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The basic sieve ring should be the easiest to decorate but it can be quite a challenge. Try these ideas using beads or sew on buttons, ribbons or fabric decorations.

Using a Sieve Ring Shank

Quick and Clever Ring (left)This ring has been made by very simply binding a casting (MB857) to the front with 0.2mm soft silver wire and setting it with tanzanite and crystal clear chatons. The casting is reasonably pliable and can be curved around the front of the ring to make it �t.

Pretty in Pink Ring (right)Take 30cm of 0.2mm soft silver wire and bind it �rmly to the ring shank. You now need to bind the 5 x 4mm CCR418 argentum crystal round beads and 4 x 4mm CCR415 pale pink crystal round beads alternately along the length using the wire. Finish the wire o� neatly and put the end in one of the beads so that there are no sharp ends to scratch the skin.

Ruby and Diamond Ring (left)A = RC011 size 10 SL seed beads; B= CCR421 4mm half silver round; C = RC124 sixe 10 SL Red seed beads; D = CCR416 4mm siam round.

Unlike the two rings above, this ring has been decorated by sewing the beads on using Nymo thread. Take 80cm of white Nymo thread, bring both ends together and knot them so that the thread is double through the needle. Do the same with a length of red thread on another needle.To keep the pattern working nice and closely you will work both threads at the same time. Attach the white thread to the ring as per the instructions on the Making Rings technique sheet. Thread on 3A to cover one end of the sieve front - the sequences of seed beads on the ring are all attached so that they make a bar across the width of the ring front. Bring the needle back through, then up again to pick up 1B, then down and back up to pick up 3A in a bar across the width of the ring like the �rst 3A. Do not remove the white thread, leave it attached, but now attach the red thread to the ring. Now attach a bar of 3C, followed by 1D, and then another bar of 3C. Change to the white thread and attach 3A, 1B, 3A, then change to the red thread again and attach 3C, 1D, 3C. The decorations should sit closely together in a bar across the ring front. Finsih your threads o� neatly and secure with nail polish or clear glue to make the threads durable.

We have used white Nymo for the clear and silver beads, red for the red beads, you may choose to use a neutral thread for all of the beads if you prefer.

Tanzanite Temptation (right)Ingredients - 5 x black size 10 seed beads RC708 (A); 2 x 4mm amethyst crystal rounds CCR413 (B); 2 x FGT613 6mm twisted amethyst beads (C); 1 x CCR813 amethyst cut crystal round (D).Purple Nymo.The key to this ring is getting the spacing right. The 8mm bead (D) should sit right in the centre so it is easiest to attach this bead �rst to help get the best �nal e�ect on the ring.Take 80cm nymo through your needle and bring the ends together and tie them so the thread is double on the needle. Attach the thread to the centre of the ring as per the instructions on the Making Rings technique sheet. Thread on 1D, 1A. Turn the needle and bring it back down the D bead and through the ring, using the A bead to anchor the thread. Make sure the D bead is central, then bring the threadup through the sieve holes not immediately adjacent on one side. Now take the thread up to the front of the ring and thread 1C, 1A. Bring the needle back down the C bead and out through the sieve using the A bead as an anchor again. Now, skipping the adjacent sieve holes again, go up through the next hole to the front of the ring and thread on 1B, 1A. Anchor as before and repeat the sequence on the other side of the ring. Finish your threads neatly and secure with nail polish or clear glue to make the threads durable.

FN306 Sieve

Ring Shank

Tumbling Treasures (left)This is a freeform sewn ring. It uses a mix of purple ab seeds RC325, frost topaz seeds RC206, 3 x black 4mm black crystal round beads CCR403 and 2 x 6mm amethyst crystal round beads CCR613.For this ring you need a combination of careful planning and gay abandon!

Take 1m nymo through your needle and bring the ends together and tie them so the thread is double on the needle. Attach the thread to the centre of the ring as per the instructions on the Making Rings technique sheet. Take the needle up through one of the end holes in the ring and thread on 3-6 seed beads, bring the needle down the closest suitable hole in the ring. Come back up through another hole, thread on 2, 5 or 7 seed beads and again bring the needle back down through another hole. Continue working back and forth across the ring using varying numbers and combinations of seed beads and incorporate the crystal beads into the sequences in your �nal layer so they sit at the front of the decoration.Finish your threads neatly and secure with nail polish or clear glue to make the threads durable.