Daily Blogs : Bead Crochet

Bead Crochet: It's a Well Done Experience

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 07:00:00 GMT

From Jennifer: Bead crochet was, without a doubt, one of the most difficult beading techniques that I ever learned. But once I mastered it, bead crochet quickly became a source of inspiration and a great way to give my beady brain a well-deserved break between bead-weaving projects. Today, I'm thrilled to introduce to you the mother-daughter team of Bert and Dana Freed, who have turned their passion for bead crochet into a successful business!

We are both lifelong knitters, crocheters, and needlepointers. These passions for crafting were passed down through our family from mother to daughter, but our experience with beading was different; we began bead-weaving with seed beads in 1999, and found that we really enjoyed learning peyote Stitch, right-angle weave, and other beading stitches. When we learned bead crochet several years later, we knew we had both found our true passion, and together, we pushed the limits of what could be done with bead crochet.

The technique is the perfect hybrid of all our beading interests, incorporating beads, fiber, and a crochet hook to create a product that is three-dimensional and flexible. Unlike other beading techniques and beading projects, bead crochet is also portable: once you have strung your beads, you can take your bead crochet project anywhere without fear of losing beads. Whether it's a short subway ride or a long trip on an airplane, we are never on the move without a craft in hand.

Once we learned the basics of bead crochet, we were starving for more. Unfortunately, it seems the technique has a bit of a reputation for being difficult -- we cannot tell you how often we have heard: "Oh, I tried to learn that but couldn't!" We found that there was less information about bead crochet available than we had hoped when we started learning bead crochet, but this turned into something good: it forced us to get creative, challenge ourselves, and see what we could discover on our own. While we were inspired by other bead crochet artists and admired their knowledge and expertise, it was important to us to use bead crochet in a different way, one that echoed our own voices and aesthetic. We are crazy for color, and the endless combinations of beads and thread really keep us on our toes.

We are as passionate about sharing what we know as we are about the technique itself. It is our hope that, through teaching and our book, Bead Crochet Jewelry, we will help all those who want to learn and master the technique of bead crochet!

Are you brave enough to try something new with your bead crochet projects? Check out The Beaded Edge 2. You'll find eighteen bead crochet patterns that can be used as edgings for accessories, clothing, and even as beautiful, delicate bead crochet jewelry. If you haven't grabbed your copy yet, take advantage of the big savings during the Interweave Spring Clearance Event and save 70% on your copy of The Beaded Edge 2.

Have you mastered bead crochet yet? What tips and advice do you have for someone who struggles with this fabulous and versatile beading technique? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your expertise with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Bert Rachel Freed and Dana Elizabeth Freed are the mother-daughter team of Well Done Experience. They sell their finished bead crochet jewelry at galleries both in New York City and overseas. You can find out more about them, their work, and their products at Chicken and Egg Designs (finished high-end jewelry) and Well Done Experience.

Boring Bead Crochet?

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 08:00:00 GMT

My least favorite part of bead crochet has always been stringing all those seed beads on the thread before I start to crochet. There's just no getting around it -- no matter what I try, it always feels like a chore to me.

Thankfully, bead crochet expert Judith Bertoglio-Giffin understands my pain. I asked her if she had any tips for getting my seed beads strung on my crochet thread for bead crochet, and she had some great advice, which I am happy to pass on to anyone getting started with bead crochet!

For me, stringing beads is the most boring job in bead crochet! But there are ways to make it easier, or at least, to take the pain out of stringing beads before you start your bead crochet project.

Stringing Beads for Bead Crochet

If you aren't doing a pattern in your bead crochet, a bead spinner is the only way to go. It will work with different size seed beads, like you'd find in a nice cup of bead soup, and it'll do the job quickly. It's great for bead crochet with wire, as well.

For any pattern work in bead crochet where you have to count the beads, a short big eye needle or a twisted wire needle works well with seed beads in size 11^o and larger. If you're using smaller beads, like size 15^o seed beads, Tulip now offers large-eye, twisted wire needles that are perfect for the job of stringing beads onto your crochet thread.

Check Your Pattern Before Starting to Crochet

When I'm stringing patterns for my bead crochet, I string little bits of paper between repeats to tell where I am. This works well when I need to count multiples of a repeat, and it's a godsend when I have a stringing error because I can go back to a known point to fix it.

To check my patterns, the best idea I've come across is to write down the stringing table, string a complete repeat, and attach it to an index card. Then you can hold your strung work up to the card and quickly check it for accuracy. and attaches it to an index card. File the pattern and strung section on the index card for future work with that pattern.

Yes, You CAN Add More Thread to Your Bead Crochet Project

Contrary to what many bead crocheters are told, there is no reason in the world to string more than 36" to 40" of beads at one time. Pushing them down the thread frays your crochet thread and is a nuisance. String your longer ropes in sections and just add in thread. (I have a great free tutorial available on my website that shows you how to securely add new thread to your bead crochet projects so that you don't have to struggle with long sections of seed beads and worn out crochet thread!)

I love these tips from Judith! No longer will I be intimidated by long, unwieldy lengths of seed beads on my bead crochet thread. This will be the year I learn how to add new thread to my bead crochet projects so that I can spend more time enjoying the technique of bead crochet and less time untangling my crochet thread.

If you're looking to do something a little different with your bead crochet in 2013, you can't miss out on this special bundle of The Beaded Edge and The Beaded Edge 2. Each volume is full of beautiful, inspiring bead crochet designs that can be used for beaded jewelry, home decor projects, or just to add some beads to your favorite outfits and accessories. Get your bundle of The Beaded Edge and The Beaded Edge 2 at a special price and start stringing those beads for bead crochet!

Is bead crochet one of the things that you want to learn in 2013? After reading these inspiring tips from Judith, I'm certainly ready to break out the crochet hooks again!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

After 35 years of raising a family and working in corporate America, bead artist Judith Bertoglio-Giffin now splits her time between Arizona and rural New Hampshire. She fell in love with bead crochet back in 1999, and writes, designs, and teaches extensively throughout the year. When she's not cooking up brilliant bead crochet designs, Judith indulges in a little freeform peyote stitch. You can find great bead crochet resources on her website, Bead Line Studios; her blog; and find great bead crochet supplies for sale in her Etsy shop, BeadLine.

