A comprehensive guide to beads and beading techniques. This bible for the modern beader guides you through the basic skills, tools and materials, before tackling more advanced techniques and projects. The essential beading reference!

Introduction   6

Beads 8

Tools and Equipment 12

Techniques    16

Bead Loom Weaving 18

Off Loom Bead Stitches 36

Ropes and Cords 62

Fringing, Netting and Tassels 76

Threading and Stringing 96

Wire Work and Jewellery Techniques 106

Bead Embroidery 124

Knitting and Crochet 136

Project Instructions: Bead Something Now  152

Bead Charts   173

Bead Project Details  174

Suppliers        175

Index  176

Beads are the oldest and most widespread art form, having been used in virtually every culture since ancient times. Originally beads were worn to give an indication of social status or religious beliefs and were widely used as a currency, talisman or healing token. These early beads, made from organic materials such as bone, horn, teeth, ivory, stones, nuts, seeds, shell, wood and various plant and insect resins, are still popular today. Over the years new materials and methods of making beads have been introduced and now bead workers have a vast array of stunning beads to work with. Beading has also developed over the years and, even though many traditional techniques are still popular, the craft is constantly evolving and so there has never been a more exciting time to work with beads. With so many techniques, and such a vast array of beads and materials available for the contemporary bead worker, there is definitely a need for a comprehensive guide. The Beading Bible is just that – an encyclopedia of beads and beading techniques that aims to educate and inspire anyone who loves working with beads. It is designed, in the first instance, to be a workbook with step instructions on all the basic techniques and, secondly, to be a source of ideas and inspirations giving you the opportunity to advance your skills. Because people generally focus on one type of beading at a time the book is divided into eight chapters that cover all the traditional techniques such as bead loom weaving, jewellery and bead embroidery, as well as introducing newer techniques such as knitting and crochet with beads. Each chapter gives a good grounding in the basic techniques and shows ways to develop these skills to a more advanced level. There are inspiration pages giving you interesting ideas using the different techniques in each chapter and fabulous projects dotted throughout so that if you have the urge to ‘Bead Something Now’ you will have all the necessary skills. Illustrated with step-by-step photography and diagrams to make everything as clear and easy to follow as possible, this will be the only bead book you ever need.

