Daily Blogs : beginning beading

The Best of Stringing celebrates top designs from Stringing magazine!

Erin Carey — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:30:00 GMT

Here’s a little snippet of beady publishing history that you might find interesting...
In 2002 Interweave’s founder, Linda Ligon, and I sat in a hotel lobby in New York to discuss starting a new magazine that solely concerned stringing beads. It was a completely revolutionary idea at the time and, quite frankly, I thought it was a bit nuts; beadweavers like me often viewed stringing as our community’s wallflower cousin. She said she wanted a magazine that stretched people’s creativity, helping them explore new materials to expand their vision of what stringing could be. Her general edict was, “Make it beautiful, make it colorful, and I don’t want to see page after page of ‘bumps on a string.’ What I want is page after page of gorgeous pieces that you might find at a museum shop or gallery. No ‘safe’ jewelry in this one.”

When I got back to the office in Colorado, I broke it to the Beadwork magazine team (then Jamie Hogsett and Dustin Wedekind) that we were starting up a new magazine. It would include 100 pieces, have jaw-dropping work, and there could be absolutely no 'bumps on a string.' I think Jamie and Dustin thought the idea was a little crazy, too; we were all pretty beadweaving-centric at that time. In our discussion that day I sketched out some little drawings to explain what I think Linda was talking about. Miraculously, I found those sketches in a file cabinet in the basement this morning; and can share those first bright glimmers of Stringing with you now. Sometimes it pays to be a packrat!

We set off as a team to break out of our little design boxes and to bust up our notions of what stringing beads on a cord could be. The exercise produced 100 really nice pieces for our first special issue, and I know it gave us all a rich appreciation for the technique. Now, after 5 years, dozens of issues, and hundreds of gorgeous pieces later, I see Linda's idea for Stringing magazine was right on. I guess that's why she's the boss.

Danielle Fox, Stringing magazine's current editor, recently sent me a copy of The Best of Stringing, a fantastic issue with 183 projects--21 of which are brand new. She attached this note that made me tear up a little. This magazine, as well as the technique in general, has certainly "grow'd up" in the last several years, certainly past my little sketches. It's been due, in large part, to how bravely our community of designers, teachers, vendors, and publishers have embraced and experimented with this technique. We've gone far beyond 'bumps on a string', that's for sure.

Danielle had her own warm and fuzzy moment seeing this magazine come together: "I've been on the Stringing staff since its second issue. I'll tell you, it's been so much fun to watch and help the magazine grow. I'm really excited about The Best of Stringing because it brings together all of our favorite projects in a single edition. The hardest part was narrowing down our selections. What I think we came up with is a great mix of evergreen projects, the kind that inspire you again and again."

So I guess the challenge going forward, for all of us who love to string beads, is to continue to play and experiment, pushing the technique to unexplored creative highs. How will you contribute? What new stringing techniques or materials have you been using to make your work new and unique? What trends do you see around the bend? Why not share your ideas and thoughts below or on the Beading Daily forums?

Learn Bead Speak with This Free Crossword Puzzle

Michelle M. — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:36:00 GMT

“Pass through 5B; *square-stitch 1E to 3B. Weave through 7B; add 3B picots to the next 2B and the following 2B. Repeat from * fifteen times.” Am I speaking another language here? Yes; Beaderese. Does it give you a headache to read? Of course. Want to know why? The synapses in your brain are getting the workout of their lives! ...(read more)

Hurray for Herringbone: Free Project & Technique Tips

Michelle M. — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:20:00 GMT

Almost all the instructions I'd seen for flat herringbone stitch projects started with a base row of another stitch, usually ladder stitch. So when I saw today's free project, I was momentarily flummoxed. Begin herringbone without ladder stich? I felt like the Peanuts character Linus must have felt when he lost his security blanket!...(read more)