Express Yourself With Bead Crochet

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT


	*Toni Rexroat is the editor of* Crochet Me

A note from Jennifer: Today's guest blogger is our own Toni Rexroat from Crochet Me. Toni loves how bead crochet edgings allow us to express ourselves, and they're certainly one one of my favorite projects. Bead crochet edgings are so versatile -- they can be used to embellish clothing or they can be used on their own for delicate bead crochet jewelry. Enjoy this free bead crochet pattern from The Beaded Edge and use your bead crochet to express your own unique sense of style!


Bead crochet edging for a cozy winter shawl from The Beaded Edge.

In this DIY age, fashion has become an outlet for self-expression. As crocheters, we craft our own garments and accessories, fully guiding the look of the finished project, from yarn color to fit. The resulting piece communicates who we are. Through crochet, we also transform purchased clothing, embellishing a mass-market product with unique flowers, appliqué, or edgings and making it a one-of-a-kind ensemble piece.

Embellishing for self-expression is not a new idea. Generations of women in diverse cultures have used crochet edgings to communicate emotions or decorate their clothing and accessories.

In Turkey these decorative edgings are called "oya" and are used to decorate beautiful scarves, which are often worn for traditional or religious occasions. A beautiful and touching collection of traditional Turkish edgings are compiled in The Beaded Edge.

Beaded crochet edgings are an easy and quick way to infuse a garment with your personality. Play with thread color and bead type to make a top a little bit steampunk or add a touch of sophistication.

To get you started I will share with you one of my favorite beaded crochet edgings, Lace Flower, from The Beaded Edge. So go ahead; choose your favorite thread and beads and use this traditional Turkish edging to express yourself.


	Bead crochet embellishment for a skirt from The Beaded Edge 2.

Do you love bead crochet? Pick up both The Beaded Edge and The Beaded Edge 2 and get ready to be inspired! Each book is packed full of lovely bead crochet patterns that you can use to make bead crochet jewelry, add a special touch to your favorite accessories, create bead crafts and home decor, or use it to add a personal feeling to special gifts. (The holidays are right around the corner, you know!)

Pick up both books in this special bundle in the Beading Daily Shop and save 20%. Or, if you already have The Beaded Edge, make sure you check out The Beaded Edge 2 and see even more wonderful ways to personalize your favorite clothes and accessories!

And one more reminder -- October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and 30% of all proceeds from the Beading Daily Shop (including The Beaded Edge and The Beaded Edge 2 bundle) will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Lovely, Lacy, Bead Crochet Jewelry

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 07:00:00 GMT

One of the first crafts I learned from my mother was how to crochet, and even if I didn't quite get the hang of bead crochet right away, it is now one of my favorite beading techniques for making beaded ropes.

But you can do so much more with bead crochet than just make jewelry! Even if you're not a fan of tapestry bead crochet (making flat pieces of bead crochet as opposed to making tubular bead crochet ropes), you can still create lovely, lacy bead crochet edgings for clothing and home accessories that pull double-duty as fabulous jewelry!

Beaded edgings are a hot trend in fashion these days, and making your own bead crochet edgings for your favorite t-shirts and jeans is a great way to add your own personal flair to your wardrobe, too! Mix up your bead colors, thread colors, or bead shapes to express your personality and tastes.

But say you get about seven inches into your bead crochet edging and decide you want to quit? No problem! Add a button clasp or a magnetic clasp, and you have a fabulous bead crochet bracelet. On the other hand, you might get started making a bead crochet edging for you favorite t-shirt and find that you enjoy it so much, you just want to keep on crocheting! No worries, there, either -- make it long enough to slip over your head or leave the ends unfinished for a delicate and feminine bead crochet lariat.

Bead crochet edgings can be used for just about anything you can think of -- tote bags, hats, scarves, handkerchiefs, and even pillows! If you can't get enough beads in your life and want to explore some new bead crochet projects, then we've got the book for you.

The Beaded Edge 2 has twenty-one beautiful bead crochet edging projects that can be used for whatever your imagination can dream up. Each bead crochet project is fully illustrated and has tips from the author for successful results. And even if you've never tried bead crochet before, you'll find beautifully illustrated step-by-step instructions for working the basic bead crochet stitches that you'll need to know to complete each project.

Pre-order your copy of The Beaded Edge 2 and give your bead crochet an edge!

Have you tried bead crochet yet? Do you have a question about bead crochet? Leave a comment or ask a question here on the Beading Daily blog and let's talk about bead crochet!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Four Favorite Bead Crochet Projects!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 07:00:00 GMT

I'm not sure who it was that first thought it might be a good idea to string some beads on yarn before crocheting with it, but whoever it was probably knew that they had stumbled onto something good. Bead crochet ropes are perfect for showing off your favorite art glass and ceramic beads, and making bead crochet jewelry is a fun way to show off your crochet skills!

In bead crochet, the beads are strung on your yarn or fiber before starting to crochet. Bead crochet ropes are soft and supple, and can be used either on their own with some fancy cones or end caps or with your favorite handmade art glass and ceramic beads. Tapestry bead crochet results in a flat piece of crochet that has been studded with beads, and can be used to make cuff style bracelets, brooches, necklaces, pendants, or bags.

We've selected four of our favorite beading projects that use bead crochet to get you started with this wonderful beading technique!

Make an easy bead crochet pin with Gwen Blakely Kinsler's Mexican Motif bead crochet pattern. Use Japanese cylinder beads and your favorite pearl cotton to create this bright and beautiful pin with bead crochet.
Beaded amulet bags will never go out of style, and Geraldine M. Rooke's Tapestry Crochet Amulet Bag looks just as stylish now as it would have ten years ago! The bold patterns of this bead crocheted amulet bag makes a beautiful pendant - and a handy place to stash your bead money.
Next, learn a new bead crochet technique with Lydia Borin's swag bead crochet tutorial and fun Swag Me bead crochet bracelet. You'll love the feeling of this beaded breacelet - it's a party for your wrist in bead crochet!
If you love to make bead crochet ropes, you'll love the article by Mary Libby Neiman, Lariats: Tie One On. You'll discover seven creative ways to show off your bead crochet ropes with these fun and fancy ideas for how to wear your favorite bead crochet ropes.

Finally, take a look at two of our favorite bead crochet blogs about ways to get started with bead crochet! Learn two ways to start your bead crochet ropes, and check out Jean Campbell's easy advice for getting started with bead crochet.

