Kumihimo Inside/Outside

Drop Necklace Pattern

Project pattern for a 18-19”” necklace
(Final length depending on clasp; approximately 16-17” beaded area)

TECHNIQUES USED:
8 Warp Cord 2-Drop Kongo Gumi (Round Beaded Braid)

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

16 grams 8/0 seed beads (Body color)
4 grams 8/0 seed beads (Inside a color)
5 grams 8/0 seed beads (Inside b color)
81 4x6mm Czech glass teardrop beads (or other small drop beads of your choice)
Tex-210 nylon bead cord (also called “bead cord”; C-Lon or S-Lon)
Collapsible eye needle (optional)
Kumihimo disk (any size)
8 bobbins (any size)
1 - 2 ounce counterweight
4-5mm inside diameter glue-in clasp (or cones and clasp of your choice)
2-part epoxy or E-6000 adhesive (optional)
Scissors

Before you begin:

Read through the project instructions and gather
all your materials before beginning. Load your
beads carefully according to the following chart.

About the pattern:

For this pattern, the “inside” section is comprised
of 2 colors and the “body’ is a 3rd color. The
variations on page 4 show how to easily make the
“inside” just one color, and how to alternate 2
different drops along the outside edge. The initial
pattern, below, will provide the bead loading order
to make a necklace like the one pictured here.

Copyright © 2014 by Randi Sherman; all rights reserved. Tutorial is for personal use only; reproduction and
distribution, in any form, without the author’s consent, is strictly prohibited. If you wish to teach these instructions,
please contact R. Sherman Designs directly at: rshermandesigns@gmail.com. Feel free to sell your finished jewelry.
Please give credit for the original design to Randi Sherman, R. Sherman Designs.

R. Sherman Designs 1
Begin your braid:

1.! Cut 4 pieces of nylon cord 90” each. Gather the cords together, find the center and using a
scrap of cord or thread, tie together at the center point using a lark’s head knot. Position the
cords in pairs on disk (2 each at the N, S, E, and W positions).

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! N
2.! Load the beads on your cords in the order shown in the
diagram, beginning with 1 and 2 in the North positions, 3 and 4
to the East, and so on.

Bead Loading Pattern One:

Ia = “Inside” color seed bead - the innermost color (green in the

sample)
Ib = Secondary “Inside” color seed bead - these sit next to the Ia
bead (purple in the sample)
B = Body color seed bead (blue in the sample)
D = teardrop (matte goldenrod in the sample)

Take your time and load your beads carefully! The necklace begins with about 1” of braid
using the Inside (Ia) color. You can use any color you wish for this section. If you want to use
the body color, for example, just exchange the first 6 Ia beads for B beads on each cord. Do the
same for the last 6 Ia beads.

Repeat the pattern in brackets by the number of times indicated. For example, on cord 1, load 6
Ia beads, then repeat the pattern, B, B, Ia, B, B, Ib, B, D, B, Ib ten (10) times. Finally load each
cord with 6 Ia beads.

1. ! 6 Ia, [ B, B, Ia, B, B, Ib, B, D, B, Ib x 10 ], 6 Ia (112 beads total)

____________________________________________________________________________________
2. ! 6 Ia, [ D, B, Ib, B, B, Ia, B, B, Ib, B x 10 ], D, 6 Ia (113 beads)
____________________________________________________________________________________
3 ! 6 Ia, [ B, Ib, B, D, B, Ib, B, B, Ia, B x 10 ], 6 Ia (112 beads)
____________________________________________________________________________________
4.! 6 Ia, [ B, Ia, B, B, Ib, B, D, B, Ib, B x 10 ], 6 Ia (112 beads)
____________________________________________________________________________________
5.! 6 Ia, [ Ib, B, D, B, Ib, B, B, Ia, B, B x 10 ], 6 Ia (112 beads)
____________________________________________________________________________________
6.! 6 Ia, [ Ia, B, B, Ib, B, D, B, Ib, B, B x 10 ], Ib, 6 Ia (113 beads)
____________________________________________________________________________________
7. ! 6 Ia, [ Ib, B, B, Ia, B, B, Ib, B, D, B x 10 ], 6 Ia (112 beads)
____________________________________________________________________________________
8.! 6 Ia, [ B, D, B, Ib, B, B, Ia, B, B, Ib x 10 ], 6 Ia (112 beads)
___________________________________________________________________________________

R. Sherman Designs 2
3.! Once you have loaded all the beads, wind cords onto bobbins and mark bobbins 1 and 2.
Bobbins 1 & 2 must be in the original, starting position when you begin adding beads.

Tip: To help avoid mistakes, number all the bobbins. After loading
each cord, wind it onto the correctly numbered bobbin.

4.! Attach counterweight to cords. Begin braiding, bottom left up, top right down, quarter turn
right (clockwise ). Braid with cord only for about ½”. When bobbins have returned to their
original position, begin dropping a bead with each move until all beads have been used.
You will begin dropping beads with bobbin 2 and bobbin 6.

Tip: As you braid, the edge beads may cause the braid to twist. Use
your fingers to manipulate the braid, rubbing the braid and rolling
between your fingers, up and down the length of the braid. This
will relax the braid and help the beads to maintain a line. A one to
two ounce counterweight can also help prevent twisting. More
weight equals a looser, more flexible braid.

5. ! After all the beads have been dropped, continue to braid with cord only for ½”.

6.! Remove the braid from the disk and tie ends in an overhand knot to secure the braid (or
tightly wrap with a twist tie or short piece of thin wire).