Create an Easy Ladder Stitch Bracelet

Michelle M. — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:56:00 GMT

Ladder stitch is one of those stitches that rarely gets any attention in its own right. Instead, it's used mainly as a foundation for other stitches. Many brick stitch patterns begin with a row of ladder stitch, as do some herringbone stitch patterns. In Mastering Beadwork author Carol Huber Cypher uses ladder stitch to join daisy chain units, while in Beadwork Catherine B. Benecke combines ladder stitch with peyote stitch in her Cube Bead Bracelet. It's definitely a useful stitch to know and the good news is that it's one of the easiest to learn....(read more)

Create an Easy Elastic Beaded Bracelet

Michelle M. — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 09:58:00 GMT

Here's a confession guaranteed to fill up my inbox with reader mail: My favorite beaded watch is made with pretty Kazuri ceramic beads in various shades of blue, silver beads, and a silver watch face. Very simple to make and easy to wear. So what's the big deal?...(read more)

Create a Perfect Wire Spiral: Free Video Class

Michelle M. — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:51:00 GMT

Along with simple loops, the spiral was the first wire technique I learned. In fact, my mom still wears a pair of earrings that I created back then with 8mm black rounds and a silver spiral dangle. (I try not to cringe when I see them--my technique has greatly improved since then!)...(read more)

Pros and Cons of Using Craft Wire for Jewelry

Michelle M. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:14:00 GMT

Penny-pinchers fear not, because there’s an affordable solution that’s often overlooked, or simply used as scrap metal by wire artists…craft wire. Craft wire usually has a copper core (varieties are available with tin, bronze, or nickel), so it’s totally affordable. But the best part about it is that it comes in a variety of colors. Of course there is silver and gold-coated wire, but the others have a broad range in the color spectrum. ...(read more)

Learn to Create Wire Jewelry on a Budget

Michelle M. — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 05:40:00 GMT

One of the things I love most about jewelry is the diversity it affords (no pun intended!). Sure, I drool over the Tiffany’s catalogs, and gawk at the windows in the Diamond District when I’m in New York City. But my favorite pieces of jewelry contain no gold and no precious stones. Instead, they’re made from rubber tubing, scrap fabric, lampwork beads, copper, steel, and craft wire....(read more)

5 Essential Findings for Your Bead Stash

Michelle M. — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:01:00 GMT

I had all the on- and off-loom techniques down pat before I discovered that bead stringing can be an equally refreshing and creative mind teaser. As a technique for making jewelry, stringing is definitely easier than bead weaving, but once you delve into it deeper, you find there’s a nice design challenge there, too. ...(read more)

Quick Wire-and-Bead Fireflies

Michelle M. — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:13:00 GMT

I've been searching for a delicate way to ask this, but I can't find one, so I'll just be blunt: What's up with beaders and bugs? Does everyone else who beads have the compulsion to make beaded insects? (Take a look at the "Bead a Bug" gallery from the June/July 2006 issue of Beadwork and see what I mean.) Butterflies, I understand and well, ladybugs are cute. But everything else? Well . . . I just don't get it. ...(read more)

Power Crimping and Other Crimping Tips

Michelle M. — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:44:00 GMT

Ah, the time-eating joys of the Internet…I just Googled the word crimp and the #1 entry that came up was the “friendly rap” stylings of The Mighty Boosh, a surrealistic comedy troop that our BBC-viewing friends probably know well. Being from the States, I had no idea! Judging from the half hour I just spent looking at their videos, I guess they have a new fan....(read more)

That's So You! Finding Your Own Personal Jewelry Style

Michelle M. — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:21:00 GMT

I have a style, more than one, actually. Along the way from there to here, in the many years I have been making adornment, my work took on a certain look. The shapes of my designs, the materials and techniques, and especially the colors I choose have become part of my identity as an artist. Sometimes people even ask me if a design is mine when it isn’t! I laugh and tell them whose work it really is, and they say, “Oh, well, that looks like something you’d make.”...(read more)

Beading Thread 101

Michelle M. — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:20:00 GMT

Many seed-beaders don’t realize that beading threads have different widths, strengths, and qualities and blindly buy their thread based on price, color, or availability. But the type of thread you buy is just as important as the beads themselves. Thread truly is the backbone of an off-loom or loomed piece of beadwork, so should be considered carefully. ...(read more)