Whether you like to make long, undulating ropes of bead crochet or you prefer the technique of tapestry bead crochet, you'll find something in our bead crochet eBook to get you crocheting with beads.

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Happy Anniversary and a Giveaway!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 02 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

I can hardly believe it, but yesterday marked one year since I started at Beading Daily! It's been such an amazing year, and I've thoroughly enjoyed all the writing and beading that has gone along with it. Time flies when you're having fun, and I've been having a lot of fun interacting with beaders and artists all over the world.

And because I love my readers, I thought I'd round up the ten most popular blogs I've done on Beading Daily since I started last May. There's some great information here, and great comments from readers, too!

		Use Peyote Stitch and Herringbone to Make a Triangle-Shaped Bezel Once I discovered how much fun it was to stitch bezels around triangle-shaped cabochons, I just had to share! Handmade cabochons are so much fun to use in your beading projects, and being able to make a secure peyote stitch bezel for cabochons with an unusual shape can really let you explore more beaded jewelry design possibilities. These triangle shaped bezels work up fast, so have fun!

		Tips for Traveling with Your Beads Oh, yes, I try to take my beads with me everywhere I go! Whether you're going to your local beading group's get-together or traveling halfway around the world for a beading class with a master bead artist, it takes a little bit of planning to make sure that you bring everything you need. There are some great tips in this post for traveling with your beads because, really, you CAN take them with you.

		How Do You Start Your Bead Crochet Ropes? Bead crochet is one of those things that I really love to do, but just can't seem to find the time to do very often. If you struggle with starting your bead crochet ropes, there are two methods here for you to try. Just like anything else worth learning, there's rarely a one-size-fits-all approach to learning a new beading technique!

		The Peyote Stitch Patterns of Carol Dean Sharpe Carol Dean Sharpe's amazing peyote stitch beading patterns continue to be bestsellers in the beading world. For anyone who knows about her beautiful, graphic peyote stitch beading patterns, this is a wonderful interview where Carol shares how she got started designing beading patterns. If you haven't yet discovered Carol's peyote stitch cuff bracelet patterns, you're in for a wonderful treat!

		The Secret for Perfect Peyote Stitch Bezels? Brick Stitch! Brick stitch gets a bad rap, I think. It was the first beadweaving stitch that I taught myself when I first learned how to bead, and I still use it as a go-to beading stitch when I'm designing my own beaded jewelry. Brick stitch works in perfect harmony with peyote stitch to create secure, perfect-fitting bezels for all your favorite cabochons!

		What Do You Do With Leftover Beads? Huh? What are leftover beads, again? No, really, whenever you finish a project, chances are that you're left with a little pile of beads that aren't really enough to do anything with. Check out my suggestions, and some suggestions from readers, on what to do with your leftover beads so that they don't go to waste. (As if that would ever happen!)

		Four Fun Ideas for Making Beaded Earrings Beaded earrings are a huge favorite with beaders everywhere, for so many reasons. Beaded earrings usually work up pretty fast, they help you master new beading techniques, and beaded earrings make great gifts. Best of all, beaded earrings are perfect for beginners who are just learning how to bead because you can make spectacular looking earrings using very basic beading techniques!

		Wrapped Around Your Wrist: 6 Free Beaded Bracelet Patterns from Beading Daily One of the fun things I get to do here at Beading Daily is to put together collections of patterns into free eBooks for beaders to download, and this beaded bracelet eBook was a lot of fun to edit. Beaded bracelets are another fun beading project for beginners who are just learning how to bead for all the same reasons that we love beaded earrings. But the advantage of making and wearing a beaded bracelet is that you can look down at your beautiful beadwork on your wrist all day long!

		Readers Share: A Bounty of Brick Stitch Projects Well, this was by far the most popular blog post during my first year here at Beading Daily. Apparently, the readers and beaders of Beading Daily really, really love their brick stitch beading projects. Maybe brick stitch doesn't have such a bad rap, after all...

		Start With: A Simple Strip of Peyote Stitch It's amazing how a plain strip of peyote stitch can go from drab to fab with just a few little twists. We all know how versatile peyote stitch is, but even in its simplest form, it can still be a great way to make gorgeous beaded jewelry.

So now that we've had that little walk down memory lane, how about a giveaway? Leave a comment on this blog post telling me which blog you enjoyed the most in the last year on Beading Daily or tell me something you'd like to see me write about in the future. I'll choose two comments at random and the writer of those comments will each win a pack of five (5) assorted back issues of Beadwork magazine and Jewelry Stringing magazine! You have until Monday, May 7, 2012 at midnight EST to leave your comment. Good luck!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Making Mistakes: How to Correct Five Common Mistakes in Your Beadwork

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 02:00:00 GMT

When I was learning how to bead, I made loads of mistakes. Nobody's perfect, right? And that goes double for me, especially when it comes to my beading. Now that I've been beading for many, many years, I'd like to say that I make fewer mistakes. I'd like to say that, but I can't. Mistakes still happen, no matter how good you are at beading, but I've learned that it's not the mistakes you make when you're learning how to bead that matter -- it's how you correct them!


If you need to tear out some stitches, always remove your needle from your beading thread before ripping out stitches. Don't stitch back through the beadwork to undo your stitching!

Correcting your mistakes properly when you're learning how to bead can make all the difference between creating a durable piece of beadwork and creating a piece of beadwork that falls apart when you least expect it.

1. Splitting your beading thread. It doesn't seem like a big deal, particularly when you are learning how to bead, but splitting your thread can create a whole lot of problems with your beadwork. If you prefer to use nylon beading threads like Nymo or Silamide (and I still love my Nymo for bead embroidery!), you should always pay attention to avoid splitting your thread with your needle, even if you condition your beading thread before you start beading.

If you do split your thread, the best thing to do is to remove your beading stitches until you come to the place in the beadwork where the split thread occurred. Leave a thread tail long enough to weave in, trim your thread, and end it there. It's better to start a new thread than to continue weaving with a thread that's been weakened by a split. A split thread can show up weeks or months later as a hole in your precious beadwork!

2. Using the wrong color (or type or size) of bead. This was a biggie for me when I first started learning how to bead, and it still is to some extent. It happens to everyone, and sometimes you don't even notice it until you're finished with your beading project. To correct this mistake in beading, you always have the option of tearing out the beadwork, removing the bead, and replacing it with the correct bead.

