How Do I?

Beaded bead - pattern maker / graph paper?

trayck — Sun, 19 May 2013 04:25:32 GMT

I have decided I want to make a smilie face beaded bead using size 11 beads using peyote stitch (bead size still to be decided)

There are plenty of sites out there that have preworked out patterns that tell you add X amount of colour Z bead for row 1 then X amount of colour J bead on row 2 etc, etc so it comes out like the beaded bead they have designed.

What I am trying to find is there graph paper or a pattern maker out there somewhere so you can plot out what colour bead you need to put where before you start. If not how the heck do these people work out some of these intricate designs you see?

I've tried googling to find such a thing but as I've never done a beaded bead before I've probably been using the wrong search words to find what I am after.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

what is this technique and how do i do it?

afrobead — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 19:21:20 GMT

I have always wanted to know how to use this technique to make jewelry. anyone with information on this please help. thank you.

Best way to use a strand reducer???

Rosiecm — Wed, 22 May 2013 03:56:17 GMT

Hi...

i want to make a multi strand necklace and I have some strand reducers that I want to use.. Not the ones that you see the connections, but the reducer that is shaped like a triangle and the 3 strands go up inside the connector in separate holes and come out the one hole at the top...

Want to make the necklace out of some gem chips..

thinking I may use thread for the multi strand section, then use tiger tail up to the clasp either side above the reducer...

if I do this is there a way to connect the thread to the wire??? If not do I use wire for all of it and simply use 1 long strand that goes all the way up to the clasp, and then just crimp the other 2 multi strand short sections of tiger tail to the long continuous piece???

any advice would be greatly appreciated.. Would love to use these reducers the best way possible... Unable to find any tutorials on these reducers, only the ones where you see the connections..

thanks heaps

Rosie....

Goo on stones

tcwhit — Sun, 05 May 2013 22:27:16 GMT

I picked up some pretty (and dyed) stones. The person running the shop put sticker prices on them. I can't get all the sticker goo off. Any suggestions? They're so pretty, I don't want to lose the color, and I don't want to just throw them away.

Horizontal Netting Necklace Formula

LisaKwaj — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 11:59:37 GMT

Does anyone have a formula for the number of Japanese 11/0 seed beads needed in each net to get the correct curve for a horizontal netting necklace? I've stitched and ripped and stitched and ripped and stitched and... I seem to get either too much or too little curve and I'm frustrated! [:'(]

I picked up some gorgeous labradorite teardrops at a bead show recently and would like to feature them along the bottom edge of the necklace. This particular necklace needs to be 18" at the neckline, although ideally I'd like a formula that can be used for any length. The design includes two rows of netting at the back, graduated to 5 rows at the front center.

Thanks for your help!

Lisa

What is it called?

windyislandacres — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:08:01 GMT

I bought some semi precious gemstone chunks and chips(undrilled). I'm llooking or something to mount them, something like a pendant bail, but that will hold odd shaped pieces and not necessarily dangle. What am I looking for?

Help with Russian Butterfly pattern

StephB@8 — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:56:47 GMT

I am working on a peyote/brick stitch butterfly i found on a Russian site. I have been able to work the wings pattern from the pictures without any problems, But I have not been able to figure out what the numbers on the body pattern mean (not the 19 which i understand means 19 beads make the antennas). I have seen this on several patterns of butterflies. I have tried several different ways to figure out what the numbers indicate, but nothing i tried worked out to look like the picture of completed butterfly.

The numbers do not seem to correspond with any notes as they are on many different patterns and there is no indication of any notes on any of these patterns. If you have any idea what the numbers mean i would love to hear it. thanks

I've made a zigzag peyote graph

jenls — Fri, 10 May 2013 23:11:38 GMT

I made this to help me design my own rick-rack bangles from Contemporary Geometric Beadwork . There is no zig zag graph paper available on the internet that I can find so I made this to print out. It's not perfect but it's functional. It's just made in paint, so it's very basic. Feel free to pin it and share it so that others can use it.

Tubular Herringbone - Tension???

bethela — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:23:42 GMT

Hi All,

I'm new to the wonderful world of beading and am attempting to make the Lasso Loops bracelet on page 54 of April/May issue of Beadwork. The bracelet uses 2 hole seed beads and the tubular herringbone stitch. I'm having a really difficult time keeping the tension tight. It seems that every time I stitch the step up I ruin any tension that was creating in the previous round. What am I doing wrong? I've had to re-do it several times because I can't seem to get right.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Beth

SoNo thread

tcwhit — Wed, 08 May 2013 02:30:47 GMT

Has anyone ever nade a dutch spiral necklace using SoNo thread? Am trying to make a thin one using 15/o seeds and wanted to use the thinner threads. I don't know if it's going to stretch out to ugly-land, or even hold up. Anyone ever tried it?

really want to try bead embroidery

noelohwell — Mon, 06 May 2013 16:26:52 GMT

i really want to try bead embroidery. terrified, but really want to try. can anyone point me in the right direction to find instructions for a complete newbie?

thanks!

Noel

How do I finish a loomwork bracelet ends so I may add a clasp.

Jim Moore — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:50:51 GMT

Greeting all...

I am a retired Jeweler (an 80 year old hippie)

I have searched for a week to find an answer to this question and as of this writing I have not found one.

The answers I have found end with "then add an appropriate clasp" ???

The bracelets I make now are only 8 warp threads deep (wide). I have a pretty good end for that size.

I would like to make a deeper bracelet to make a larger design. Any thing deeper than 8 warps threads just doesn't cut it.

Anybody out there have a simple answer?

Hugs and Happiness to all suffering beings..

