1. Begin this design by cutting 50 inches of thread. Slip one end through your closed jump ring so that 7 inches remains on one side of the jump ring and 43 inches on the other. Tie a knot around the jump ring. Tie a second knot on top of the first. Leave the 7-inch tail as is, for you will go back and weave this in at the very end to fully secure your skeleton. Onto your long tail, thread on your beading needle. NOTE: As you do the following beading, do not pull your thread too tight, you want your skeleton to drape nicely and not be too stiff. Leave your tension on the looser side.

2. Making the skull, neck, and rib cage. String on your skull bead going from the top of the head to the base, then also string on one 4mm bicone, and three seed beads. On your beading table, lay out 4 Vee beads so that they are all in line like a chevron pattern with the V’s pointing down. Now run your needle through the right side holes of all 4 of the Vee beads.

3. Making the right leg. String on two seed beads, one 6mm bicone, and one seed bead. Now go through one of the side holes in a cradle bead. With your thread, “jump” over to the other set of holes on the same cradle bead and on the same side and go through it. You will now have a thread arch that follows the curve of the bead. String on one more seed bead, pick up a second cradle bead and go through one of the side holes in this cradle bead. Again, with your thread, “jump” over to the other set of holes on the same cradle bead and on the same side and go through it. You will now have a thread arch that follows the curve of this cradle bead. String on one seed bead, one 4mm bicone, and six seed beads. We are now at the bottom of the foot. Bring your needle and thread back through the bicone that is already strung on so that you form a little loop with your seed beads. Now string on one more seed bead and go through the nearest hole in the already attached cradle bead, going the opposite direction that you went the first time. With your thread, “jump” over to the other set of holes on the same cradle bead and on the same side and go through it. You will now have a thread arch that follows the curve of the bead on both sides of the cradle bead. String on one seed bead and go through the closest hole in the next cradle bead. going the opposite direction that you went the first time. With your thread, “jump” over to the other set of holes on the same cradle bead and on the same side and go through it. You will now have a thread arch that follows the curve of the bead on both sides of this cradle bead. String on one seed bead and go back through the 6mm already attached bicone. String on two more seed beads and run your needle and thread back through all 4 Vee beads, exiting the top hole of the fourth Vee bead (counting from the bottom up).

4. Making the right arm. String on four seed beads. One 6mm bicone, and one seed bead. Now go through one of the side holes in a cradle bead. With your thread, “jump” over to the other set of holes on the same cradle bead and on the same side and go through it. You will now have a thread arch that follows the curve of the bead. String on one seed bead, one 4mm bicone, and five seed beads. We are now at the bottom of the hand. Bring your needle and thread back through the 4mm bicone that is already strung on so that you form a little loop with your seed beads. Now string on one more seed bead and go through the nearest hole in the already attached cradle bead, going the opposite direction that you went the first time. With your thread, “jump” over to the other set of holes on the same cradle bead and on the same side and go through it. You will now have a thread arch that follows the curve of the bead on both sides of the cradle bead. String on one seed bead and go back through the 6mm already attached bicone. String on four more seed beads and run your needle and thread back up through the bottom hole of the Vee bead your originally exited to start the arm, please see photo if needed.

5. Go back through the three seed beads and 4mm bicone of the neck. Also go back up through the skull bead and through the jump ring as well. Now go back down through the skull bead and bicone again. String on 3 more seed beads and run your needle and thread all the way through the four left side holes of your rib-cage Vee beads. You are now on the left side of your skeleton, the right side is all done.

6. Making the left leg. Repeat the exact same steps as you did to make the right leg (step 3).

7. Making the left arm. Repeat the exact same steps as you did to make the right arm (step 4).

8. At this point your entire skeleton is complete and your thread is exiting the top hole of the left side of the Vee beads rib cage. Now run your needle and thread back through the three neck seed beads, the bicone, the skull bead, and the jump ring. Run it back down through the skull bead again and the bicone and seed beads. Tie a discreet knot at this place. Make a second knot. Go through your beadwork some more, in whatever direction you want, and make several more discreet knots. When you are satisfied that it is secured, trim this tail.

9. String your needle onto the short 7-inch tail that you left at the beginning of this project. Weave the thread into your skeleton the same way as you did for your other tail, tying several knots as you go and then trim your tail.

Grid Images

TR-11-49/c TOHO Round 11/0 Tube 2.5" : Opaque Jet

U-TBN-003e Tulip - Beading Needles (4 pcs) : #11

PB408-1006-23980 Cradle Bead 6 x 10mm Horizontal Hole (loose) : Jet

413-0410-23980 Vee Bead 4 x 10mm : Jet

G5328-4-280 PRESTIGE 5328 4mm JET Bicone Bead

G5328-6-280 PRESTIGE 5328 6mm JET Bicone Bead

G5750-13-280 PRESTIGE 5750 13mm JET Skull Bead