If that's not an option, you can always just leave the bead in there and call it a Spirit Bead in the Native American tradition. (Native American beadwork usually contains one bead of the wrong color placed somewhere in the beadwork on purpose to remind of the fact that nothing made by human hands can ever be perfect!)

3. Removing a knot from your beading thread. Knots in your beading thread are just no fun at all. Knots in your beading thread are relatively easy to remove if you are using a gel-spun thread like Fireline or Wildfire, but can take a little extra effort if you're using a nylon thread like Nymo, Silamide or S-Lon.

To remove a knot from your beading thread, insert a beading needle or beading awl into the center of the knot and wiggle it until you feel the knot loosen. You can continue to work the knot loose with your beading awl or beading needle. When you discover a knot in your beading thread, never EVER yank on it! Pulling on the knot will only tighten it and make it even harder to remove the knot from your beading thread!

When loosening a knot in your beading thread, take care not to split your thread if you're using a nylon beading thread.


	If you need to break a bead to remove it from your beading project, don't grasp it around the middle with your pliers. You might also cut your stringing material or beading thread!


	To break a bead, grasp it around the outside edges and squeeze gently. Don't forget to wear your safety glasses to prevent glass from flying into your eyes!

4. How to properly break a bead. If you find that you need to remove a bead from your beadwork or from your bead crochet project, you can easily smash the bead with a pair of pliers and remove it. The trick to crushing a bead with a pair of pliers and not cutting your thread is all in which direction you break the bead. To avoid cutting your thread, position the pliers so that they are on the top and bottom outside edge of the bead, and then squeeze the pliers gently. Don't put the pliers around the center of the bead -- the crushing of the bead will most likely cut your thread as well!

5. Tearing out stitches. Most of us are familiar with "frog stitch", or "rip it, rip it" when we have to tear out a few stitches or a few rows of our beadwork. And did you know that there's a right way and a wrong way to tear out your beading stitches?

I used to bead with a woman who, once she had her beading needle threaded, would not remove it for any reason that did not include blood or fire. When she made a mistake in her bead-weaving, she would stitch back through the beads until she came to the mistake and then remove it. Unfortunately, this method for correcting mistakes in your beadwork can lead to split threads, broken beads, and knots in your beading thread.

Instead, it's always better to remove your needle from your beading thread and then gently pull out each of the beads and beading stitches until you reach the mistake. Yes, this means you have to thread your needle again, but in the long run, it means that your beadwork will be stronger and more durable.

Are you ready to make picture-perfect jewelry? Need some inspiration? Check out Bead Star 2011, now on sale in the Beading Daily Shop! Every year, the Bead Star competition draws some of today's most talented bead artist and jewelry makers, and our special issue Bead Star 2011 is a collection of the best entries. You'll find new beading and jewelry making techniques, great ideas for beaded jewelry and lots of inspiration for your own beaded jewelry designs. Get your copy of Bead Star 2011 and see just how brightly our 2011 Bead Stars shine!

What's your favorite tip for correcting your mistakes in your beadwork? Do you fix every single mistake in your beadwork, or do you just leave some alone? Leave a comment on the blog and share your thoughts with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Crochet Some Jewelry!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:00:00 GMT

I learned how to crochet when I was four or five years old. My mother and my grandmother had a seemingly endless supply of crochet hooks, yarn and ideas, and my sister and I grew up with a steady supply of warm, handmade crocheted sweaters, hats and vests.

When my sister and I first learned how to crochet, one of the first things we learned was, of course, chain stitch. When we felt lazy and didn't want to do anything but chain stitch, we would crochet jewelry for ourselves and spent many hours crocheting necklaces and bracelets out of colorful yarn and thread. It wasn't until many, many years later when I was taking beading classes at my local bead store that I learned how to do bead crochet by making bead crochet ropes. From making those bead crochet ropes, I started exploring other ways to make crocheted jewelry again, both with and without beads.

The first thing I tried to do was to crochet with wire. (This was before I realized that I wasn't very good at making wire jewelry.) My first pieces of crocheted wire jewelry were just a tangled mess of wire, but when I showed them to a silversmithing friend of mine, she quickly jumped on the idea and started making beautiful crocheted chains for her handmade silver jewelry using fine silver wire. Inspired by her pieces, I went back to my wire crochet projects, and found that when I included some freshwater pearls and crystals, my messy looking crocheted wire jewelry was actually pretty cool!

But of course, if you're not keen on working with wire to make crocheted jewelry, there are other ways to use crochet to make elegant jewelry. One of my favorite sellers on Etsy makes intricate and colorful crocheted jewelry out of cotton yarns and fibers that looks like it belongs on a high fashion runway. Think about a crocheted doily or your favorite crocheted lace -- the patterns in these adapt beautifully for making crocheted jewelry.

Even if you're a beginner at crochet and bead crochet, you can still make unique and stylish crocheted jewelry. And if you want to learn more about crochet, you definitely want to check out Crochet Me. You'll find free crochet patterns and eBooks, tutorials, a photo gallery and a forum full of folks who love to crochet!

So what kind of a crocheter are you? Do you stick to strictly bead crochet, or are you a cross-crafter who enjoys making crocheted accessories and clothing?

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

P.S. Check out some of these great crocheted jewelry projects from the Crochet Me Shop!



Victoria's Choker Necklace by Tracie Barrett	Tatiana's Earrings and Cuff by Robyn Chachula	Teardrop Necklace by Olga Buraya-Kefelian

Bead-weaving as Mindful Meditation - Can Bead-weaving Reduce Stress?

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 04:00:00 GMT

I've been interested in things such as yoga and meditation ever since I took a stress management class in college. (I tend to be wound rather tightly at times!) For years, I used writing as my primary practice when I was looking to do something meditative, but I always had some kind of craft project sitting around, too-knitting, crochet, jewelry making, or handmade papers and books.

When I started learning how to do beadweaving during my last two years of college, I felt like I had suddenly found the ideal craft for my stress-management needs. And when I got my copy of Carol Huber Cypher's Mastering Beadwork, I was absolutely tickled to see her referring to beadweaving as "mindful meditation" -that's exactly what it is for me!

