This “Green Bead Soup” bracelet is one of my favorite to make. It looks super complicated but is really just very simply crocheted together. In fact, I’ve taught this project at workshops in the past and so many students are surprised at how quickly and easily it comes together.
This is my first attempt at pattern / instruction writing, so I hope that my directions are clear. I’ve included a few tips and also a few pics along the way to help, but if there are any parts that still seem a little confusing, you know I will answer your questions as quickly and clearly as I can.
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Green Bead Soup Crochet Bracelet Pattern PDF
This entire bracelet is made using a single crochet stitch. It is the most basic crochet stitch. The only difficult part of this bracelet is getting the right tension. 
If your stitches are too tight, your beads will be too dense, pile up on themselves, and eventually it will be impossible to continue crocheting. If your stitches are too loose, your beads will come through to the inside and you will not get the nice full look you’re trying to achieve. I try to use a normal tension on rows where I am attaching beads, and a slightly looser tension on rows that I am just straight single crocheting. This tends to balance out the rows with the density of the beads.
The weight of the beads, along with the fundamental makeup of the single crochet stitch, will cause the bracelet to stretch. Also, depending on the style clasp you wish to use, the bracelet will stretch and even pull some on the ends. Make the bracelet slightly shorter than you normally would. In my case, I only made the bracelet five inches long, but it will fit the average wrist.
Materials:
Size 10 Crochet Thread
US Size 1 Crochet Hook
Large Eyed Beading Needle
Beads in a variety of sizes
Clasp
Using the large eyed beading needle, string approximately 40 – 45″ of beads. (Please note, more is better in this case. You don’t want to get through all of your beads and realize your bracelet is not long enough. If in doubt, string more.) Vary the sizes, keeping in mind that you will attach these in groups of two or three. In order to keep the beads from piling up on themselves, try to attach beads in groups of varying sizes, i.e. a large bead with two smaller, two medium sized beads together, etc. I use a variety of beads from the smallest seed beads to large specialty beads. Leave a long tail of thread, but keep in mind that you will have to continually slide your beads back along the thread as you crochet.
To Begin: Chain 9
Row 1: Single crochet in both loops of the 2nd chain from hook and in each of the next 6 chains, ch1 (to turn). (8 single crochets)
Row 2: Single crochet in each single crochet across, then chain 1 (to turn). (8 single crochets)
Row 3: Single crochet in each single crochet across, then chain 1 (to turn). (8 single crochets)
Alternate the following two rows to reach desired length:
Row A: Single crochet in each single crochet across, attaching 2 or 3 beads to bracelet in each stitch, then chain 1 (to turn). (8 single crochets)
To attach beads: Insert hook under both loops, slide beads 
towards bracelet as far as possible. They should now be touching the bracelet itself. Wrap the yarn over the hook and pull up a loop. Continue single crochet stitch as normal. When you yarn over and pull of the loop, you trap the beads, and they are now secured to the front of the bracelet.
Row B: Single crochet in each single crochet across, then chain 1 (to turn). (8 single crochets)
To End: Single crochet three additional rows without beads.
Weave in all thread ends. Attach clasps to each end of bracelet.
Enjoy!
Nikki, In Stitches
nikki,
this is a very lovely bracelet. i like the colors. please check my blog in the next week or so for mention of your bracelet.
jd
http://crochet.craftgossip.com
wow…that looks gorgeous
Really nice and I’m going to give your pattern a try!
Beautiful bracelet. Now I need to learn to crochet.
Thank you!
Feel free to ask questions about the bracelet, or about learning to crochet.
Good luck and I’d love to see your finished projects!
Nikki
Lovely! I’ve been looking for a good tutorial on crocheting a beaded bracelet. I know the answer will be “a lot” but could you venture to guess how many beads you used (not counting the seed beads)? I’m not a beader by nature and don’t have a sense of how many I’d need to buy. Thanks.
Thanks, Laura!
That’s a tough question to answer. The length of the bracelet, and the size of the beads you buy, could both greatly effect how many beads you need. Maybe 200? I’m guessing somewhere in that range. My thinking is, if you crochet 15 rows where you attach beads, and you have 8 stitches across (only 7 seven of which you actually attach beads), that gives you 105. Then, depending on the size of your beads, sometimes you’ll attach 1 with a few seed beads, and sometimes 2 with a few seed beads, that gets you close to maybe 175 or 200. I hope this makes sense, and gives you at least a general idea of how many beads you need.
When you’re finished your bracelet, let me know how accurate my math actually is!
Nikki
Nikki,
Thanks for sharing your amazing talents. I would love to rty the bracelet, but I’m not confident that I would get the same beautiful results. God Bless you in your move!
Meg from PG!
Thanks, Meg! You are the sweetest!
Give it a try. It’s not really that difficult, and you always have been a much better crafter than you give yourself credit for!
Nikki
Nikki,
I crochet bracelets all the time but have never seen one like this. I really love this design and am going to try this very soon. If I get it done, and then figure out how to send a photo, I’ll do that.
Sue
Thanks, Sue!
I’d love to see pics!
Nikki
Do you have more than one bead per stitch or does it depend on the size of the bead and/or the size of the stitch?
Aww, thats a really good idea (: Your bracelet turned out super pretty.
Hi lovely work..just about to dabble with bead crochet looks like a fun project
Thanks for sharing l’ll add a link to my blog hope that is OK?
Suz x
Suz,
Thanks so much! So happy you like my bracelet, and sure! Feel free to link to it!
By the way, love your style! That hat and scarf you are wearing on your blog…adorable! Where did you find the pattern for the scarf??
Nikki
Hi Nikki,
This looks wonderful! I have tried to crochet before and I love beads. The way I translate this, bracelet is only made up of 8 rows and only the 4th row uses beads. Is this thinking correct?
Many thanks,
Bobbie
Love, love, love this bracelet!!!! Thanks for sharing, gonna give it a try!
je le trouve sublime mis ton lien sur mon blog bisessssssssssss
(Sublime! I put a link on my blog. Kisses)
Nice post. I was checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed! Very helpful information particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such information much. I was seeking this particular info for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.
This is so gorgeous and sounds so easy to make! I’m definitely going to give it a try. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Yay! Thanks so much, Ruby! Let us know how it goes!
This bracelet appeals to me as green is my favorite color, love beads, love to crochet…hope I can do it. RoRo
Rowena! You absolutely can do it! Let us know how it goes!