Sugar Skull Pendant (Brick Stitch) — 10/0 PermaLux Version

This cheerful sugar skull brick‑stitch pendant is adapted from a Preciosa Ornela project by Helena Chmelíková. Our edition swaps the original 8/0 beads for 10/0 PRECIOSA PermaLux for a crisper, smaller‑scale finish perfect for pendants or oversized earrings.

Materials & Tools

• PRECIOSA Rocailles 10/0 — PermaLux finish, assorted colors (white, greys, violets, pinks, reds, yellows, blue, teal, emerald, brown). One 25g tube per color is plenty. 
• 0.11 mm nylon beading thread (white/ivory S‑Lon or similar)
• Thin beading needle (size 10–12)
• 4–5 mm thin rings (to hang the pendant)
• 1 mm waxed cord (or chain) for the necklace
• Tools scissors; flat‑nose pliers; ruler

Difficulty: ●●○   Technique: brick stitch (columns)   Time: ~2–3 hours

Step‑by‑Step

1. Start with the central column. Cut ~1.5 m of thread. Tie the thread to your needle and string the central column per the color chart (see the layout download). Position the beads at the middle of the thread.
2. Brick stitch up the column. Working from the lower grey bead to the top grey bead, pass through each bead using brick stitch so the column sits straight. Tie two small knots under the top bead, then weave the thread through the upper row to hide knots.
3. Add columns left and right. Continue by building the 1st column to the left of center, then the 1st to the right, following the chart. Keep the beads aligned and tension even.
4. Edge logic (shorter vs. longer columns). If the next column is shorter, first secure two beads at the top edge, stepping down to meet the previous column. If it’s longer, add extra beads at the bottom/edge so the tops align neatly. (See A–E edge method in the PDF.)
5. Work outward. Finish columns 2–6 on each side. Leave 15–20 cm tails on any threads you’ll need to continue later; you can add new thread as needed and weave tails into nearby beads for a tidy back.
6. Complete the shape. Build columns 7–15 to finish the skull contour and details (flowers, eyes, cheek dots). Tie off and sew all thread tails into the beadwork.
7. Hang it. Add thin rings through the top grey bead opening (just before the forehead arch). Add extra rings for movement, then string onto cord or chain.
8. Adjustable cord (optional). Tie sliding knots on both sides of the cord for an easy adjustable length.

Variations

• Earrings: stop after a smaller portion of the chart for matching Sugar Skull earrings; attach to ear wires with jump rings.
• Palette swap: try black background with neon accents for extra Halloween drama.
• Border options: edge‑stitch a final round in a single color to frame the skull.