Spirals and beaded spiral ropes: Double, Triple, Dutch, Russian, Cellini and more

Spirals are on my mind. I am in the midst of beading my second Cellini spiral necklace. The first remains unfinished because in typical fashion I have run out of one of the burgundy beads (see photo) I was using to create it. Despite that minor set back I have found it very satisfying beading the changing shapes and colours of the Cellini spiral. And, I’m beginning to see the pleasing shape of spirals all around me. Snails, shells, fern fronds, roses and willy willies (small spiralling winds a little like a mini hurricane) to name just a few. Mind you, there’s not much pleasure having snails or willy willies in the garden. Spirals are also found in the traditional art of several Indigenous Australian artists, in the spiritual dances of the Whirling Dervishes, in ancient European symbols of the goddess and in the psychiatry of Carl Jung for whom the spiral was a symbol of our soul. In Ancient Celtic lore the spiral was a symbol of holistic growth, release, union with cosmic energies such as time and the planets and of awareness of oneself as part of a greater whole. So, over time and in different places the spiral has been a powerful symbol of positive life forces and spirituality.

Given that I’ve decided to try creating some different types of spirals in my beadwork. There’s lots to choose from – spiral rope chain (see photo), spiral square stitch, double spiral rope and Russian spiral to name a few. I’ve sourced some free tutorials for each of these and listed them below for those of you new to spiral beading and it’s pleasures.

If you know of others I’d love to share them on the blog.

If you’d like to feast your eyes on stunning spirals in nature and beyond pop by this website – it’s inspirational

• http://spiral.gallery.sytes.org/

Spiral rope chain – great, free tutorial

• http://beadwork.about.com/library/weekly/aa081201a.htm
• http://jewelrymaking.allinfoabout.com/features/spiralrope.html

Spiral square stitch

• http://www.beading-arts.com/2009/08/spiral-square-stitch.html

Double spiral rope chain

• http://beadweaverdreams.homestead.com/dspic.html

Triple spiral Beading

• www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z9usIeDxDA

Dutch spiral

• www.beadalon.com/dutch.asp -

Dutch spiral variation – free tutorial

• http://beadingbanshee.com/free/dutch-variation.html

Cellini spiral

• http://www.tarnhelm.com/NeedForBeads/Cellini.htm

Russian spiral

• Video http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-spiral-rope-beaded-bracelet-152726/

African Helix

• http://beadwork.about.com/library/weekly/aa101998.htm