bags bead embroidery 129, 169, 175 bead loom flap 31, 153–4, 174 off loom stitches 34–5, 155–6 spiral twist handle 66, 160, 174 bauble, beaded 54, 158–9, 174 bead looms 24 beading the warp 32 bugle bracelet 24, 152, 174 candle border 28, 153, 174 creating slit/slot 31 embellishments 27–8 evening bag 31, 153–4, 174 fringing/netting 29 increasing/decreasing 30 loop and toggle 26 medallion belt 33, 154, 174 techniques 18–25, 173 tools/equipment 14, 20 varying bead sizes 32 working with wire 33 bead mat 15, 36, 94, 108 bead weaving 59–60, 159, 174 beads beaded 86, 87, 89 buying 8–9, 10, 11, 175 caged/wrapped 114–15 Cellini spiral 70, 160–1, 174 finishes 11 sizes/quantities 10 spacing 99–100 storing 15 belt, medallion 33, 154, 174 bracelets bead loom 18, 24–5, 152, 174 chain maille 119, 167–8, 174 coral 81, 162, 174 netting 84 ropes 62–3 spacer bars 102 square stitch 39, 156, 174 threaded chain 121 wax cotton 96, 164, 174 brick stitch 27, 41–3, 61, 75, 79, 173 brooches 136–7 candles 28, 47, 153, 157, 174 Cellini spiral 70, 160–1, 174 chain 108, 120–1 chain maille 118–19, 167–8, 174 chain stitch 58, 59 charms 115, 149, 167, 172, 174–5 charts 16, 37, 60, 173 circular shapes brick stitch 43, 157, 174 herringbone stitch 47, 157 knitting/crochet 145, 147, 150 motifs 59–60 netting stitch 54, 89 peyote stitch 51 corsage 123, 144, 168, 171–2, 174–5 crimps 92, 95, 97, 100–1, 109, 120 crochet 136, 138–9, 146–51 earrings 72, 116–17, 161, 167, 174 embroidery beaded bag 129, 169, 175 buttons 124 hoops 126, 127 picture frame 134, 170, 175 pincushion 133, 169–70, 175 sequins 134, 135 tambour work 135 techniques 124, 127–33 tools 126 transferring designs 127 equipment 14–15, 20, 138–9 fastenings adding 65, 97–8, 118 bar end 24, 102 choice 92, 109 cords and thongs 96 hook and eye 121 joining chain 118, 120 loop and toggle 26 multi-strand clasps 102 findings 92, 109, 116–19, 139 flowers, beaded 122–3, 168 French beading 122–3, 168 French knitting 151 fringing bead loom 29 coral bracelet 81, 162, 174 shaped 86 tassels 85–9 techniques 76–81, 162 tools 78 headpins 109, 117 herringbone stitch 44–7, 61, 71–2, 75, 79, 173, 174 keyring charm 115, 167, 174 knitting 136, 138–45, 151, 171–2, 175 knots 17, 96, 98, 99, 104–5, 139 ladder stitch 40, 41, 44, 79 lampwork beads 8 loop beaded 122–3 edging 28, 75 fringing/netting 80, 82 and toggle fastening 26 macramé 104–5, 165, 174 mandrels 14, 61, 64 mobile phone pouch 149, 172, 175 necklaces bead weaving 60, 159, 174 Cellini spiral 70, 160–1, 174 designing 93–4 macramé 105, 165, 174 multi-strand 100–3, 165, 174 planning board 15, 94 tigertail 101, 164, 174 needle weaving see off loom bead stitches needles 12, 20, 36, 64, 78, 92, 126, 138 netting 3-D objects 89 bead loom 29 scarf 83, 162–3, 174 tassels 86–7 techniques 76, 78–9, 82–4 tools 78 netting stitch 52–4, 61, 73, 173 off loom bead stitches 34–7 bags 34–5, 155–6 bracelet 39, 156, 174 brick stitch 41–3, 61, 173 butter¬ y necklace 60, 159, 174 chain stitch 58, 59 circular shapes 43, 47, 51, 54, 59–60, 157, 174 diagrams 37, 60, 173 embellishments 38 herringbone stitch 44–7, 61, 173 increasing/decreasing 39, 42, 45–6, 49–51, 53, 56–7 ladder stitch 40, 41, 44 motifs 59–60 netting stitch 52–4, 61, 173 peyote stitch 48–51, 61, 69–71, 158, 173, 174 right angle weave 55–7, 59, 61, 173 square stitch 38–9, 156, 173 tools 36 tube weaving 43, 61 peyote stitch 48–51, 61, 69–71, 75, 79, 158, 173, 174 picot edging 27, 29, 53 picture frame 134, 170, 175 pincushion 133, 169–70, 175 pliers 13, 92, 108 ribbon 80, 85, 95, 120 right angle weave 55–7, 59, 61, 74, 79, 173 rings, peyote stitch 50, 158, 174 ropes and cords 62–7 African helix 68 bracelets 62–3 buttonhole stitch 69 crochet 148–9 embellishments 75 evening bag handle 66, 160, 174 fastenings 65, 96 herringbone stitch 71–2, 75, 161 netting 73 peyote stitch 69–71, 75 right angle weave 74 spiral cords 66–7 tools 64 rosettes 43, 145, 147, 150, 157, 174 scarves 83, 143, 162–3, 171, 174–5 seed beads 9, 10, 11 sequins 134, 135 spiral cords 66–7 square stitch 38–9, 79, 156, 173 stop bead 36, 37 stringing see threading tambour work 135 tassels 78, 85–7, 88–9, 163, 174 tealight dish 47, 157, 174 thread bead embroidery 126 bead looms 20 conditioners 12, 36, 64, 78 elastic 94, 95, 121 fringing/netting 78 knitting/crochet 138 off loom beading 36 ropes and cords 64 threading and stringing fastenings 96–8 macramé 104–5, 165 multi-strands 100–3, 165, 174 necklace design 93–4 spacing beads 99–100 techniques 90–5, 139 thread 92, 93 tigertail necklace 101, 164, 174 tools/equipment 92, 138–9 wax cotton bracelet 96, 164, 174 three-bead netting see netting stitch tiara 112, 166, 174 tools 12–13, 20, 36, 64, 78, 92, 126 tubes crochet 148 fastenings 97 off loom stitches 61 tube loom 14, 17, 20, 24 wax cotton 93, 96, 164, 174 wire antiquing 121 bead looms 33 beaded flowers 122–3, 168 chain 120–1 chain maille 118–19 choice 109 coils 114 crochet 138, 150 findings/fastenings 109, 116–19, 121 jewellery 106, 110–23, 166–8, 174 knitting 138, 143–5, 171, 175 memory wire 110 spring 115 techniques 106, 110–15 tigertail 90, 95, 97, 100, 101, 164, 174 tools 12, 13, 15, 108–9 wire cutters 13, 108 wire jig 15, 108, 112–13