Other Ways of Working with Beads

Sewing with Beads

There are two ways of sewing with beads; one-needle method and two-needle method.  With the one-needle method, you put on a small amount (3 to 8) beads, go down through the fabric beside the last bead, come up between the second-to-last and last beads and go through the last bead.  It is using ordinary sewing's lazy stitch.

The two-needle method is good for long rows of beads on fabric.  To start, knot thread and pass it through the fabric, then put the beads on the thread and lay it flat on the material.  Take another threaded needle, pass it up through the fabric between the fifth and sixth beads.  Bring it over the thread holding the beads and back down through the cloth as close as possible to where you came up.  Repeat every five beads.  To finish, knot the two threads into the fabric.

Macramé, Knitting and Crochetting with Beads

If you know how to macramé, adding beads is not a problem, just add the beads to the center threads.  If you don't know how to macramé, might I suggest a visit to your local library.  To knit with beads is a little more complicated.  First, put the beads on the yarn or cotton.  To knit, hold the bead against the back of the needle, make the stitch,and pull the bead through.  To purl, the bead is held against the front of the needle and you make the purl stitch as usual.  For a bead in a hole from a yarn over, the bead goes against the front of the needle and you yarn over as usual.  If you don't knit, I suggest you either pass over this part or learn.

To crochet with beads, first put the beads on the yarn or cotton.  To crochet from the front, hold the bead behind the hook, pull the yarn through one loop, push the bead through the stitch and flip the bead over the hook.  Catch the yarn and pull it through the two loops.  To crochet from the back, push the bead against the hook and make the stitch as usual.

Making other Patterns with Beads.

There are many other ways to pattern beads, the most fascinating and beautiful is the Mexican Lace Pattern which is used by both the Mexican and African peoples to create intricate patterns.  When done with small beads, it really does look like lace.  The illustration at right shows you how it starts off.  When you are approaching the starting point on your way back, you do not go to the end.  You go through the last three beads, go around and add four, then go through the last two dark beads, three of the ones you just added and start looping again.  When you come to the end of that row, add four beads and go back the other way.  Keep on until you want to stop.

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