And why not use beadweaving as meditation? Beads have been used for thousands of years to focus our intentions and our attention when praying. Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, and followers of many other religions have used beads as symbols of faith in their daily devotions. (There are even a number of us in the beading community who attend beadweaving workshops on Sundays and refer to it as "Bead Church"!) If there is one thing that most religions can find in common, it's their use of beads as a way to make their beliefs tangible.

Each off-loom beadweaving stitch has its own rhythm that feels like a meditation or a chant. Breathe in, stitch a bead, breathe out. That's probably why I turned to my beadweaving when I got home from the office after a hard day. Not only was it soothing to handle those shiny, beautiful little beads, but being able to sit down and focus on something else for an hour was the best way for me to set aside my problems and relax.

Learning how to do peyote stitch was really the first time I recognized the connection between beadweaving and meditation. As I started each new piece of peyote stitch, I repeated a little mantra in my head: "String one, skip one, pass through this one." And it worked! I still find myself repeating that little phrase when I start a piece of peyote stitch, and I have other little sayings that I use for right-angle weave, herringbone stitch, and square stitch. They remind me of the little mantras we chant at the end of yoga class when we're all feeling refreshed and relaxed.

Beadweaving also has a transformative quality to it that just seems like magic to me. It's like spinning straw into gold when you take a pile of seed beads and some beading thread and turn them into a stunning piece of beaded jewelry. So now I'm relaxed and happy, AND I have a knockout piece of jewelry to show off!

Are you ready to become a beadweaving master? Carol Huber Cypher's Mastering Beadwork covers fourteen essential off-loom beadweaving techniques, plus bead crochet basics. Whether you are a seasoned beadweaving artist or someone who is just starting to explore all that beadweaving has to offer, you'll want to have a copy of Mastering Beadwork handy for both reference and inspiration!

Make sure you take a few minutes to read our new Beadweaving Topic Page here on Beading Daily, too. You'll find great information about basic beadweaving materials and tools, handy tips and techniques, ideas for beadweaving projects, and a little background about each of your favorite off-loom beadweaving stitches.

How did you get started with beadweaving? What about bead-weaving keeps you coming back for more? Share your stories and your thoughts by leaving a comment!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Necklace Making: Five Ideas for Designing Beaded Necklaces

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 04:00:00 GMT

Necklace making is something that has always come easy for me. Even now, I find that my sketchbooks are full of more necklace designs than anything else, and I'm always finding inspiration for new designs everywhere.

My process for designing and making a beaded necklace depends on where I get my idea for the finished piece. Usually, a cabochon or other focal bead is the starting point for making my necklace, as I design around that. I'll draw my colors from the colors in the focal piece and then figure out what beading stitch or beading technique will be used for the rest of the piece.

But sometimes I sit down with the beads and I have no idea where to start. When my necklace making ideas dry up, there are a few things that I'll do to give my beady brain a little bit of a jump-start. Here are five ideas for necklace making when you need a little inspiration for a new beading project!


Try Dustin Wedekind's Right Angle Bezel if you are bored with making peyote stitch bezels for your cabochons and rivolis.

1. Bezel something. Take a crystal stone, a gemstone cabochon, a bottle cap filled with resin, an old Scrabble tile - you can stitch a beaded bezel around pretty much anything to turn it into a pendant for a beaded necklace. If you're bored with making peyote stitch bezels, try something different - use right-angle weave or herringbone stitch to create a unique beaded bezel, and play around with shaping your beaded bezels.


	Alkia Kalaida's Roped In Turkish crocheted beaded rope is a perfect example of how a simple beaded rope can be turned into a bold beaded necklace.

2. Make a beaded rope. Embellished or not, a great way to get your creativity flowing is to just sit and make a beaded rope. Start with a simple spiral rope, or try something new like bead crochet or a tubular variation of your favorite beading stitch. You can either use your beaded rope just as it is with no other embellishment, or add drop beads, daggers, glass flowers or a fabulous handmade focal bead!


Make a fast and fabulous beaded necklace like Perie Brown's Sophisticated Fringe necklace.

3. Beaded Fringe. You can't get much easier than this idea for beaded necklace making. String a length of beads, attach a clasp, and then attach a new thread in the center and start making beaded fringe! Fringe necklaces are fast and fun, depending on how much and what kind of fringe you want to use. Add gemstones for a more natural look, or use funky glass beads to accent your fringe. Try making strands of long, looped fringe for a thicker necklace.

4. Freeform beadwork. Freeform beadwork is an excellent way to make a unique necklace out of leftover bits of beadwork. Using leftover bits of beadwork for freeform beadwork is less intimidating than starting from scratch with just a pile of beads. It's also a great way to get your creative juices going as you think about ways to connect these pieces of beadwork into a necklace!

5. Make a beaded bead. If you're making a necklace that is primarily just strung beads and want to add a dash of beadweaving, stitch up a quick peyote beaded bead. You can string it on a headpin to make a dangle or slide it over a section of fine chain to be the focal point of your necklace. Making beaded beads is also a fabulous way to use up little bits of leftover seed beads!

Are you ready to get more creative with your jewelry-making projects? Do you love the Creative Jewelry special issues full of ideas for making great beaded jewelry? Now you can pre-order your CD collection of all seven issues of Creative Jewelry magazine! The CD is fully searchable and includes all the same great content as the print editions. (And since it's a CD, it takes up less space - more room for beads, please!)

How do you design your own beaded necklaces? Do you have a great necklace making tip for someone just starting out? Leave a comment and share your thoughts here on the blog!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Beads Plus Fibers Equals Fun!

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 03:00:00 GMT


My little Mirrix bead and tapestry loom is a far cry from the huge floor loom my mom had when I was a kid, but it makes weaving so much fun!

My mom had a floor loom for weaving fibers when I was a kid, and the thing was a monster. I can remember on more than one occasion we had to untangle the unfortunate cat who wandered into the warp threads. These days, I've been doing a little bit of weaving again, but on a much smaller Mirrix loom. Earlier this summer, Mirrix announced their plans for a Weave Along, and I signed right up for it. I had been looking for a project to do on the Mirrix that combined beads and tapestry, and the beaded tapestry cuff bracelet was the perfect project for the Weave Along, especially for a beginner like me!

First of all, I was excited that Mirrix offered a discount on the kit needed to make the cuff. Because I love using beading kits for learning new techniques and new beading projects, I was thrilled to discover that this kit had enough for two tapestry and bead cuff bracelets. The fibers and beads included in the kit were just so vibrant and beautiful, I couldn't help but smile as I unpacked the threads and beads as I prepared my loom.


