How to Make a FRACTAL 30-BEAD BALL (Bead Dodecahedron) in the 30 Minutes or Less

You'll love making these FRACTAL BEAD BALLS for your jewelry designs. The concept is simple. Instead of adding 1 bead per stitch, you add 2, 3, 4 or more beads per stitch, creating an open, lacy effect. In this video, I show you how to make a 60-Bead Ball by adding 2 beads per stitch and creating 12 interlocking rings of 10 beads each. I'm using 6/0 glass beads from Japan that I've lightly graded, deleting misshapen beads. The model in the thumbnail is wearing a 60-Bead Ball earring. The turquoise pair of earrings features 90-Bead Balls made of plated metal beads stitched in sets of 3. You could easily add 4 beads per stitch to form a 120-Bead Ball. And so on.
Leave the insides of your Fractal Bead Balls empty, or fill them with smaller beads - or smaller beaded structures. Interlace 2 or more Fractal Bead Balls to create more expansive structures or chains.
Timestamps:
Introduction - 0:09
Row 1 - 2:30
Row 2 - 3:09
Rows 3 & 4 - 12:33
Who First Created 30-Bead Balls (Bead Dodecahedra)?
Chinese beaders invented the 30-Bead Balls we know as "Bead Dodecahedra" more than 100 years ago. The earliest documented examples date to sometime in the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). At least one member of the Qing imperial court wore a hair ornament featuring a 30-bead ball made of coral beads attached to a solid gold stem. It is certainly possible that beaders in other countries invented 30-bead balls too, independently of Chinese beaders. But evidence has yet to surface. If you find some, please let me know!
Did Chinese Beaders Ever Make Fractal Bead Balls?
Not that I know of. But information about Chinese beadwork is hard to find. So I wouldn't rule out the possibility.
Where To Find More Information about Chinese Beadwork?
No book has been written, but I've published several academic articles on aspects of Chinese beadwork. They're posted to academia.edu. Here are a few links:
"Chinese Bead Curtains, Past and Present" (2013):
www.academia.e...
"Mainland Chinese Export Beadwork" (2017):
www.academia.e...
"Beaded Shop Signs in Republican Beijing" (2018):
www.academia.e...
"A Beaded Hair Comb of the Early Ming Dynasty" (2021):
www.academia.e...
Thank you for stopping by. Please come again soon.
#beading #beadingtutorial #beadweaving #beadwork #beadedearrings #chinesebeading #chinese #beads #seedbeadsearrings #seedbeads #diybeadedjewelry #diyearrings #diybeading #pentagonstitch #jewelrybeadingtechniques

[@Becca21741]

I agree with Angelina - it’s great to see you back on this channel. Love the color of the beads in the tutorial!

[@valeriehector]

Thank you, Becca! I'm happy to be back!

[@angelinacroftdesigns]

So nice to see more videos from you, thank you so much!

[@valeriehector]

Hi Angelina, I'm glad you're liking my videos! Thanks for stopping by - and please stop by again soon! In the meantime, happy beading!

[@gailjbr9823]

I’m new to your channel but am very intrigued. Can’t wait to try this tutorial. Thank you!

[@valeriehector]

Hi Gail! Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoy the Fractal Bead Ball Tutorial. I have more tutorials launching next week - and artist interviews soon. Happy beading.