African Stripes Bead Crochet book, a pattern set for bead crochet ropes

African Stripes
a pattern set for bead crochet ropes

October 2012
e-book released at Bead Patterns

This pattern set is the result of an on-line workshop project. It's based on inspirations and colors culled from African textiles and beadwork. There are multiple pattern sections that are strung, added to the previous section, and crocheted into two necklaces. Each pattern segment can be used alone, modified, or combined with other segments to build individual ropes. The book contains complete instructions for constructing the necklaces on the cover.

This pattern set originated with an on-line, African based String-Along. I designed a section, made a pattern, strung and crocheted it. Forty brave souls joined me, not knowing just what the next piece, let alone an entire necklace was going to look like. They received an email with a pattern section each week for 12 weeks.

I used African textiles and beadwork as inspiration to chose a set of colors. Each participant was free to use my colors or make their own color choices. The participants all agreed that no matter how many beads any of us had, we never seemed to have exactly the right colors.

This pattern set is the result of that Summer’s project and has all of the patterns and repeats that were used. You can make many different necklaces or bracelets from the material presented.

Mud Cloth Necklace