	My finished bead and tapestry cuff is a total knockout! I love the colors and the textures of the beads mixed with the fibers!

It was great fun to follow along on the Mirrix blog and on their Facebook page, and I was surprised at how quickly this woven tapestry cuff worked up. It took me less than a week to get the actual weaving done, and I loved being able to see the photos on the blog that illustrated all of the different techniques that you could use with the fibers. Weaving the cuff was so soothing, and adding the beads every few rows was a great way to break up the colors and add a different kind of texture to the finished tapestry cuff.

I loved using the Mirrix loom to weave the cuff, and I love my finished cuff. (The second one is going to make a fabulous Christmas gift for someone!)

Are you ready to dive in and make your own tapestry and bead cuff? Check out Claudia Chase's segment on Beads Baubles and Jewels to watch exactly how to create one of these stunning fiber and bead cuff bracelets! You can download the original episode from the Beading Daily shop for great step-by-step directions on how to use the Mirrix loom and make your own bold bead and fiber cuff bracelet! You can also download other individual episodes of Beads Baubles and Jewels from the Beading Daily shop onto your desktop or laptop computer and learn about using cabochons, crystals charms and chain!

Have you ever done any bead or tapestry weaving on a loom? Do you prefer to work on a loom? Have you ever made one of the fabulous projects from the kits offered on the Mirrix Looms website? Leave a comment and share your thoughts and experiences here on the blog!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

P.S. Mirrix has two more great Weave Alongs scheduled for the rest of 2011 - a beaded purse and a colorful fiber tapestry purse. Also make sure to check back here soon to find out the details for the next set of Beading Daily Bead Alongs for the rest of 2011! (Did you know there are also Knit Alongs and Crochet Alongs on Knitting Daily and Crochet Me? Check 'em out!)

A Special Connection with Crochet Traditions Magazine

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 03:00:00 GMT

I come from a long line of crafters. When I was a kid, all of my sweaters, hats, scarves, and mittens were crocheted by my maternal grandmother, and all without a pattern! When my sister and I were kids, my mom, thinking she would keep us out of trouble, taught us how to do needlepoint, then how to crochet, and finally how to knit when she started taking lessons at a local yarn shop. She also bought us bags and bags of beads and buttons and sequins when she ordered her knitting and crochet supplies, and my sister and I quickly learned how to string these into colorful necklaces and bracelets. That was how I got bit by the beading bug, and thirty years later, here I am as the editor of Beading Daily.

It was my mom who encouraged me to send my very first original beading project to Beadwork magazine back in 2004. She had always held the Interweave family of magazines in the very highest respect, and I soon started following in her footsteps when my piece was accepted for publication in early 2005.

Over the years, Mom and I had talked about doing a series of bead crocheted and beadwoven bags based on vintage patterns from the turn of the twentieth century. But time and work and college and other responsibilities always led us to put off working on them. But we still talked about knitting and crochet and beadwork, and whenever Mom had a question about sourcing beads she would call me to find out where she might find a hard-to-locate product. When I was learning how to do bead crochet, I called her when I was absolutely stuck and ready to chuck my whole project out the window.

We started talking about the collaboration again in 2007 when I found out that I was pregnant with my son. My husband and I had decided that I would be a work-at-home mom after our son was born, and I was going to earn my income through my original beading designs and my finished beaded jewelry. But in July of 2008, Mom passed away after her health rapidly declined following a car accident earlier that year. I was devastated not only by her passing but also by the fact that we never got to work together on our collaboration.


	One of the many crocheted vests Mom made for me throughout high school and college. I still wear this one all the time!

Then on my very first day at Interweave, in my very first meeting, I was introduced to some of the other staff from Interweave Knits, Interweave Crochet, and PieceWork magazines, as well as Toni Rexroat, the editor of the online community Crochet Me. It was a real treat to finally get to meet and talk to Jeane Hutchins, the editor of PieceWork magazine, who remembered my mom fondly from her many submissions to the magazine. Jeane gave me a copy of a recent issue of PieceWork, in which the author of an article mentioned the article by Mom about restoring an antique lace tablecloth as her inspiration for the restoration of an antique crocheted lace scarf. I found out later that week that Toni was working on editing some of Mom's other past submissions for Crochet Traditions, a special issue that showcases projects in a historical and cultural context.

Mom would have been thrilled and honored to have her work included in this issue of Crochet Traditions - part of what she loved most about knitting and crochet was the rich and complex history of needlecraft, something that she instilled in me when I started my own explorations of beadwork and glass bead making.

Her articles in the newest Crochet Traditions include: A Shell-Pattern Bonnet for Baby; Ann Scott's Lace; and Repairing a Treasured Crocheted Tablecloth & Wheel Motifs, about how she painstakingly repaired her mother's crocheted lace tablecloth. You can find all of her articles, along with lots of other beautiful heirloom crochet projects, in the 2011 edition of Crochet Traditions.

Have you carried on with your own family traditions of crafting and needlework? Or have you started new traditions that you hope to pass down to your children? Share your stories and experiences here on the blog!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

The Peyote Stitch Patterns of Carol Dean Sharpe: Inspiration is Everywhere

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:33:00 GMT

A note from Jennifer: There are two kinds of beading pattern designers in this world: those who can create gorgeous flat peyote patterns and those who can't. Carol Dean Sharpe, owner of Sand Fibers, is definitely one of those who can. Carole's flat peyote stitch cuff bracelet patterns and finished bracelets have been purchased by bead artists like Marcia DeCoster and Diane Fitzgerald, and her collaborations with artists like Lisa Peters Art and Kristie Roeder of Artisan Clay are stunning in their simplicity and their beauty. Carol's amazing peyote stitch cuff bracelet designs range from fanciful depictions of restroom signs and Scotty dogs to bold abstract graphics and cuff bracelets that use cylinder beads and triangle beads to achieve amazing textures. Read on to see what Carol has to say about her design process, how she got her start in her wildly successful Etsy shop, and why she loves what she does.

In The Beginning: Seven years ago, I was a quilter. A quilter who thought including beads on her smaller art quilts would be a cool idea. At the same time I was toying with that thought, a friend of mine told me about a woman who gave private beading classes. We scheduled a class for ourselves and another friend, and so my first experience with beads was stringing a bracelet using jewelry wire, large glass beads, a metal clasp, and - yes! - crimp beads.

