in progress. See her wired pearls, and the edge of her piece before binding or fringing.

Foreign Order? No Problem. Click the button to your right to add $10 to your order for extra shipping. Foreign orders go Global Priority Mail when your country offers that service. You only need to add $5 for your entire order, not for each item. Questions about your foreign shipping? Please see the FAQ first.