Beaded Raspberry Necklace

I absolutely love the way the little seed beads make these look like real raspberries. They are quick to put together, making for a fun, satisfying little project.

For this project, you'll need:

• Red and Blue 6/0 sized glass beads.
• Green 10/0 sized glass beads.
• Beading thread. I used .15 mm bead weaving thread
• Beading needle, the kind you thread through the center and don't have an eye.
• Optional- green leaf-shaped beads
• Scissors

To start your berry, you'll need to cut a length of thread. I usually estimate about 2 yards per berry. Fold the thread in half and thread both ends through your needle. This will give you a bend (or loop) at the end of your thread.

Pick up 5 beads on your needle and slide them down almost to the bottom of the thread, as shown.

Loop your thread back through the open loop at the end and pull the thread tight. This will create a secure hitch instead of needing to tie a knot.

To start the first layer, pick up one bead. Put your needle back through the last bead you added in the starting row and pull the thread through.

Then, pick up another bead and put your needle through the next bead on the first row.

Continue this pattern five times, all the way around the loop. It should look like a star when you get to the end of the row.

You're going to finish each row from here on by putting your needle back through the first bead you added in that row.

Row 3 works the same as Row 2. Pick up one bead and put your needle through the next bead in the row before.

Repeat 5 times around the circle and end by putting the needle through the first bead one more time.

On row 4, we are going to add 2 beads between each of the beads on the row before.

Pick up 2 beads and put the needle through the next bead on Row 3.

When you get to the end of the row, put your needle through both of the first two beads you added on this row.

For Row 5, pick up 1 bead and put your needle through the 2 beads on the row before that are next to each other, as shown.

Repeat this 5 times, all the way around the circle, adding 1 bead between each set of two from the row before.

When you get to the end of the row, put your needle through the first bead you added.

Repeat rows 4 and 5 two more times.

Looking at the side of the berry, you should see 3 rows where there are pairs of 2 beads next to each other. You can vary the number of times you repeat these steps to change the size of the berry. In the picture above, the berry on the right follows this pattern, while the berry on the left only repeats Rows 4 and 5 one time.

Make sure to end each row by putting the needle back through the starting bead (or beads if it is a row where you add 2).

We are going to start decreasing the row size now to finish up the berry.

Instead of adding two beads between each of the beads on the previous row, like you've been doing, this time, just add one.

Repeat this step for Row 11 as well.

Make sure to put your needle back through your starting bead at the end of each row.

Some people like to add a large pony bead in the center at this pointf so that when you close it up, it's firm in the middle. Personally, I like to have the berries be a little squishy, so I leave that out.

You'll need to finish the last row before you add the final bead for row 12.

Put your needle through each bead in Row 11 in a circle without adding any beads. This will allow you to cinch the last row almost closed.

Now, add 1 bead. Put your needle directly across the circle from where your thread is coming out and loop it around the string between two beads.

Finish this row by putting your needle back through the 1 bead you added. Pull the string tight.

Loop the thread around the thread between any two beads near where it is coming out and tie a knot.

Put the needle back through the center of the berry and cut the thread off as close to the berry as you can.

Start the leaves the same way you did the berry. Pick up 5 beads and put your needle through the open loop so the circle closes.

This time, instead of adding a bead, just put your needle back through the last bead on the string to lock everything in place.

Add 6 beads to your thread.

Put your needle back through just the 4th and 5th bead you just added, as shown above. Pull the thread tight so that the beads are all right next to each other.

Add 3 more beads and put the needle through the next bead on the first circle. Pull tight and arrange the new leaf so that it lays flat.

Repeat the steps to make a leaf 4 more times so that there are 5 leaves.

Do not tie off or cut the string yet.

Using the tail of thread from the leaves, put the needle through one of the beads on the first row of a berry.

Moving across the open circle, put the thread through another of the beads from the first row.

Put the needle back up through the center of the leaf circle.

Bring it back down and tie it off on a thread in the berry the same way you tied the berry in step 9.

Repeat all the steps until you have enough berries to complete the necklace. I recommend making some of slightly different sizes as shown in Step 6.

Cut a length of string. It will need to be about twice as long as you want your finished necklace to be.

Tie it securely to one part of the necklace clasp.

Begin adding green beads. You don't want all of your hard work to end up hidden, so we'll start with just a plain green row for the part of the necklace that will be in the back. The length of this section is up to you. I held up the section to my own neck to check.

Begin adding leaf beads to this section as well.

When you are ready to add your first berry, first add 3-9 additional green beads. These will become the berry's stem. The more you add, the longer the stem will be.

Attach a berry by putting your needle down into the circle in the center of the leaves and all the way through the berry. Loop it over one of the strings on the bottom and back up through the center of the leaves again.

Finish the stem by putting your needle back through those additional 3-9 green beads you added. This has the added bonus of locking your beads in place. Pull the string tightly so there isn't slack in the beads.

Continue the process of adding green beads, leaves, and berries. The key to this looking natural is variation. If your leaves are directional like mine, make sure to vary the direction you string them. Vary the distances between leaves and berries and vary the length of the stems. I like the look of putting one of the smaller berries close to a larger one. Do what makes you happy!

When you reach the end, tie the string to the other part of the clasp securely.

You've done it! All that's left to do is admire your handiwork.

My cat Morticia came to admire mine. I think she likes it.