Bead Origami

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Bead Origami Presents…

Diamond O Beaded Chain

Created by Cindy Holsclaw
www.beadorigami.com



© 2014-19 by Cindy Holsclaw of Bead Origami. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this
document, or any portion thereof. Please visit www.beadorigami.com/copyright.html for more information.
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The Diamond O Beaded Chain is a

thin, dainty beaded chain woven
with tiny Japanese seed beads and O
beads! Measuring only 0.25 inches
(about 6.3 mm) thick, this easy chain
is an excellent choice for hanging a
variety of beaded pendants, and can
be attached to a focal component
for a versatile solution to creating a
beaded necklace. This chain also
works well as a bracelet! Several
variations are possible to create
additional colors or textures in the
finished chain. Create one in silver,
gold, bronze, and platinum to match
all of your finished jewelry designs!

Materials for the basic beaded chain Tools:

• Beading Needle, size 11-12
(up to 24 inches long): • Scissors
• 3 g 15° Japanese seed beads (A)
• 3 g 11° Japanese seed beads (B)
• 2.5 g 4 x 1.5 mm O beads (O)
• (1) Small lobster clasp and a matching closed jump ring
• Fireline thread, 6 lb test

Optional Materials:
• 4 mm bicone crystals
• 4 mm round beads
• 8° Japanese seed beads
• 3 mm bugle beads
The beads required in
• Miyuki Half Tila beads
this project
• Three colors of 15° Japanese seed beads

Notes on the Materials:

• Since this design requires evenly-shaped seed beads, be sure to cull your seed beads for
an even size prior to beginning this project. Miyuki and/or Toho brand Japanese seed beads
are recommended.
• Nylon thread such as Nymo or One G can be used in this project. However, if you are
incorporating optional beads with sharp edges such as bugle beads, stones, or crystals, use
a stronger thread such as Fireline.

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 Bead Origami
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Notes on Illustrations:
• Each step of this pattern has at least one figure or photo that shows the beadwork in the
corresponding step. Figure 1 goes with Step 1, Figure 2 goes with Step 2, etc.
• A red dot marks the starting point of each step.
• Any beads added during a given step are more saturated than those already in the
beadwork.
• A dotted line marks the thread path of beads picked up or passed through during a given
step. The thread path of the current step is a thick line; any thread paths from previous
steps use a thinner line.
• A blue arrow is sometimes used to indicate the direction of the thread path.

Other Tips:
• Keep your thread tension firm, but not so tight that the beads are locked in place.
• Mark the beads on your work surface with a post-it note to keep track of them. Some
beaders like using alphabet beads too.
• Avoid forcing the beading needle through a bead; this could break the bead or the needle!
Instead, try switching to a smaller size needle.
• Silver seed beads will tarnish over time. To slow this process, store pieces containing silver
seed beads in an airtight container with an anti-tarnish strip.

Project Overview:
To construct the chain, you will weave an O bead in place with two 11° seed beads, then you
will weave in several 15° seed beads in a diamond shape. You will repeat alternating these
units of beadwork until your chain is the desired length, and then you will finish the chain
with a small clasp. Additional variations are possible and described later in this pattern.

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Step 1: To begin the beaded chain,

thread a comfortable length of
thread (approximately 6 ft/2 m).
Pick up 1B, 1O, and 1B. Pass back
through the O, and pass through the
first B, the O, and the second B. Pull
the thread taut so that each B bead
sits up against either side of the O.
Leave an 8-inch tail.
Figure 1
Step 2: To create a link of seed
beads, pick up 5A, 1B, and 5A.
Pass through the B that you exited
from at the beginning of this step.

Step 3: To make the seed bead portion of the

chain into a little diamond shape, pass through
the loop of seed beads again, skipping every Figure 2
third bead; pass through the next 2A, skip the
next A, pass through the next 2A, and skip the
next B. Pass through the next 2A, skip the next A, pass
through the next 2A, and skip the next B. Pull the thread Figure 3
taut, and pass through the next 5A and B to exit from the
tip of the chain.

Step 4: Pick up 1O, and 1B. Pass back through the O, and
pass through the next B, the O, and the tip B again.
Figure 4
Repeat Steps 2-4 until your beaded chain reaches the
desired length, minus about half an inch (12 mm) for the
clasp.

Step 5: To add the clasp, pick up 3A, the clasp, and 3A.
Pass through the B that you exited from at the beginning
of this step.

Step 6: To secure the clasp to the chain, pass through

the 3A, the clasp, and the next 3A again. Skip the next B,
and pass through all these beads in a loop again.
Continue through the B.