My first beads were gemstone chips, pearls, and a few seed beads to use as spacers. I did a lot of stringing. Because my favorite necklaces had always been multi strands of seed beads, I purchased a box filled with hanks of Czech 11^o seed beads from a vendor on eBay. I remember making a bowl of bead soup from all the different purples in that box and stringing (with needle and quilting thread) thousands of those beads onto precut strands.

My first square stitch cuff with hematite chip clasp

What I don't remember is what happened to all those strands, except that they never made it into a finished necklace - I had created my first beading UFO. (Un-Finished Object.) I do know that all the colors and finishes in that box mesmerized me and captured my heart. In researching seed beads online, I found out about off-loom beadweaving. My first beadwoven piece was a narrow square stitch bracelet in bronze metallic seed beads. My clasp consisted of a large hematite "chip" and a beaded loop. How very pleased I was with the results!

The first peyote stitch rope

I was back in my comfort zone using needle, thread and small little bits of color. My next project was a tubular peyote rope in a mix of crystal seeds lined in yellow and coral. (That was also the last peyote rope I made until I took a class with Diane Fitzgerald in 2010.) It was a continuous rope, no clasp required. But it needed something extra, a focal. For that "something extra", I learned flat peyote. I made a rectangle of the yellow and coral mix with a few grey stripes as highlights and "zipped" that up so that I had a slider on the rope. (I ended up cutting that slider off and embellishing the rope with the grey beads instead.)

Everything I know about beadweaving was learned from books and the internet, until I took my first beadweaving class, in right angle weave, from Marcia DeCoster in June 2010.

From Sliders to Cuff Bracelets: That slider was my first flat peyote. Impressed with how much faster peyote worked up than square stitch, I started making simple one-color or bead soup bracelets. A friend's 50^th birthday and her love of dragonflies presented me with my first experience reading a peyote graph (a free pattern from the internet...sadly I don't recall the designer).

Carol's ability to graph elegant curves comes through in her Fiddle Dee Dee peyote stitch pattern package

Carol's bold interpretation of the classic houndstooth pattern made into a peyote stitch cuff bracelet

After decades of working from charted cross stitch designs, I thought that following a beading graph would be easy and fun. I must have beaded and unbeaded that first inch of the design five or six times before I finally got the hang of reading the graph from left to right and then from right to left while beading only from right to left. And I did not enjoy the process, but I did love the result of working with cylinder beads for the first time.

After that, I was determined to stick with easy "patterns" for which I did not need a chart, patterns for which the cylinder beads still seemed to work best: triangles, diagonals, stripes. You can get some fun designs using only those. Just let the colors do most of the work for you.

The first cuff I actually charted was a square stitch piece. I created a graphic in PaintShop and then used the counted cross stitch design software I had to translate that graphic into a "pixilated" pattern. Eventually, I purchased software that would let me create the offset graphs for peyote. My designs focused on simple geometric shapes, triangles, circles, often drawing inspiration from textiles.

I don't have a set design process for my peyote stitch patterns. Sometimes I'll see something (a pillow on my favorite soap opera, for instance) that sends me straight to the computer and my software to see if I can achieve a similar result (in the case of that pillow, my Interlock cuff was the result). A wonderful braided chainmaille cuff inspired me to create my Braided Metals design.

At other times, I open either my graphic or beading software and start playing with shapes and/or lines. Sometimes from scratch, sometimes from an old pattern. And since the design process can start with an old design, I guess it doesn't ever really end.

The most difficult part of designing is knowing when a design is or is not ready to be brought into beaded life. Some designs are not meant to be. Recognizing a bomb before I put time and money into beading it, that's hard. I can spend hours fiddling with a pattern only to file it away in the hopes that I can do something better with it at a later date. Sometimes I can; sometimes I can't.

On the other hand, there is nothing quite as satisfying, as exhilarating as having an idea for something and having that idea not only work but work better than I could have hoped for. And then there's the thrill of having other beaders want to bead my designs. That's indescribable!

Inspiration is Everywhere: Ideas come from absolutely everywhere! The world is filled with patterns, with amazing color palettes. Bargello needlepoint inspired my multiple drop peyote patterns that mimic some of the motifs found in those textiles. Houndstooth fabric just screamed to be interpreted in peyote. The corrugated tin roof on our first home inspired the texture of my Corrugated line of cuffs. What if? Could I? How would I? Why not? Those are the questions that guide my design process.

If Time and Money Were No Object, I Would... I would love to learn to work with polymer and precious metal clay, but that would require a greater investment in time, focus, materials, and tools than I can afford. What I already have the materials and tools (and multiple instructions in both book and video format) for is bead crochet. I'm comfortable with beads. I have been crocheting since I was a young girl. One would think that combining the two would be easy for me. Not so. I've tried and failed miserably enough times to have turned bead crochet into a huge beading nemesis, if only in my mind. I will face and master it, one of these days, months, or years.

But I'll Always Come Back to Beadweaving: Beadweaving is home; it is safe. I find comfort and meditation in the actual process of beading, the zen of beadweaving. At the same time, beadweaving provides me with adventure and excitement in the design process. And, over the last few years, beadweaving has also introduced me to an amazing community of beaders via the internet. I have met people who will be my friends for life.

If you want to see more of Carol's lovely peyote stitch designs, you can check out her Etsy shop, Sand Fibers. Carol also blogs about her patterns, her life in New Mexico and her adventures as part of the Artisan Clay Design Team. You can also read about Carol's idea to raise money for Beads of Courage through The Best Little Bead Box.

Bead Crochet - How Do You Start Your Bead Crochet Ropes?

Jennifer VanBenschoten — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:00:00 GMT

These gorgeous handmade porcelain slides by Marsha Hedrick were enough to make me want to get back into making bead crochet ropes!

Making bead crochet ropes was one of those things that I struggled with mightily until I had one of those "a-ha!" moments. Lucky for me, my mom was an expert knit and crochet artist, and even though she lived 2,000 miles away she talked me through a lot of bead crochet problems over the phone. Then earlier this year I rediscovered how much fun bead crochet ropes are to make, especially when accented by a fabulous handmade ceramic slide like the ones I got from Marsha Hedrick of Amazing Porcelain Fantasies!

