New pattern: the Tila SuperDuo Bands

I just uploaded a new pattern to my website: the Twin SuperDuo Bands, $5.00, also available at Bead-patterns.com:

 A trio of bands made from seed beads, Tila beads and SuperDuo beads. The pattern is fully illustrated with detailed step-by-step instructions for each bracelet and includes a page of three blank charts of three different widths so you can design you own bands. Note: I used SuperDuo beads because they are much more uniform in size and slightly thicker than Twin beads. I did not try these bands using Twin beads but if you do and are successful, please send pictures!

New Pattern Uploaded: Twin Cube Wave Band

I just uploaded a new pattern to my website: the Twin Cube Wave Band, $4.50, also available at Bead-patterns.com:

This is a fatter version of my Tila Twin Wiggle Bracelet, using two colors of Preciosa Twin beads and 3mm cube beads instead of Tila beads.

A new pattern for sale, FREE pattern and some SuperDuo confusion

I just uploaded a new pattern to my Web site: the Tila Flower Bands, $5.00, also available at Bead-patterns.com. Two bracelets made from seed beads, Tila beads and two-hole SuperDuo beads (top) or Twin beads (bottom):

And I also uploaded an easy bracelet made from seed beads, two-hole SuperDuo beads and Tila beads: Skinny SuperDuo Band (a PDF is available for download at the bottom of my Web site page):

Okay, so if you are wondering, "What the heck are SuperDuo beads?", here is what I have managed to figure out: 

• Twin beads and SuperDuo beads are often referred to as two-hole seed beads and they look almost exactly alike with a few exceptions. Twin beads, made by Czech company Preciosa Ornela, have the same oval shape but are often somewhat irregular in size. SuperDuo beads are pressed glass beads (i.e., made in a mold) so they are a bit thicker and much more uniform in size than Twin beads. 
• As of this writing, SuperDuo beads are rather hard to find and seem to come in two sizes: 2.5mm by 5mm and 2mm by 5mm. In some instances, SuperDuo beads can be used as substitute for Twin beads and vice versa, but sometimes not. It depends on the design. For this pattern, I used 2.5 by 5mm SuperDuo beads from RedPandaBeads.com. 
• Chris Franchetti Michaels of Beadwork.About.com has the best list of SuperDuo suppliers at: http://beadwork.about.com/od/BuyBeadsOnline/a/Superduo-Suppliers.htm
• Preciosa Ornela is coming out with, or has already come out with, their own "pressed glass" Twin bead, although I have not been able to find them.
• There may be several Czech companies making "SuperDuo" and "Super Duo" beads, which could account for the size difference. Dee's Place has a great article that provides a bit of the inside scoop: "The Great Czech Two-Hole bead Wars" by Doris Coghill.

Free pattern with Twin bead purchase

RedPandaBeads.com is now offering a free PDF copy of my Tila Twin Wiggle Bracelet pattern with each Twin bead purchase for customers registered on the Red Panda Bead website. For more info, click HERE or on the image below:

RedPandaBeads.com also has a vast selection of Tila and other Miyuki beads, as well as free shipping on all U.S. orders over $25.

New pattern for sale and a FREE pattern uploaded

I just uploaded a new pattern to my Web site: the Twin Cube Bands, $5.00, also available at Bead-patterns.com:

Two bracelets made from seed beads, 3mm (top) and 4mm (bottom) cube beads and two colors of Preciosa Twin beads. The pattern is fully illustrated pattern with detailed step-by-step instructions.

And for those of you who aren't real sure about cubes and Twins, I uploaded a free Skinny Twin Cube Band (a PDF is available for download at the bottom of my Web site page):