Tips for Successful Seed Beading–and a Free Project!

re: Tips for Successful Seed Beading–and a Free Project!

HelenL@25 — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:02:05 GMT

I have just learned the Brick Stitch and would just love to have the pattern for the

Comet Tail Earrings just to get me going and used to working with that stitch.

I the pattern available

Thank you

re: Tips for Successful Seed Beading–and a Free Project!

philipson — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:36:03 GMT

I'm a new beader and started using seed beads about a month ago and I'm hooked. I love the new format of beading daily and comments. Please keep up the good work.

re: Tips for Successful Seed Beading–and a Free Project!

MsCrafty666 — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:55:12 GMT

I love your second tip = glasses !!!

I am actually thinking about beading a pair !!!

I am new to beading but already addicted. I make purses and I embellish (and redesign) wearables. I use beads in almost all of my projects but beads have slowly been taking over. I attended a bead show in Philly and THAT sealed my fate.....beaded embroidery here I come !!! I did a small sampler piece and now know that EVERY project will have more and more beads UNTIL I reach my goal of the entirely beaded purse...... wish me luck :O)

re: Tips for Successful Seed Beading–and a Free Project!

AliceT@9 — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:26:56 GMT

Please help! I am looking for a pattern in peyote called peaks and valleys. It was done as a bracelet. All I know is it was in one of the bead magazines. Alice

re: Tips for Successful Seed Beading–and a Free Project!

AliceT@9 — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:26:46 GMT

Please help! I am looking for a pattern in peyote called peaks and valleys. It was done as a bracelet. All I know is it was in one of the bead magazines. Alice

re: Tips for Successful Seed Beading–and a Free Project!

DaeL — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 03:19:55 GMT

I have found if you are having trouble threading your needle, keep a tube of Blistex or Chapstick handy and just run the tip of the thread though your lips- works like a charm!

re: Tips for Successful Seed Beading–and a Free Project!

ktcdesign — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 03:47:57 GMT

Thanks for the great tips you suggest. Beading is a wonderful medium to work with, even though I am still struggling with understanding patterns. My beading has always been free form and gluing the beads to a surface. I used beads on almost any surface and strong it in many ways. With out steps and diagrams. I love the works I see on the web site but struggle with understanding the patterns. I do have few books same problem. Any suggestions to how to approach a pattern. And how would I know which one should be easier for me?

re: Tips for Successful Seed Beading–and a Free Project!

Jo NellS — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:59:46 GMT

I have been playing with beading 10 or so years. I prefer seed beads, but had a bad habit when I started out of taking classes that were really over my head. This lead to a lot of frustration. I finally learned to tune back a bit and things have gone smoother (I had also learned things from the classes). I also am a bookaholic. Dustin's book is a good learner book, as is the Carol Wilcox Well 's mentioned above, but there are lots others out there as well. Plus internet site. Good luck with the beading. Jo Nell S

re: Tips for Successful Seed Beading–and a Free Project!

maryd@144 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:01:06 GMT

I also started with a bead loom in the 1960's, and did not know how to find more seed beads for a while. Then bead stores started popping up, and I went to "love beads", and wire work with beads. I taught myself brick stitch, then did a class using peyote. As the interest in beading has expanded I love all the creativity that can be shared between what my husband calls "beadists". At one point when I was doing a lot of seed bead work I could almost thread the needle in the dark/by feel. Unfortunately that time has passed...

re: Tips for Successful Seed Beading–and a Free Project!

carli3 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 01:19:54 GMT

I started with the brick stitch in order to make the zipped up collars for focal pieces, then made every kind of chain, metal, stone, polymer piece (including making my own beads) and now I'm back to learning basic peyote to incorporate into my own designs. Hope my eyes and neck last!

re: Tips for Successful Seed Beading–and a Free Project!

D.M.Z — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:56:04 GMT

My first seed bead encounter now (I first beaded on a wire loom when I was a kid, but didn't continue with it) that I have retired was to tackle an amulet bag in square stitch. I bought the kit about 5 years (!!) previously and just took one look at the tiny beads and freaked out and put it away.... I made up the kit and was thrilled and hooked on those tiny delica beads. The first official class I took was Right Angle Weave, after a bit I moved on to peyote and then beading around a cab. I never ever got to where I liked peyote as my first experience was accidentally cutting the wrong thread and it all fell apart......grrr. Finally have taught myself brick and netting. And I have always got a project going on one of my looms.

re: Tips for Successful Seed Beading–and a Free Project!

Ann@215 — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:53:15 GMT

I have learned from books and my first project was a peyote stitched rope on which I beaded leaves, flowers and vines. Then I tried other stitches and have made several projects that I have entered in contests and done well. I teach regular stringing at my Family, Community and Education clubs. Beading is very relaxing for me. I am in my mid seventies and use beading to keep my hands fexible. I use So No thread for seed beading and like it better than nymo or fireline, it does not have to be conditioned with wax or thread heaven, and does not tangle. I enjoy this site very much and have gotten some goo hints. Thank-you

re: Tips for Successful Seed Beading–and a Free Project!

prudyfry — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:57:58 GMT

Started using seed beads 50 yrs. ago but didn't get serious until 40 yrs. later. I'm teaching a few friends and I started with a simple spiral which they loved. Moved onto basics with square stitch w/embellishments and they are amazed at what they can do. Will move on to peyote, brick, etc. If you are using Nymo, or anything not Fireline, and oval holed needles, you can find a "Desk Needle Threader" in a quilt store or Michaels that makes threading anything from a 7 to a 12 a miracle (saved my sanity when I started beading as I had to tear out stitches - - a lot). My newbie's liked it so much they each bought one of their own. I am a lefty and rarely find a pattern that I cannot reverse for lefty use; if I can't, I scan pics into my documents and print it out using the mirror image option.

re: Tips for Successful Seed Beading–and a Free Project!

MaryL@114 — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:30:45 GMT

Here's another tip for threading a needle. Needles today are machine made and the holes are puched. This means that there is a smooth side and a rough side. If you're going nuts trying to get the thread through the eye try the other side!

re: Tips for Successful Seed Beading–and a Free Project!

CarolynL@22 — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:01:59 GMT

I really started using sead beads when I decorated my jewelry bags for Christmas. I became devoted to sead beading after taking a class from Adele Sciortino for a beaded cuff bracelet. Everyone asks "how can you bead so many tiny beads?" I find it extremely relaxing and very creative. Arizona Girl