brick stitch fringe earrings

TIP: The first row is the widest row in your pattern, even if that row isn’t the bottom. In more advanced brick stitch patterns, diamond shapes for example, they are worked up and down from the longest row in the centre. The places where the thread “bridges” over into the next bead is what’s referred to as a thread bridge. As you work your brick stitch pattern, each row will become one bead shorter than the last. This is called decreasing brick stitch.

Begin with approximately 40" [101.6 cm] of beading thread and thread your beading needle, moving it down the strand about 10" [25.4 cm]. This stitch is worked with a single strand. String two, size 11/0 beads according to your pattern colours, starting at one side of the pattern.

Slide the two beads down and leaving a 10" [25.4 cm] tail, go back through the first bead added. Go through the second bead added. Add a new bead and go back through the second bead.

Go back through the third bead added, then pick up the next colour bead in your pattern. Continue this series of steps to add the rest of the beads in your first row.

Pick up the first two colours in your pattern's second row and bring the needle under the second thread bridge. Pull thread under the second thread bridge. Then go back up through the second bead added. Pick up one bead in the colour indicated by your pattern. Go under the third thread bridge. Go back up through the third bead added. Repeat these steps for the remainder of the row.

Repeat Step 4 to build the remaining rows in your pattern. When you reach the top row, you’ll have only three beads to add. Create the top loop for the ear wire by stringing four, size 11/0 beads. Skip a bead and go down through the third bead. Go through the bead below and then pick up the thread bridge under that bead. Come back up though the same bead and continue through all four beads in the top loop. Go through the next bead on the other side, pick up the thread bridge under that, and come back up through that bead. Go through all the beads in the top loop again. Continue down through the next bead on the other side.

Continue down through the beads along the side. Pick up the number of beads indicated in fringe in your pattern. When you’ve reached the desired length, add one more bead, then come back up through the entire strand and continue through the bead above. Turn and go down through the adjacent bead. Turn and go down through the adjacent bead to start the next row of fringe.
TIP: The length of your fringe is up to you. It is helpful to count the number of beads added, but not essential. You’ll find that due to slight variation in beads sizes and coatings, you’ll get slightly different lengths with the same number of beads. For this reason, it helps to lay each new strand next to the former to gauge and adjust the length.

Using chain nose pliers, open the loop on an ear wire and attach it to the top loop of your earring. Repeat for the second earring.

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