In addition to a beading graph, many bead patterns will also have a word chart that uses a letter to represent each bead type along with the number of beads of that type in the row in the order they occur. This article describes how to follow a beading graph pattern as well as a word chart. Many people like to make a copy of the beading pattern because they like to make marks on the pattern to keep their place. This tutorial uses the Moroccan Coral bracelet pattern. The original version of the pattern designed by Chris Franchetti Michaels uses the following four colors of seed beads: A = garnet gold luster (DB0105); 3 gramsB = light peach lined crystal luster (DB0067); 0.5 gramsC = opaque salmon (DB1363); 1.2 gramsD = matte sea glass green luster (DB0385); 0.25 grams The updated pattern available at the link uses similar, but not the same colors. Use small condiment dishes or a beading mat to arrange your beads in the order they are labeled in the pattern: the A beads first, the B beads second, and so on. This pattern begins at the bottom and goes toward the top. If you would prefer to read a bottom-up pattern from the top down, simply turn the pattern upside down. Many beaders develop a system that helps them pick up the right beads quickly. One method is to use a nickname for the beads and call out each nickname in your mind as you go along. For the first row in this pattern, the sequence you could repeat to yourself might be dark, light, dark, dark, salmon, dark, dark, light, dark. Stitch the first row of beads on your loom. When you’re finished, they should match the order of the beads in the first row of the pattern. Learn how to bead on a loom. When you read a pattern from the top down, you still stitch your beads from bottom to top on the loom, as usual. You would simply turn the beadwork around to see it match the pattern chart. Continue marking and stitching rows, one at a time, always reading the pattern in the same direction. Many beaders have a preference for either a pattern or word chart, but they can work especially well when they are used together. The word chart is a simple way to recite the pattern, but it is easy to double-check you picked up the right beads by comparing the pattern to your stitched piece. Some loom beadwork patterns have a repeating pattern of colors and shapes. While most purchased patterns will display the entire pattern, some may not save space. The Moroccan Coral bracelet pattern used in this pattern is an example. After the first 20 rows, the same pattern is repeated until the bracelet reaches the desired length. When a pattern has a repeat, simply move your sticky note from the last row back to the beginning row to continue stitching, or go back to the first row of the word chart. You can also look at your finished beadwork to follow the rest of the pattern.