While I was experimenting with different kinds of bead crochet ropes, I found two ways to start your ropes: either with a set of beads that are slipped stitch into the initial ring, or with a plain ring made of single crochet that has the beads added starting in the second round. Here's how to do each one:

		The easiest way to being your bead crochet ropes is to make a simple chain of single crochet. Use slip stitch to join the chain into a ring.

		To add beads in the second round, insert the hook through the top loop only in the ring. Slide a bead down to the crochet hook, wrap the yarn around the hook (yarn over) and then pull through the loop, leaving the bead on the outside of the ring.

Personally, I prefer to start my bead crochet loops by adding beads in each of the first single crochets for the initial round, like this:

		Slide a bead down to your crochet hook. Holding the bead with your thumb against the hook, make a yarn over and pull through the first loop, keeping the bead on the outside of the stitch.

		Add beads in each stitch of the initial chain. When you make the slip stitch to join it into a ring, make sure that you add a bead to that stitch, too!

If you're new to bead crochet ropes, you can make it easier to learn by using a larger crochet hook and beads on a thicker cotton thread. In these photos, I've used size 6 seed beads with a size 00 hook on some heavy weight cotton thread. Using a light colored thread will also make it easier to see your stitches so you know where to go next!

And if you're already an old pro at bead crochet, you definitely will want to check out Interweave's latest bead crochet book, The Beaded Edge. It's filled with beautiful and unconventional ways to add a little bit of bead crochet to everything from clothing to housewares! Some of the beautiful bead crochet trim patterns in there would make gorgeous bead crochet jewelry, too! (Want even more bead crochet ideas? Head on over to Crochet Me to find free crochet patterns and connect with folks who love crochet!)

Have you had any success with bead crochet? Do you need help with your bead crochet ropes? Share your questions and tips here on the blog!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

Our Readers Don't Fool Around: Best Tips From Our Readers

Kristal Wick — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:44:00 GMT

Beaders are a generous group. They share beads, tips, even their chocolate on occasion. One of the most enjoyable aspects of Beading Daily is the community. There are fun beaders, serious beaders (who don't fool around) and everything in between. Here are some of the best tips from the Beading Daily beaders. Enjoy!

Flat Spiral Stitch

untmom2003 asks: For all you seasoned beaders out there, if I make a flat spiral stitch necklace, will it lay flat? Or will it "curl" in the middle? Am I better off just making a bracelet length and attaching it on the ends to some chain to make it a necklace length? Thanks for the info!

Tips: I've only tried it once for a bracelet and I didn't have any problems with it curling either. The only issue you might have with curling (so far as I know) is if you were using heavier beads on the outside of the spiral stitch... JSmaz

Here's a great picture posted on the Beading Daily Forum by rosyjazz of her first flat spiral stitched bracelet.

What to do with Bead Soup?

ninacolors asks: OK guys, I admit that I am easily bored, and have many projects going at once..... on different pads. But I end up w/ anywhere from 7-30 seed beads of at least 20 colors at the end. Going thru and putting them all back where they belong is quite tedious, but I don't have any better solution.

Tips: When I have lots of odd beads left over I love to sort them by color and make projects that don't require any sort of pattern-dangly earrings, a simple strung bracelet, book thongs, cell phone/purse charms, etc. That cuts down on the amount of sorting/putting away but you can still get something pretty from it. Jsmaz

I like to sort them by size, and sometimes color. Then I make vertical netting bracelets in rainbow, they look really neat and hang properly, without the need for pattern. It takes a bit of getting used to what colors to pick for your 'rainbow,' but if you group them by shades you shouldn't have much problem. Of course, my style is rather bohemian.....don't forget about freeform peyote. withsharpclaws

Another thing you can do is use them to mosaic sections of a flat surface. For example, you could fill an empty pendant setting with glue and pour them on... very cool look! appatite

Wire Crochet Anyone?

sameyers asks: I have recently started making necklaces by crocheting the wire and adding beads. Are there any other wire crocheters out there? What weight wire do you use?

Tips: Hi Susan, I love wire crochet and enjoy working with 28 gauge wire the most. I've tried 30 (too flimsy for me) and 26 (just a bit too hard on my hands) gauges, but find that for me, 28 is the best. I primarily make bracelets, although lately I've started to play around with making pendants and earrings. The bead/crochet possibilities are endless . . . if only I had more time! ~ LolaB

For me, it depends on the type of beads I am going to use, and the size I want the finished piece to be. For chunky necklaces with either medium-large glass beads or wooden beads I use 26 gauge. For a necklace with seed beads or pearl beads I use 28 gauge. I also use 28 gauge for all my bracelets, even with the different types of beads, because a bracelet with thick wire and huge beads can look a bit out of control! Happy beading! Elizabeth

Labup posted one of her wire crochet bracelets on the Beading Daily Forum.

Crimp Cramps-How to End Beading Wire

americashorse asks: I have a bracelet I have been working on for weeks. Below are the end crimp beads I am using that came with a set that has all I need. All I had to do was add the beads. But when I crimp them, I crimp them flat, and then fold them over, according to what I was told to do. But when I do that, the crimp beads just crumble and everything falls apart.

Tips: Hopefully your crimp beads are sterling, if not that is the first problem. Second, when crimping - if you are using a standard crimper you do the following:

1 - Use the front part of the crimper to lightly crimp it into an oval.

2 - Use the back part of the crimper to crimp the crimp bead.

3 -Then turn the project 90 degrees and use the front part of the crimper to finish the crimp. (90 degrees is a quarter turn) think of it as turning the piece from 12 oclock to 9 oclock.

4 - Stop, should be done. This is one way to crimp. CryssT

Also make sure that your wires are parallel in the crimp and not crossed. That will cause a failure in a hurry, but not by a broken crimp, the wire itself breaks or slips out. I also agree that solid sterling is the way to go. I have used sterling plated and gold plated without a lot of issues, but it's better not to take the chance, ya know. Pot metal or base metal crimps are plain junk, period. You can trust me on this one. They may hold tight to start with, but they tend to work loose after awhile and the wires will slip out. I had this problem a lot when I first started. Trust me, the extra few cents is worth the final result. BillyZ

Beading Daily beaders not only share comments and tips with each other, they also get to rate our beady products from the store. Take a peek at their top 5 highly rated products and share them with your friends too!

The best is yet to bead!

Creatively,