Book Spotlight: Beading on Fabric

The art of bead embroidery is similar in many ways to both on and off-loom beadwork. All you need is some thread and beads, and an idea. The only real difference is that beads are sewn to a base, instead of to each other.

Bead embroidery can be used for many different types of projects, including jewelry, home décor items like pillows and curtains, wall art, and clothing for dolls or people. The techniques used can vary by the materials, and the results are always stunning.

Of all the beading resources I’ve read that cover these techniques, Beading on Fabric by Larkin Jean Van Horn is by far the best. It covers all of the basics and more, providing plenty of inspiration for anyone who loves to create with beads.

The Tools and Materials chapter begins with a thorough description of fabrics in three categories: heavyweight, medium-weight and lightweight. Common fabric types that artists may want to use are recommended for each type – leather, wool, cotton and silk are just a few. Interfacings and backings also get a recommendation for some types of projects.

Then it’s on to threads, needles, glue and scissors. Larkin also provides plenty of information about working on embroidery hoops and frames, storing beads and creating a comfortable work space. Beads get a chapter all their own, with 18 pages of descriptions, full color photographs, and beautiful example projects to show off what beads and fabric can do together.

The Getting Started section is a fantastic read, essential for the beginner. The tips or “rules” of bead embroidery can help even newbies understand the basics of this beautiful art form, and jump into projects with confidence.

Beading on Fabric provides diagrams and step by step instructions for 10 different embroidery stitch styles, plus fringe techniques that range from simple strands to complex netting. And no beading book would be complete without a section on incorporating and finishing cabochons. Larkin’s cabochon instructions are incredibly thorough and easy to follow.

With a final chapter of helpful tips on painting fabric and creating frames, this book covers just about everything you need to know about getting started with bead embroidery. The project gallery is so inspiring, you might be tempted to start looking around for pretty fabrics wherever you go.

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading
Larkin Jean Van Horn and Interweave Press
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Favorite Beads: Agate

Today my guest, Scotti Cohn, of Jewelry by Scotti, shares ideas for using her favorite semi-precious stones.

Inspirational Beading: What is your all-time favorite bead? Why do you like them?

Scotti: I love beads made of agate, especially crazy-lace agate (also known as Mexican agate). Crazy lace agate is a cryptocrystalline quartz found in Mexico. I like agates because the stones give a feeling of being connected to the earth, and the "crazy lace" patterns are lively and bright.

Inspirational Beading: What is your favorite technique or method to use them?

Scotti: I like to string them on Soft Flex jewelry wire to make necklaces or bracelets. I also make some of them into pendants and earrings.

Inspirational Beading: Of all the creations you’ve made with these beads, which one is your favorite?

Scotti: My favorite creation so far using crazy lace agate is a necklace and earring set I called Roses and Lace. It sold within a day or two after I put it up for sale. My favorite creation so far using another type of agate is a necklace and earring set I called Cranberries and Clouds. That set used gray Brazil agate.

Inspirational Beading: Do you have any tips for making the most of these beads?

Scotti: Accent them with a bit of color but don't try to jazz them up too much. They are solid, basic stones that are quite attractive without a lot of fancy stuff all over them.

Inspirational Beading: What is your favorite bead or material to pair these with?

Scotti: I like to pair them with small, solid-color beads and silver accents and spacers. In Roses and Lace I used rose quartz and rhondite, and in Cranberries and Clouds I used red coral.

Inspirational Beading: If you were stranded on the moon, and you could have only one kind of bead with you, would you choose these?

Scotti: Yes. Agates are versatile and can express many different moods and tones -- and crazy lace agates can be both elegant and entertaining.

Inspirational Beading: In your opinion, what is the best source for these beads?

Scotti: I purchase agate and crazy lace agate from various sources, including my local bead shop. I also use Art Beads, Fusion Beads, Fire Mountain, and other online sources.

You can see even more jewelry creations and inspiration at Jewelry by Scotti.

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading and Jewelry by Scotti
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A Bracelet a Week: Jewel Tones

This month’s beading tutorial was a little sneak peak at bracelet #4. I made a whole bunch of tiny peyote tube beads in assorted colors for a fun little ladder stitch bracelet.

My Necklace a Day challenge helped me make a big dent in my bead stash as I geared up for year-end inventory. Even though I’m all done counting stock, I still wanted to move out some older supplies. I was in the mood to use up the last of my cat’s eye rectangles, so I put them on deck for this week’s bracelet.

