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*****
I fell in love with these beads!
Called mushroom button drops by the importer, these have a most intriguing shape and look to me like the small Faery Mushrooms you might find in the woods -- you know, the ones that faeries and elves dance under in the moonlight in the old stories?
I simply had to play with them -- and the result is this Mushroom and Butterfly Bangle that is so very simple and displays their beauty well.
I started out with a mix of soft taupe and beige and brown and green and blue in what the Czech importer calls butterfly beads (click on the last photo below for a closeup). These are a 2x4mm two-sided bead where the hole is in the center and the form blossoms around it. To these I added the Mushroom drops, in their larger 9x8mm size, that stand out in a wonderful manner.
I threaded the beads onto a metallic thread from Kreinik in their Tapestry Braid #12, alternating the button drops, with the butterfly beads, in the same color mix.
The pattern that worked the best is very similar to the one for the Fire Polish Crystals -- the bracelet is designed to twist and swirl around the hand -- so those of you who have made that design might choose to skip getting the pattern again (option is in the drop-down menu above).
I knit it with size 0 (2mm) needles and found that roughly 6 buttons-alternated-with-butterflies made one inch of bracelet. So each kit will include 50 of these lovelies, to make up to 8" long, not counting the optional clasp (which will add a bit more length as well).
This is a very simple knit. It is the beads that make the piece unique.
I made mine into a bangle, to simply slide onto my wrist -- the thread allows for a slight stretchiness and it works great like that. However, each kit will also include a gold plated magnetic clasp, so you can finish it up with that and have an easy on/off for the bracelet. One advantage of the clasp also is that you can twist the piece tighter and have control over the size even after you finish the knitting.
The kit will include everything you need to make this (except for the knitting needles themselves). The original thread was a pale green though you notice that it is barely visible -- we also like gold, blue and brown with these beads. If you have a definite preference, say the word; otherwise we will choose randomly.
Be sure the drop-down menu is set as you would like before checking out.
This is fun (and fast and easy) to make and lovely to wear. I am delighted with mine -- and though I haven't met any elves yet, I am still hoping. :-)
Yarn 