Tips for New Beadweavers

Michelle M. — Wed, 07 May 2008 06:09:00 GMT

Beading Daily reader Christine K. wrote, "I am a brand-new beginner now attempting to learn the off-loom stitches. Although I am generally skilled with crafts that use one's hands (e.g., I can both crochet and knit), my learning of beading stitches is SLOW. My major question now is: what is the main difference between right-angle weave stitch and peyote stitch? Also, when I try to work in peyote stitch, I find it difficult to make the beads lay correctly. After figuring out the main difference between peyote stitch and right-angle stitch, is the "trick" to making the beads lay correctly to just relax and continue to thread the beads as required by peyote/right-angle stitch?"

When I read this one I had to smile. I pictured my first run-in with peyote stitch: The first few rows looked like a tangled fisherman's net. And doing right-angle weave felt like driving down the wrong side of the road. It's amazing any of us beaders get past those first brushes with needle and thread!

How to "See" Beadwork

First off, I'll make a suggestion about how to "see" beadwork. This one's kind of subtle, but was helpful for me. Keep in mind that in beadweaving the focus is on the bead placement, not the thread path. The thread path is key, of course, but it's invisible and should stay that way. While knitting and crochet are all about the fuzz, beading is about the firmness of the glass. It's a more planar technique. So when you're beading, if you can imagine your job is to build the beads into a certain formation--your thread acting as the magical cement--then you might more easily imagine locking the beads into place. Seeing the beadwork as a sort of Lego exercise will help you understand where your need to put up the next wall or window. That may sound a little David Carradine, Grasshopper, but there it is.


Peyote Stitch	Right-Angle Weave

Photos from The Beader's Companion by Judith Durant and Jean Campbell

Peyote Stitch vs Right-Angle Weave

In regard to peyote stitch vs right-angle weave, keep in mind that the shapes of these two stitches are very different. Peyote stitch produces a beaded fabric that looks like a brick wall; the beads sit side-by-side. Right-angle weave makes a fabric that looks like a series of little crosses; the beads sit at right angles to one another. The thread paths of these stitches are very different, too--in peyote stitch the path moves straight back and forth across the work; in right-angle weave the path moves back and forth, but by one little circle at a time.

Some basic stitch tips:

Counting Rows. When you string the first strand of beads for an even-count flat peyote-stitched project, keep in mind that these beads will make up your first two rows. Peyote stitch rows are counted on the diagonal, not along the side of the work. For right-angle weave, you can count the rows by counting the outside edge beads. Note that each little circle of beads that makes up the row is called a "unit" in most printed instructions.

Subsequent Rows. The third row in peyote stitch is a bear. If you can get past the third row, you're sailing. I've seen lots of clever techniques to make that third row, including passing another needle through the odd-numbered beads to separate them from the second-row ones. This will automatically reveal which are the "up beads" to work the third row. I've also seen someone put a little dab of Wite-Out on every-other bead to distinguish the rows and then scrape the stuff off after the work is established. You could also start the work by creating several false rows in alternating bead colors to differentiate them. Then, once you're rolling on the proper beads, remove those first couple false rows by sliding them off the tail thread.

For the second right-angle weave row, I think it helps to take a T pin or toothpick and poke it through the center of each first-row unit. This makes the work fall into formation, revealing the up beads very clearly.

Tension. Thread tension is really important for all the off-loom stitches. It's best to keep it tight as possible from the get-go, again making your job of forcing those little glass lovelies into formation. It may help to use a tension bead to start off (just remember to remove it!). I don't like extra steps, so I just use my fingers to keep the thread tight on those first few rows. If I keep the beads of the first several rows pinched tightly between my thumb and forefinger, it usually does the trick to keep the beads in place until I'm able to yank hard on the thread to tighten the beads into position.

NEW Free Peyote Stitch Pattern eBook: Our first free beadweaving pattern e-book features 5 peyote stitch projects, plus two full pages of step-by-step illustrated instructions on even- and odd-count peyote, and a sheet of peyote stitch graph paper for creating original jewelry designs. Download Peyote Stitch Projects with BeadingDaily: 5 Free Peyote Stitch Patterns

Jean Campbell writes about beading and life every Wednesday on Beading Daily. If you have comments or questions for Jean, please post them on the website. Thanks!

