Pattern: Pear for the Partridge Christmas Ornament

This is the pattern for the third of the set of 3 sparkle gem Christmas Ornaments that I'm working up into kits - the Pear for the Partridge. The golden green colour and shape of the acrylic gem, combined with cream and lime green accents, work up to look like a pretty sparkly pear.

Visit my Etsy shop to purchase a kit for this ornament with all the materials you need.

This ornament uses the following beads: 1 large pear green acrylic , 1 large white pearl bead, 16 large green glass seed beads, 34+ cream coloured short beads, 21+ tiny gold seed beads.

TIP: For the small and medium seed beads, you may find it easier to poke them onto the cord from your work surface as if it were a needle. For the larger beads, just pick them up and slide them on.

WORKING THE ORNAMENT: Pick up one end of your stretchy cord, keeping the other end flat on your work surface to prevent beads from falling off and bouncing away. On one end of the cord, thread (1 tiny gold bead, 1 cream tube bead ) 2 times, followed by 1 tiny gold bead. Next, add the large pear green gem, followed (1 tiny gold bead, 1 cream tube bead ) 2 times, followed by 1 tiny gold bead. You will have a mirror effect on either side of the diamond.

At this point, bring both ends of your cord together so that you can thread the beads over both ends at once. Over both ends - string one large green seed bead, the white pearl, and another large green seed bead. You have now finished the dangly part of the ornament.

WORKING THE BEADED HANGER: At this point you are going to return to stringing beads on just one end of the cord, so lay the other end flat on your work surface again. On one end of the cord, string 1 tiny gold bead, 1 medium cream bead and 1 large green seed bead. For the pattern of the hanger continue with (1 medium cream bead, 1 small gold bead, 1 medium cream bead, one large green seed bead) 6 times. Finish this side with 1 medium cream bead.

Lay your finished side down and gently pick up the other side to repeat the pattern. There are extra beads to make the hanger a little longer if you like – just continue as your join does not have to be in the middle. When both sides are done you will have two medium cream beads ready to join. NOTE: Because when you tie your knot it will leave some spacing, the finished look works better by skipping the tiny seed bead that would be next in the pattern.

When you’re ready to join, hold the ornament up to balance your work so that the sides are even, and then gently pull to align the beads. Tie the cord into a knot - and try not to pull too tight. Once fastened, tie a few knots, changing sides for a more even finish, and then trim the excess cord with scissors.

Your work of art is now ready to adorn the tree!