Book Spotlight: Stitching Beaded Jewelry

Every beginner has to start somewhere, and if you want to get into beading, a no-nonsense guide is a great resource. Although many of us have picked up some of our favorite skills by learning from the more elaborate and complex projects in our favorite books and magazines, if you’ve never before put thread to beads, those can be a little vexing.

Learning how to master a basic bead weaving stitch by making a simple project is a logical and fun way to jump into beadwork. With Lesley Weiss’ book, new beaders can do just that. She covers most of the popular and essential techniques, each with it’s own easy project to complete.

The instructions are easy to follow, with lots of big, color photographs to guide beaders through the process of making necklace, bracelets and other fun designs. You can start with the basics, like ladder stitch rings and daisy chains. If you’re ready to move on to the heavy stuff, there are herringbone cuffs, and even rivoli bezels. There’s even a rare appearance by the flat spiral technique, which is always gorgeous, but often overlooked.

Over 15 pages of basics, tips and a look at materials, plus a handy glossary of beading terms, makes Stitching Beaded Jewelryone of the best all-in-one books for getting started with beadwork jewelry making. My favorite design is the Graduated Collar, which uses different sizes of beautiful pearls to give right angle weave a delightful curve. It’s a great example of how anyone can make a stunning piece of beadwork jewelry, using only the simplest of materials and techniques.

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading
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