• #2 bugles (see gauge for amount)
• 1 medium twisted wire needle
• 1 spool YLI Jean Stitch thread (100% polyester thread,) or Coats Topstitching thread, (polyester/cotton covering found at fabric stores)
• 1 steel crochet hook, size American 9 (1.40mm) medium, 7 (1.65mm) if you work tight and 11(1.10mm) if you work loose.
• #7 or #8 embroidery needle (fits over the thread you use)
• 20 size 11/0 beads (only with button and loop closure)

Terms
(American single crochet stitch term = English double crochet stitch)

• bsc bead single crochet stitch, bugles are the bead in this case
• sc single crochet stitch

Gauge
2 yds of strung bugles equals 7˝" bead crocheted rope when crocheting with 5 bugles in each round of rope using Jean Stitch thread, thickness between Cebelia 30 and DMC 12 pearl cotton. More or less bugles per round will change the gauge.

Decide on rope length and compute amount of bugles you will need.. Most bead stores carry #2 bugles. Use a medium twisted wire needle to string the bugles.

Crochet Rounds for Bugle Rope

• Ch10 and join with sl st to form a ring
• 1sl st in each st around
• *1bsc (bugle) in 1 st, 1sc in the next stitch* rep from * number of times required for length. Alternate bsc and sc stitches, work in a spiral, 10 sts in each round. Fasten off when finished.

Finishing Touches

When you have the desired length, decide whether to make the rope continuous or add a button and loop closure. For a continuous rope, thread a needle on one of the loose thread at one end of the rope. Take the needle directly into a stitch on the opposite rope end, then back through to the first side, continue around to close the rope. Stitch the excess through the rope piece, then do the same with the other loose thread on the rope end. Cut off excess. Some of the bugles may stick out more than you like. Use a sewing needle and more thread to stitch into the rope and then next to the thread holding the bugle stitch down until the bugle sets better. If you are using a button and loop closure, make a few chains on one end with or without beads included and fasten off. Thread the needle and stitch the button to that end. Make enough chains on the other rope end to go around the button and back into the rope end. You can add beads to the loop with single crochet stitches for more embellishment. Cut off excess thread.

Options
Make other ropes with different combinations such as 4, 6, 8 and 12 in the round and a bugle in every other stitch. The bracelet is worked with 8 in the round, 4 bugles in each round. The short rope piece is 12 in the round, 6 bugles in each round. The bugles were strung in two colors, alternating colors to make stripes on the piece. The long rope necklace with embellished beads is worked 10 in the round and 5 bugles in each round. Notice how the bugles on the bracelet are very close together and form nice uniform spiral shapes. These are newer bugles from Czechoslovakia and more uniform. The long rope of pewter colored bugles are very old, about 1890, and not very uniform. Even after being culled, they twist and distort the shape. What makes this rope very attractive is the thread showing. I used black thread and it sticks out between the bugles, the contrast of the pewter shade and black enhances the effect. Notice how the bugle section next to the small beaded bead is more closed and the thread does not show as much. This section was worked with 12 in the round, 6 bugles around to show the different between that and the 10 in the round. The bugles are closer together in a 12 round than they are in a 10 round. This is the nature of beads added to crochet, they can be the same beads or bugles and yet vary in appearance depending on the number placed in a round, with which yarnover and in which stitch on the rope. I increased next to the larger beaded bead just for experimentation. Increasing and decreasing with bugles offers smooth transitions.