Learn to Create Perfect Simple and Wrapped Loops

Michelle M. — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:15:00 GMT

Wired on Wire

Remember your first simple loop? I remember mine. Santa Monica, 1990. It wasn't neat and it wasn't pretty, but it opened up a whole new wirey world to me. I guess you could call it an "entry" technique. Not far behind were wrapped loops, coils, and free-form wrapping. Next thing I knew I was pawning my wedding crystal for hand tools and bumming wire off my metalsmith buddies.

Since I was strictly a needle-and-thread beader up until then, working with wire was pretty exciting. Come to think of it, I felt a bit giddy to be working with tools for the first time. Things that were out of my reach beforehand were suddenly at my fingertips. I could crank out a charm to add to a stitched bracelet, whip up a quick pair of earrings, or create a custom clasp for a necklace--all were possible with just a few tools and some wire. It was quite staggering.

I’ve learned a lot about wire since that first simple loop in 1990. The most surprising lesson? There is no other handcraft I've ever learned that has taken as much practice. Really. Thousands of wrapped loops later, I'm still learning how to make them look cleaner and more even. I've also come to the conclusion that wirework is not an option--if you're a beader, you need to know how to do it.

So, what's the best way to get started? Here are a few tips.

Take a lesson from a real person. If you can swing it, take a beginner's wireworking class. Learning from a pro right off the bat will save you lots of time you might otherwise spend frustrated, not to mention the cost of yards of experimented-on wire. If there aren't classes offered in your area, see if you can find another beader who's good at wirework to show you firsthand. It really does help to learn this skill from another human.

Buy your own tools. If you take a wireworking class, there will most likely be tools for you to use, but you'll want to buy some for yourself nonetheless. These are specialty tools, so you'll be shopping for them at a bead shop or jeweler's supply, not at the hardware store. Buy the best kind you can afford. These tools will last for years so don't be chintzy! To get started, you just need 2 chain-nose pliers (the extra one is for opening jump rings), 1 round-nose pliers, and 1 pair of flush-cut wire cutters.

Use copper wire to practice. Copper is soft and cheap, so it's a great wire to practice with before you spend the extra money on sterling silver or gold-filled wire.

Design a charm bracelet. Make it so "fluffy" with beads and wire that you can't see the chain. Such a chunky design will ensure that you're not only proficient with wrapped loops by the time you've finished it, but also that any clunker loops you made will be hidden by all the beads.

Making the Perfect Bead Dangle - Check out this step-by-step guide with photos!

Congratulations to the Bead Star Early Bird Winner! Sarah Sharp won the $250 gift card in the random Early Bird drawing for Bead Star. She doesn't know yet exactly how she'll spend her windfall, though she's pretty sure that sterling silver wire and PMC will be on her shopping list. When asked about her designs, Sarah said, "I love to combine natural stones with creative wirework and have been working on more elaborate designs in the past few months. While my work focuses mostly on necklaces, I have been making a lot of earrings lately as well. I find that earrings are good small projects for developing new techniques." Bead Star is Sarah's first beading competition--what a great way to start!

The Early Bird deadline has passed, but there's still time to get your entry in for Bead Star! The deadline is next Tuesday, May 6th. Enter today.

Free eBook
Making Wire Jewelry: 6 Free Wire Designs from Beading Daily

Create 6 stunning wire jewelry projects (2 wire necklaces, a wire bracelet, 2 pairs of wire earrings, and a wire ring) with this free eBook that contains step by step wire jewelry instructions for each project. Jewelry designs range in difficulty from beginner to intermediate and use a variety of wire work techniques, including spirals, coiling, wirewrapping, hammering, and twisting wire. Download Making Wire Jewelry: 6 Free Wire Designs from Beading Daily

Jean Campbell writes about beading and life every Wednesday on Beading Daily. If you have comments or questions for Jean, please post them on the website. Thanks!