Figure 5
Figure 6
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Step 7: Weave through a few more beads

in the chain to secure the thread, and
trim. Re-thread the tail thread, and
repeat Steps 5 and 6 to add the jump
ring to the other end of the chain. Secure
your tail thread, and trim. Your Diamond
Photo 7A
O beaded chain is complete!

A 24” Diamond O beaded chain

accompanies this cascading O
Star Pendant. For more
information on this design,
please visit
www.beadorigami.com


Photo 7B

"O Star Pendant”

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 Bead Origami
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Variations
Several variations on this design are possible to create a variety of different looks to the
finished beaded chain. Two general types of variations exist; variations on Steps 2-3, and
variations on Step 4.

Variations on Steps 2-3

Try using multiple colors of 15° seed beads in Steps 2-3; the above chain uses three colors of
15° seed beads for a pink and purple rainbow!

The chain above uses varying amounts of 15° seed beads in each repeat of Step 2 to change
the sizes of the seed bead diamonds. In this step, string 3A, 1B, and 3A to create the first
diamond. After repeating Steps 3 and 4, string 5A, 1B, and 5A for the second diamond.
Finally, string 7A, 1B, and 7A for the third. Alternate between the second diamond and the
other two sizes to create differing sizes of seed bead diamonds in the finished beaded chain.

For a more angular look, replace some of the 15° seed beads with 3 mm bugle beads! In Step
2, string 1 bugle bead, 1A, 1 bugle bead, 1B, 1 bugle bead, 1A, and 1 bugle bead. In Step 3,
pass through all the bugle beads in a circle to create the diamond shape, and continue on to
Step 4 to add the next O bead.


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 Bead Origami
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Variations on Step 4

The O beads in this pattern can be substituted with 8° seed beads for a slightly blockier
look.

Try adding 4 mm bicone crystals or round beads to this beaded chain! In Step 4, string 1O, 1
bicone crystal, 1O, and 1B. Pass back through the O, bicone, and O, and pass through the
next B, the O, bicone, O, and B again to position your working thread to repeat Step 2. Add a
bicone crystal in every repeat of Step 4 for a very sparkly variation, or add a crystal every
third repeat for a more subtle effect.

This design makes for an easy,

petite bracelet. The bracelet to
the right uses 4 mm round crystal
pearls in each repeat of Step 4.


© 2014-19 by Cindy Holsclaw of Bead Origami. All rights reserved. Page 7

 Bead Origami
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Inspirations
The Diamond O beaded chain
attaches to either side of a
theobromine beaded
molecule; a beaded
representation of a chemical
found in coffee, tea, but
most famously in chocolate.
For more information about
beaded molecules, please
visit www.beadorigami.com

I first developed the Diamond

O beaded chain for the
Annular O Necklace. The
necklace features five rivoli
crystals, bezeled with an
assortment of Japanese seed
beads, peanut-shaped beads,
round beads, O beads, and
bicone crystals. The detailed
focal portion of the necklace
is too light and airy for a Theobromine, the chocolate molecule
thicker type of beaded rope
such as spiral rope or CRAW,
so I experimented with
beaded RAW chains for
a much more delicate
look. I also wanted to
include O beads in this
beaded chain, and
mimic the angles of the
15° and 11° seed beads
in the beaded
components. Thus, the
Diamond O beaded
chain was born! For
more information about
the Annular O Necklace,
please visit
www.beadorigami.com.

“Annular O Necklace”

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 Bead Origami
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The Dancing Droplets Necklace also features a

variation of the Diamond O Beaded Chain. The
pendant to the right was strung on a variation
of the Diamond O beaded chain. The pattern
for this necklace is available at
www.beadorigami.com

“Dancing Droplets Necklace”

“Prism Blossoms Pendant”

A variation on the Diamond O Beaded Chain accompanies the Prism Blossoms Pendant. To
create this chain, choose a Half Tila bead to accompany your A, B, and O beads in the chain.
In each diamond unit, substitute every third A in the original pattern with a Half Tila bead,
and do not skip these beads when reinforcing the diamond unit. Follow the rest of the
pattern as written.

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Contact Information
For questions or comments,
please e-mail
[email protected]

Thanks again for reading this pattern! Creating beading projects and teaching them to people
like you is how I make my living. To purchase patterns and kits for many of my designs, please
visit my website at www.beadorigami.com. Your support enables me to pursue the craft of
beadwork and continue to write patterns such as this one.

If you’re interested in more beading designs like these, please consider signing up for my
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