7.! Finish the braid using either method on the last page or by using the method of your choice.

8.! If you have used 2-part epoxy or E-6000 with a glue-in end cap or clasp, set the bracelet
aside for a minimum of 24 hours and up to 48 hours, until adhesive is fully dried and cured.

Wear and enjoy!

R. Sherman Designs 3
 VARIATIONS

VARIATION 1 - SINGLE COLOR INSIDE AREA

If you wish to use just two colors, a body color and a single inside color, simply use one color
only for all the inside (“I”) beads. Instead of Ia and Ib, you will use your single “I” color
whenever an “I”(a or b) bead is indicated in the pattern.

VARIATION 2 - ALTERNATING DROPS ALONG THE EDGE

Bead Loading Pattern

This pattern adds a second color or size of teardrop to alternate

along the edge with with the first drop. The D1 color will be
dropped first and last. You could alternate two colors, two sizes
or two types of drops. Czech 4x6 teardrops and Miyuki 3.4mm
fringe drops were used in this sample.

Remember to take your time when loading the beads. With a lengthy repeating pattern, and 5
different beads, it’s easy to get the beads in the wrong order. Take it slow and steady!

Ia = “Inside” color seed bead - the innermost color

Ib = “Inside” color 2 seed bead - these surround the Ia bead
B = Body color seed bead
D1 = teardrop (edge bead)
D2 = 2nd teardrop (edge bead)

1. ! 6 Ia , [ B, B, Ia, B, B, Ib, B, D1, B, Ib x 10 ], 6 Ia (112 beads total)

____________________________________________________________________________________
2. ! 6 Ia [ D1, B, Ib, B, B, Ia, B, B, Ib, B x 10 ], D1, 6 Ia (113 beads)
____________________________________________________________________________________
3 ! 6 Ia, [ B, Ib, B, D2, B, Ib, B, B, Ia, B x 10 ], 6 Ia (112 beads)
____________________________________________________________________________________
4.! 6 Ia, [ B, Ia, B, B, Ib, B, D2, B, Ib, B x 10 ] 6 Ia (112 beads)
____________________________________________________________________________________
5.! 6 Ia, [ Ib, B, D1, B, Ib, B, B, Ia, B, B x 10 ] 6 Ia (112 beads)
____________________________________________________________________________________
6.! 6 Ia, [ Ia, B, B, Ib, B, D1, B, Ib, B, B x 10 ] Ib, 6 Ia (113 beads)
____________________________________________________________________________________
7. ! 6 Ia, [ Ib, B, B, Ia, B, B, Ib, B, D2, B x 10 ], 6 Ia (112 beads)
____________________________________________________________________________________
8.! 6 Ia, [ B, D2, B, Ib, B, B, Ia, B, B, Ib x 10 ], 6 Ia (112 beads)
___________________________________________________________________________________

R. Sherman Designs 4
REDUCING OR ADDING LENGTH:

To make your necklace shorter, you can remove one (1) repeat of the pattern to reduce the
length by about 1-1/3”. You can also just stop dropping the bracketed pattern beads at any time,
being sure your last bead dropped is a Drop (D) bead; then proceed to braid with your ending
seed bead color only for the last 6 beads.

To make your necklace longer, add another repeat of the pattern in brackets. You will gain
about 1-1/3” with each additional repeat. Using 11 repeats instead of 10 will make a beaded
area approximately 17-3/4” in length. Remember to factor in the clasp size when determining
the finished length.

If you want to add just a bit of length, use 8 Ia beads in both the beginning and ending sections
instead of 6. You will add just over 1/2” in length each time you add 2 beads to the start and
finish. Remember to use the same number of beads at the beginning AND end so both sides
match.

FINISHING, TWO WAYS

1. GLUE-IN CAP OR CLASP

1.! After removing the braid from the disk, and tying off with
an overhand knot or a wire twist-tie, thread a length of
fireline or heavy duty thread on a needle. Take your
needle straight through the braid and take a few stitches
through the braid near the beads to secure the cords
together.

2.! Wrap the thread tightly around the braided cord and tie
with a secure knot. Cut the threads near the knot. Using
sharp scissors, cut the cord ends close to the wrapping. Be
sure not to cut through it. Seal the ends with a thread
burner or glue. Test to be sure the ends will fit
comfortably in the clasp opening. If using glue, wait until
it dries before proceeding.

3.! Fill your clasp or cap opening about 1/2 full of either 2-
part epoxy or E-6000. For the most secure bond, use 2-part
epoxy. Use a toothpick to apply the adhesive drop by
drop. Put a small drop of adhesive on the end of the cord.

4.! Insert the cord end into the clasp or cap opening and set aside for at least 24 hours and up to
48 hours.

R. Sherman Designs 5
 2. BASIC WIRE-WRAPPED END WITH BEAD CONE OR CAP

1.! Cut a 4” piece of 20 gauge wire, and push it through the

braid, a few beads before the end of the beaded area. Leave
one end shorter than the other.

2.! Bend both ends of the wire away from the braid.

3.! Wrap the short wire end around the braid and the longer
wire to secure it. Cut the short wire if you have excess. Cut
the cord end and seal it to prevent unravelling. Use either a
thread burner or a dab of glue.

4.! Thread the cap or cone onto the wire. Make a loop and add
your clasp or toggle bar. Wrap the wire back around itself 2
or 3 times to close. Cut away any excess wire.

5.! Repeat steps 1 through 4 for the other side of the braid.

R. Sherman Designs 6