Free Jewelry Making Patterns
Azareal's Jewelrymaking Patterns and Instructions
For a while, I made my living as a professional jewelrymaker. I made beaded jewelry and bead and wire jewelry, handknotted pearls, polished and set gems, and worked up some original patterns and designs. I find jewelrymaking to be relaxing, plus I get a sense of accomplishment whenever a project is completed. I wrote up tutorials for some of the techniques and projects and had a jewelrymaking website at All Info About that offered free patterns and help. The owners of that network shut it down at the beginning of 2008 and I hadn't found another really good way to republish the instructions... until Squidoo. These are my free instructions and patterns. Don't republish them elsewhere, but do feel free to sell anything you make using the patterns. You're more than welcome to print out instructions for free classes to teach other people how to make jewelry.
I make...
colored fire! Oh wait, that's over at About Chemistry. I like to make jewelry. I love beadwork... all types, all stitches. I love wirework, especially chain mail jewelry. I like to make macrame and other fiber jewelry. I like working with crystals and precious gems (is there anyone who doesn't?).
How long have you been doing this?
I learned how to bead jewelry from my grandmother, who learned it back in the 1920s when it was very much in vogue. I didn't really do much with the skill for many years, aside from making my own prom jewelry and some holiday ornaments. I took it up again when I started having kids. I just found myself wanting to create things that would last for them and then their children. Heirlooms. Jewelrymaking became an expensive hobby.
Later, I was between jobs and needed money, but I wanted to be home to raise my children so I decided to make and sell jewelry from home. I picked up a small business class, got my business license, and made a career of it.
I started writing for About.com about the same time. If you have your own business, you know how "fun" taxes can be, so one year I decided to simplify my life and return jewelrymaking to hobby status. Some people say doing what you love stops being fun when you do it for a job, but that was never the case with me. I love making jewelry, but there are just so many hours in the day. So... here are some projects. When I make new pieces, I'll try to photograph them along the way and explain how to make them, so you can make different types of jewelry, too.
Autumn Leaves Necklace
Beaded Earrings for Winter
Favorite Jewelrymaking Tools
These are some of the tools of the trade. Feel free to add your own recommendations and be sure to vote/up down.
Hugs and Kisses Ring
Some of My Favorite Jewelry Making Books
These are jewelry making books I have and love.
Out On A Loom is a creative journey through color, design, and form for the bead artist. The softcover book features 32 full-color pages of detailed instructions, illustrations and diagrams for creating loom woven bracelets, mini-tapestries and split loom necklaces. Photos of Margie Deeb's bead work (including the weaving skills of renowned bead artist Frieda Bates) provide stunning examples of what can be created from the pages of Out On A Loom.
The book is a practical guide for making ten beaded necklaces, bracelets and earrings. It includes over 50 clear and descriptive diagrams, carefully detailing every step of the process.
This very comprehensive book on the craft of Macramé can be used by beginners and experts alike. It explains the basic knots and describes the materials and equipment needed to begin. After giving patterns and directions for simple projects like belts and necklaces, it proceeds to bags and purses in great variety, dress accessories and hangings. More advanced techniques, such as twining and wrapping, the numerous illustrations, both diagrams and photographs, clarify the techniques at every stage. Some outstanding designs by contemporary artists are featured and these, with the author's own enthusiasm and expertise, should inspire the reader to create original pieces of decorative art.
Other Jewelry Making Info
Here are some other Squidoo lenses that relate to making jewelry.
- Birthstones
A birthstone is a precious or semiprecious gemstone that is associated with your birth and is associated with all sorts of good things. In ancient Babylonia and India, birthstones were believed to be magical. Some cultures believe birthstones are luc - How to Tell Real Pearls and Fake Pearls Apart
Pearls are beautiful. There are faux (fake) pearls that look stunning and real pearls that look... well... less so. So why care whether or not you can tell real and fake apart? You will want to be able to recognize real pearls if you are buying them - Sapphire Facts
Sapphires are among the most beautiful and valuable gemstones. Most people think of sapphires as blue stones, but they actually are found in wide variety of colors. Some sapphires are translucent stones, while others have star markings. This lens is - Rock Tumbler Basics
Rock tumblers are popular gifts because it's a lot of fun to polish rocks and make jewelry. Did you know there is more than one type of tumbler? The purpose of this lens is to introduce you to the different types of tumblers and then explain how to u - Beading Loom - Before You Buy
You can make some stunning jewelry using beads and a beading loom, but there are so many different types of looms available that it can be confusing deciding which loom to use. Also, looms range from a few dollars to hundreds or thousands. Here are s - How to Choose Wire for Making Jewelry
Making wire jewelry is very fun and rewarding. You can make a great piece of jewelry even if you have never tried wire jewelrymaking before. Once you become more comfortable with wire, the design possibilities are endless. However, it can be hard to - Pearl Glossary
It's a whole lot easier to shop for pearl jewelry if you understand the language. Here's a glossary of some common pearl terms, including types and shapes of pearls and necklace lengths. Please let me know if there are any terms you would like to see - How Mood Rings Work
If you were alive in the 1970s, chances are you had a mood ring or saw one. Mood rings are rings with a stone that changes color, supposedly in response to your emotions. Here's a look at how mood rings work and whether they really can tell how you f
Do you have any questions or comments about my patterns or requests for projects or instructions you would like to see?
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I make metal jewelry, but this is a great lens for those using beads. Blessed.
Very nice lens. Have a great day!
So much great info here! :) Many thanks.
This is a really fun stitch to do and not that hard once you get past the first couple of "loops." And I really like the spiral effect. I'm glad you've put instructions here, especially with photos, because I don't make this often and sometimes when I do I have to refresh my memory about how to start it. Now I know where to go!
There's lots here to check out - I've bookmarked this lens. Thanks for writing it!
That is a very interesting lens. I used to make jewellery when I was at schoolo, selling them to friends. I earned a few money just for buing the material I needed for making the jewellery. What I enjoyed most, was the creation of nice objects that made me feel really good!
P.S. I would appreciate it, if you could have a look at my lenses and like any of them or leave any comment that would help me became a good lens maker!
This site is awesome!! There are so many inspiring patterns. I volunteer teach a class to seniors in Corona, CA and I am constantly looking for new ideas. Thank you so much!!
Wow!! Thanx for all the great info. I am a disabled veteran trying to get a small home-based jewelry-making business started. I have spent nearly two years trying to get the veterans VocRehab dept to help me.=, to no avail. :(
like it
This is a really terrific lens! Thanks for all the great information and the time and effort you obviously put into it.
You've got some beautiful pieces here. The one in your intro module is especially nice.
- AUTHOR
@JewelryMakingBooks: Absolutely - I'd love to see your lens! Yes, the first few lenses are a lot of work, but you'll get a rhythm going and it will get easier. Squidoo is fun!
Went exploring jewelry pattern and chanced to encounter your lens. Truly essential info on jewelry making patterns!
Thanks for the free patterns, that is so generous of you. I have sent your link to all my contacts. (twitter, facebook etc)
I have been building a squidoo lens, this is the first time I have done one. I found it rather exhausting since I didn't know what I was doing. But the result is amazing. Anyway since you are such an expert, I was wondering if you would give me some feedback on it. Thanks.
Wow, such a coincidence. I too am a chemistry teacher and love making my jewelry. I really enjoyed reading your fun Halloween experiments!!
Don't stop working with your passion. Nice beadwork and great indepth information on your work. Thumbs up from me!
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