Jim Moore

silverknots.etsy.com

Twisted wire beading needle

stitchngirl — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:44:31 GMT

Has anyone tried or used those twisted wire beading needles? Made by colonial. I just bought some and was looking at them, very fine, nice big eye which I am thinking will be much smaller once you go thru the beads.

Kathy

Whats everybodys favourite jewellery-making/macrame forum/blog sites?

EmmaBaby123 — Thu, 02 May 2013 19:18:03 GMT

Hi all,

My name's Emma & I specialize in macrame designs & projects. I currently have subscribers to my macrame website which numbers in the thousands. Recently Ive noticed that alot of my subscribers are coming from various blogs & forums! This got me thinking....

Out of curiosity, what's everybody's favorite jewellery-making/macrame forum/blog sites forums/blog sites?

Regards

Emma

Beaded kumihimo, more than 8 warp?

Moonlytes — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:44:09 GMT

Is there some guarded secret for adding beads to a kumihimo design with more than 8 strands? I've tried a 16 twice now and it just keeps coming out funky no matter what I do. I've seen mention of figuring out the secret on some other blogs but then they never post the trick.

Anyone ever made a gemstone lapel pin?

redclover9418 — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:32:36 GMT

Hi everyone – I’ve been asked to make some men’s lapel pins with gemstones on them.

Would that be as simple as buying some of those brooch pins with the adhesive rectangular bar on top that I see at AC Moore all the time and gluing a “manly” stone on it?

I’m thinking there must be a more substantial kind of pin with a larger base on it – if I were to glue some sort of larger base on it to then hold the stone, I don’t know if I could trust it not to fall apart.

Does anyone have experience with this? Also – what would be some good “manly” stones that I could find that are small enough to stay on but big enough to make a statement??

Thanks in advance for your help!

Bead Board

lisam830 — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:19:47 GMT

I'm a beginner beader and use a bead board, I am having difficulty with the measurements on it. I was told if i wanted a 20" necklace I bead up to 10. But when I'm done its too short, am I reading the board wrong?

Lisa

crochet patterns not turning out right when I crochet them?

brightcircle — Thu, 02 May 2013 03:28:34 GMT

Hi, got a question for more knowledgeable bead crocheters out there. I make simple bead crochet ropes with slip stitch and using super simple patterns (think spiral stripes). Every time I have prestrung someone else's crochet pattern and then tried to crochet it, the pattern doesn't turn out like the one in the photo. The patterns look like the standard slip stitch rope (the brick stitchy look), and don't say anything about using a particular crochet stitch.

Anyone have ideas where I might be going wrong?

The best alternatives to Fireline

TheGardenOfDaisies — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 12:19:59 GMT

Hi there.

I'm looking for a nylon braided thread different from Fireline 6 lb but efficient as well. Do you have any suggestion? That would be a great idea to write a list of all the alternatives.

Thanks

List:

- Fireline

- Power Pro

- Wildfire

- Spiderline

Kumihimo cord

jyceL — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:42:03 GMT

Hi,

has anyone used upholstery cord ( thin) to use to make a bracelet. I bought beautiful crystals and the hole is so small the s Lon is hard to get thru?

thanks,

joyce

Bracelet clasps

tcwhit — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:44:53 GMT

Opinions on most secure bracelets clasps, please? I don't like the spring or lobster claws. I just have too hard a time with one hand, and sometimes can't do them at all. Toggles look nice, but in my experience, they come loose too often. Boxes look so great I think, and the single press of them makes it easy to take off, but same as toggle, they can open too easily on their own. I'm thinking switching to those tube-slide things. What kind of experiences have you guys had with them? Are they easy to work one handed for the wearer? Do you find them to stay secured?

I swear I'm not taking a poll here, but I AM about to place a very large order and the clasps are almost half of it.

Thanks for any and all input.

Hi there and a question about bead weaving thread

NeedBeads — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:29:01 GMT

Hello everyone, this is my first time on the Forum and it looks to be a very informative place, so I am looking forward to reading everyones tips etc.

I also would like to ask a question about which beading thread is the best to use for off loom bead weaving.

My main requirement is something that will hold its shape well even with heavier designs but it must be fine enough to make several passes through the seed beads also. I have made a lovely bracelet tonight with 6mm crystals and pearl seed beads but it just has no substance to it and, possibly partly due to the weight, just kind of flops down the wrist when it is worn.

I felt that I had kept my tension maintained, but perhaps I didnt pull the thread as much as I needed to? I used Nymo for this project btw.

I have read up about loads of different threads, Fireline, Wildfire, Silamide etc etc. I am not sure which out of these would be the most likely to help me to keep my work sturdy. Or is this more than a thread issue do you think?

Any personal recommendations on any threads that are good for this purpose would be so useful, and any other tips that you lovely people may be able to give me will also be most gratefully received!

Many thanks in advance, I look forward to hearing from you

5 finger weave

jyceL — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 11:55:17 GMT

Hi,

Li saw this done with wire and it looks just like Viking weave. Does anyone know where to get directions?

Thanks, Joyce

Best way to turn a brick stitched piece into a barrette?

MigotoChou — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 21:05:46 GMT

Hi everyone!

I have a dilemma!

I just finished up a little brick stitch piece; it's about 1 1/8" wide, and 1 1/4" tall. I think I want to maybe turn it into a small hair barrette, but I'm not sure of the best way to do this.

I was thinking of stitching it down onto a piece of Lacy's Stiff Stuff, and finishing it as normal bead embroidery. I'm not sure if that's the best way though. I don't want it to become too bulky.

I've looked around online a bit, but can't really find any tips for doing this.

Any suggestions or advise would be greatly appreciated!

Rivoli Question

Lyshwa79 — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 18:19:09 GMT

The rivoli's that I find seem to be expensive does anyone know if the is a cheaper alternative?