I didn’t want to use them for an ice-inspired design, which seemed a bit too obvious, so I tried to think of different a way to compliment them. As I was pondering, they started to remind me of the gemstone beads used in leather wrap bracelets. So, I went through my seed bead stash and selected colors that would look good with white, and that would resemble semi-precious stones.

I ended up with a palette of color lined wisteria, sea foam, jet, and gold lined amber. After all of the tube beads were complete, I stitched them to the rectangles, and added a button and square stitch trim. The bracelet turned out almost exactly as I had hoped. What a great way to finish the first month of the challenge!

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading
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Collections: Right Angles

The question for this week’s tutorial giveaway was “Which beading technique have you yet to try or master?”. I think this has been one of my favorite entry questions so far. Everyone has a technique or stitch that either won’t come together for them, or that they avoid altogether. Mine is African helix, but I put tackling it on my list of beading resolutions this year.

The winner of the Circle Pendant tutorial giveaway is Robbie of Robbie’s Paw Prints and the fabulous Bead Journal Project. Like Robbie, most of the entries mentioned right angle weave as a tough stitch to crack. But once you learn it, it can become an essential element in your beading repertoire.

Congratulations to Robbie, and thank you so much to everyone who stopped by and entered the giveaway! All that talk about right angle weave inspired me to finally finish a tutorial that I’ve been working on for months.

The secret behind my beaded chain link necklaces is now available in a bracelet project - fully adaptable to any length you desire! The technique is simple right angle weave, which is then zipped into sturdy, chunky rings. It’s a time consuming stitch, but so much fun.

Keep on beading!

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading
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Beading Tutorials: Peyote Tube Beads

Making beaded beads is a skill that most bead weavers hope to develop. There’s something so exciting about creating your own unique components using your favorite beads. The easiest and most logical place to start is with peyote tube beads.

These simple and versatile beaded beads are very easy to make once you get the hang of flat peyote stitch. The best thing about them is that you can adjust the size of your beads simply by increasing the number of peyote rows and columns. They are great for mixed media designs that use wide cords and fibers, like hemp macramé.

To make a basic peyote tube, start by weaving a panel of even-count peyote:

Cut a comfortable length of beading thread, and string on a stop bead, leaving a 6 inch tail. Stitch up through the bead again and pull the thread tight to lock the bead in place. Peyote stitch relies on a sturdy stop bead, so if it’s too slippery, try adding a second stitch.

Pick up an even number of seed beads, and slide them down to the stop bead. These beads will make up the length of your peyote tube.

Flip the thread so that the stop bead is facing away from you. Pick up one seed bead. With your off hand, hold the first strand of beads gently with your thumb and forefinger, with just enough room to needle through.

Skip over the last bead strung, and stitch through the next bead in the strand. Gently pull the thread snug, while holding the beadwork, until the new bead clicks into place. Your bead strand should now have a little ‘foot’ of two beads, side by side.

Pick up one seed bead. Skip the next bead in the stack, and stitch through the following bead. Pull the thread snug. Continue adding one bead at a time to every other base bead, until you exit the other end of the stack. Don’t worry if the beadwork seems to be curving a bit. It will straighten out as you complete the next two rows.

Flip the beadwork again, so both threads are facing you. Pick up one seed bead. Stitch up through the first raised bead - the last bead added in the previous row. Pull the thread snug, so the new bead clicks into place.

Continue adding a new bead between each raised bead, and exit from the other side of the beadwork. Add each new row with the same method, until your panel has reached the desired width. Periodically roll up the sides of the panel to see how wide your beaded bead is.

The sides of the panel must be even to continue. Your peyote strip is finished when the working thread exits from the opposite side as the tail thread.

To zip up the sides of the panel, hold the beadwork in your off hand, with the working thread facing your stitching hand. Gently fold up the sides of the panel so that the edges meet. You should be able to see how the “up” beads alternate on either side, like interlocking teeth.

Stitch through the first raised bead on the opposite side of the panel as the working thread, and needle through the following raised bead on the first side. Gently pull the thread snug.

This zipping motion follows the same thread path as your previous stitches, but instead of using loose beads, you are using those already in the beadwork.

Continue this zig-zag motion across the gap in the tube, two beads at a time, until you exit from the opposite end.

Flip the tube so that the threads are facing you. You should be able to see the gap between the last beads in the zipped rows. Stitch up through the bead next to your thread to close this gap, and retrace the thread path along the bead tube.

Weave in both threads, and trim them as close to the beadwork as possible.
Now you have a peyote beaded bead!

Peyote tubes can be made with any bead you would normally weave with. Both 11/o seed beads and Delicas can make fantastic tube beads. Try experimenting with different patterns and colors to make your own unique components.

Happy beading!

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading
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