Mark the position of the centre of the circlet. Start your thread in this spot, then bring the needle up in the same spot. Pick up a large central bead and slide it down to the surface. Pick up a smaller bead on the same thread to act as a stopper.

Take the needle back through the central bead, then pull the thread through so the stopper bead sits on the central bead.

Bring the needle up a small bead’s width away at the 6 o’clock position (directly below the central bead).

Pick up enough beads to encircle the central bead.

Take the needle down at the point where you came up. Pull the thread through.

Couch the encircling thread (see ‘Couching with a single needle (beadwork)’ for more information), at the 12 o’clock, 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock positions to finish. For larger circles, couch further points.

Couching with a single needle (beadwork)

For smaller circlets, mark the position of the centre of the circlet. Start your thread just to the side of this spot. Pick up your central bead and take the needle down a bead’s width away.

Bring the needle up at the 6 o’clock position and thread on enough petite beads to encircle the central bead. Take the needle back down at the 6 o’clock position.

Couch the encircling thread at the 12 o’clock, 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock positions to finish.