Tutorial: Reduced Non-tapered End for Slide Bar Loop Clasp

Sometimes you may want to use a clasp that is not as wide as your beadwork.  This has the benefit of allowing you to not have the clasp overhanging to the sides at all and reduces the impact of the clasp.  Sometimes it's just that you have a particular clasp handy.

There are different ways to make it work and your choice will vary according to the type of clasp.  In this case I am using a slide bar loop clasp and a non-tapered end.  It's 31.5mm which is a little larger than the ones I generally use but it doesn't fit with a precise number of columns as exactly as the 26mm.  Not for delicas anyway, it fits size 11 beads more snuggly.  I wanted to keep the end to even count peyote so used 16 columns of delicas.  This leaves a little movement for the bar of the clasp but this doesn't bother me.

My piece of beadwork is 26 columns wide so I need to create the loop for the clasp five columns in on each side.  If you need full directions for a slide bar loop clasp then they can be found here as this tutorial gives condensed instructions for using this clasp.  This version has no taper to reduce the end and the pink lines show the position of the reduced end used to form the loop for the clasp.

Add a new working thread for attaching the loop so that if you ever need to replace the clasp, you can do so without disrupting the main beadwork.  Because you are continuing the existing peyote you need to make sure you begin in the right place.  The first bead of the first row of the loop will not necessarily be at the same side as you finished the main beadwork.  If you have an odd number of beads between the edge of the main beadwork and the pink line showing the position of the tab, then you will need to stitch through to the opposite side you finished on.

In the diagram below, the last bead of the main beadwork is highlighted in green with the end of the thread from this point shown in light green.  The new thread is shown in pink and you need to weave through to the bead highlighted red in order to begin the first row of the loop.

Add a new row of peyote, the first row of the loop, keeping between the two pink lines.  The last bead of the main beadwork that you go through is highlighted yellow.

Add the next row of beads.

Having added two rows for the loop, add around a further eleven rows.

Thread the loop beadwork through the clasp.

Start zipping the end of the loop to the main piece of beadwork going between the orange and the green beads.  If you need further detail on this process, please go to this tutorial which shows each stage in far more detail.

Finish off your thread in your normal way and then add the second part of the clasp to the other end in the same way.