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Autumn Leaves Beaded Napkin Rings

Quick and Easy Napkin Rings for the Beginning Beader

I’m making these beaded napkin rings for a client’s Thanksgiving dinner table. She ordered a set of twelve, so I will make four in each of these autumn colors.

They’re quite simple to make even if you’ve never beaded before. A beading board is helpful but not necessary.

Materials for Each Napkin Ring

1 ¾-inch diameter 1 ½-inch tall PVC coupling (from the plumbing supply section of your hardware store)

43 inches bias tape (I buy it in rolls to save money.)

9 inches .5mm-thick Stretch Magic beading elastic available at Artbeads

Autumn color beads (I found a nice package of color-coordinated plastic beads in Michael’s made by The Beadery and labeled “elements Specialty Bead Set Selection – Medium Earthtones”).

2 pewter leaf charms (also from Michael’s)

Scissors

Thick PVA glue like Delta Sobo Premium Craft & Fabric Glue A small binder clip (the black kind with collapsible “handles” used to clip papers together)

Regular paper clips

Making the Beaded Ring

Lay out a 6-inch length of beads. I used mostly plastic beads that came in the coordinated pack.

This makes the napkin rings lightweight and also keeps the cost down. I interspersed a few wood beads and a few glass for variety. The pewter leaf charms are placed on either side of the focal bead.

Refer to the photos below for design ideas.

When you’re happy with your design, pinch the clip onto one end of the stretchy cord and string the beads onto the free end. No beading needle necessary; the stretchy cord has enough body on its own.

Remove the pinch clip and bring the two cord ends together. Stretch them tight and tie a double knot. Cut off the cord ends leaving a half-inch tail.

Gently tug the cord to pull the knot back through a couple beads and hide part of the tail. Cut off any excess.

Making the Napkin Ring

Smear a layer of glue all around the PVC ring. Put a dab of glue on the end of a length of bias tape.

Place the glued end inside the ring at an angle and secure it with a regular paper clip. Thread the bias tape around the coupling overlapping very slightly as shown in the photos.

Trim the end so that it will end (and be hidden) inside the ring. Put glue on the end of the tape and reposition the paper clip to secure it in place.

With your fingertips, moisten the outside of the bias tape. This serves to distribute the glue evenly underneath and tightens the wrap since the bias tape shrinks a little as it dries.

Stretch the bead ring around the napkin ring and position it. Put dabs of glue under several beads where they contact the ring. Set aside to dry.

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