Stars and Stripes Forever Kumihimo

Red White and Bllue

Do you hear the band playing? I think it’s John Phillip Sousa “Stars and Stripes Forever”.
This is a  three color double spiral beaded kumihimo pattern by Linda McConnell.

“©2015 Linda McConnell All Rights Reserved. Permission to reproduce this for personal use with the right to sell items made with credit given to Linda McConnell”.

It took four tries until I got it right, but I’m definitely pleased with the outcome.
Here’s the beading pattern:

Cord 1 (32R) (1 1 2 2 3 3)
Cord 2 (32L) 3 (1 1 2 2 3 3)
Cord 3 (24R) 3 3 (1 1 2 2 3 3)
Cord 4 (24L) 2 3 3 (1 1 2 2 3 3)
Cord 5 (16R) 2 3 3 (1 1 2 2 3 3)
Cord 6 (16L) 2 2 3 3 (1 1 2 2 3 3)
Cord 7 (8R) 1 2 2 3 3 (1 1 2 2 3 3)
Cord 8 (8L) (1 1 2 2 2 3 3)

Write your choice of colors in Legend section. Then use the numbers listed for each color in boxes to aid in loading beads correctly.

Because this pattern requires a staggered start, you will load the bead pattern on specific cords and then begin the full pattern. The beads in parenthesis are your repeated pattern. Load as many of this pattern necessary to reach your desired length. Because I have a small wrist and I like my bracelets to sit about my wrist bone, I loaded only 5 sets of the pattern segments.

The easiest way I found to work this pattern is to braid your half inch of beadless braid first and then load your beads on the correct strings. I labeled each one of my bobbins with the Cord Number and corresponding slot number. If you do not load the pattern exactly as above, your spirals will not be consistent.

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