Cupcake Crowns — Bead Embroidery Pendant PDF Tutorial

A bead embroidery pendant built over a woollen ball base — Cupcake Crowns is less a step-by-step pattern and more a creative framework for exploring colour, texture, and mixed stitch techniques in three dimensions.

Each Crown starts with a central topper (spike or montee) and builds outward in concentric rows of your choosing — netting, peyote stripes, crystal point loops, embroidered O beads, herringbone, round loops with seed bead spacers, or a combination of all of them. A size 18 Rivoli is set in the base. Five colourway examples are included with colour-palette breakdowns using a 60/30/10 rule to help you build a cohesive look. The pendant hangs asymmetrically on a fine chain, and the result is different every single time. A beautiful stash-buster project for intermediate beaders ready to bead intuitively.

This is a 7-page PDF tutorial with colour palette guidance, bead type references, row technique samples, and Rivoli setting instructions.

Bead list: Stash-based — suggested types include size 11 and 15 seed beads, 3mm and 4mm fire polished or rounds, 3mm pearls, spikes, Rizo beads, O beads, cup chain, montee or large spike topper, size 18 Rivoli, and a woollen ball base. Exact quantities depend on your design choices.

Skill level: Intermediate. Techniques: Bead embroidery backstitch, netting, peyote, herringbone, Rivoli setting over a woollen ball base.

On A String is a small Australian beading business created by Paula — a beader, teacher, and maker who believes the craft is better when it’s shared. Every tool is designed from the beading table. Every tutorial is written from experience.