How to Make a Colorful Wood Beaded Purse with Fabric Lining

After carefully studying and practicing the design of a fabric-lined, crescent-shaped, wood beaded purse, I have mastered the technique. All it takes is focus, dedication, and creativity. Described below are the materials and steps to making a colorful wood beaded purse.

Materials:
1500 ct - 4 mm (or larger) round multicolored wood beads
650 ct - 10x6 mm (or larger) oval multicolored wood beads
2 spools of 100 yd nylon jewelry cord (nylon monofilament)
2 needles (size used for plastic canvas or cross-stitch patterns)
½ yard nylon fabric
matching 7-inch zipper
sewing machine
stick pins or chalk
scissors

Finished Size:

11 inches wide x 8 inches high

Steps:

Wood Beaded Strap:

Begin with the wood beaded strap since several of these are the building blocks for the body of the purse. The strap will be composed of 4 mm round wood beads outlining the edges of a column of oval wood beads.

1. Thread each needle with a separate spool of nylon monofilament.

2. Holding an oval wood bead horizontally, insert one threaded needle through the right opening and the other needle through the left opening, pulling the monofilament through 12 inches on each side.

3. Holding a round bead vertically (adjacent to the upper right corner of the oval bead) insert the needle on the right through this bead from bottom to top. Do the same for the opposite side.

4. Holding an oval bead horizontally and above the first oval bead, insert one threaded needle through the right opening and the other needle through the left opening.

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the strap measures about 17- 20 inches . End the strap by threading both needles in reverse going through 3-4 oval beads. Tie a knot with the monofilament at the edge of the 3^rd or 4^th oval beads on both ends. The finished strap should be composed of 58 oval beads.

Wood Beaded Purse Body:

6. Make the bottom row of the body by following the steps of the wood bead strap with the exception of separating the oval beads by two round beads on the right side and by the following round bead stringing pattern on the left side: string 1 round bead before stringing oval bead (1x); string 2 round beads before stringing oval bead (4x); *string 1 round bead before stringing oval bead (2x); string 2 round beads before stringing oval bead (6x)*; repeat from * to * until 46 oval beads have been strung.

7. Repeat step 6 to make another row with the right side having two round beads between the oval beads, but this time use the following round bead stringing pattern on the left side: [string 1 round bead before stringing oval bead (2x); string 2 round beads before stringing oval bead (2x)] 2x; [string 1 round bead before stringing oval bead (2x); string 2 round beads before stringing oval bead (3x)] 5x. This completed strap should contain 33 oval beads.

8. The straps made with these first 2 steps will serve as row 1 and 3. The second row is formed by joining these two rows together with 40 oval beads in between, with right side separated by 2 round beads and left side separated by the following round bead stringing pattern: string 1 round bead before stringing oval bead (1x); string 2 round beads before stringing oval bead (3x); [string 1 round bead before stringing oval bead (2x); string 2 round beads before stringing oval bead (4x); string 1 round bead before stringing oval bead (2x)] 5x; string 2 round beads before stringing oval bead (2x); string 1 round bead before stringing oval bead (2x).

Note: The decreased oval beads on each strap create a curved shape.

9. Above the first three rows, a stacked row can be created by designing the width of the fourth row with two oval beads separated by one round bead. This will appear as two rows that each contains 26 oval beads. Two round beads separate this double row of oval beads at the right. The left side will contain the following round bead stringing pattern: [string 1 round bead before stringing oval bead (1x); string 2 round beads before stringing oval bead (1x); string 1 round bead before stringing oval bead (1x)] 3x; string 1 round bead before stringing oval bead (1x); string 2 round beads before stringing oval bead (2x); [string 1 round bead before stringing oval bead (2x), string 2 round beads before stringing oval bead (1x)] 3x; string 1 round bead before stringing oval bead (2x); string 2 round beads before stringing oval bead (3x).

10. The fifth strap row will be composed of 18 oval beads. Two round beads separate the oval beads at the right. At the left, separate 5 evenly spaced oval beads with 2 round beads and the remainder of oval beads with 1 round bead.

11. The sixth strap row will be composed of 12 oval beads. Two round beads separate the oval beads at the right. At the left, proceed with the following round bead stringing pattern: [string 1 round bead before stringing oval bead (3x); string 2 round beads before stringing oval bead (1x)] 3x.

12. The seventh strap row will contain 6 oval beads. Three round beads separate the oval beads at the right and 1 bead separates the oval beads at the left.

13. Make a horizontal row identical to the original strap to create the top edge.

14. After making the front and back alike, join them by making and adding a 46 oval bead strap to form the base, using monofilament to string all together.

Lining:

15. Lay the curved beaded exterior over the nylon fabric folded in half.

16. Use chalk or stick pins to trace the outline leaving a 1-inch seam and cut.

17. Use a sewing machine to sew together the curved edges of the fabric on the wrong side.

18. Hand sew a zipper in the opening of the nylon lining.

19. Place the zippered lining inside the beaded exterior, sewing the top edges of both together.