Okay the bead manta post got a lot more attention than I thought it would and I’ve seen a lot of people asking how to make a friend of their own! So I’m putting together a how-to post, for your manta-making enjoyment. :)
You may be familiar with beaded lizards like this one! I made my manta friend using the same concepts, with a few tweaks.
First, you’re going to need some beads and string, as well as something to cut with! The sizes of these don’t really matter (as the pattern will scale up or down), but the beads should be large enough to fit the chosen string through it several times.
To make a manta with the same proportions as mine, you will need at least 68 white beads, and 19 yellow beads. In addition, my manta uses 5 cream colored beads, but you can substitute white for these if you would like. (If you would like a colorful “eye” for your manta, save two beads of the desired color as well!)
Okay! Now the actual creating! Lay your beads out in a manta shape like so! Make sure to keep your beads in rows, as you’ll be needing those rows later.
Cut a length of string! For a manta made from standard plastic pony beads, I used about 5 feet of string. Make sure you have some extra, as we will be needing more string later. If you have smaller beads, feel free to use less! If you run out of string partway through, never fear! You can tie additional string onto the ends of your original string. Just be sure to tie it tightly!
Thread your string through the first row of four beads in the pattern. Try to center them on your string: this can be done by holding up the two string ends as the same level and letting the beads slide to the middle.
Now thread the next row of beads onto either side of the string. be careful not to let them get mixed up with the first row!
Thread the other half of the string through the second row of beads, from the opposite direction that you threaded the first half of the string. The two string halves should switch sides!
Pull the strings somewhat tight, but leave them a little bit lose, as we will need to work with these rows of beads again later.
Continue stringing and crossing rows of beads. Try to keep your manta laying flat, as this will help keep some of the longer rows from getting tangled.
When you’ve strung all of your rows of beads, your manta should look like this!
Tie a knot at the end of the manta’s tail, to prevent the beads from coming undone! Make sure to double or triple knot it for safety. You can also cut the extra string ends short here!
You now have a manta! But… Their middle rows of beads keep getting tangled? They’re just so long…
Wide bead creatures are often prone to this issue. However, we have a solution for that! Untangle your manta friend and lay them out flat, then cut a second length of string. This string can be a bit shorter than the first, but should still be fairly long.
Carefully thread your new string through the first row of beads of your manta, the row of four.
Then, thread the string though the middle three beads of the second row, the same way you threaded all of the beads originally.
Continue stringing middle beads. The middle four of the third row should be strung; the middle three of the fourth and fifth, the middle four of the sixth, the middle three of the seventh, the middle two of the eighth, and the middle one of the ninth.
Once you thread the ninth row’s middle, you can knot off your string once again, and cut the ends short. Be careful not to cut the other string!
Aaaand… you’re done! You have made one (1) friend. Enjoy! :D
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