Thread: Learning to Bead

After being inspired by all of the lovely costumes everyone has made on here, I'd really love to learn how to bead. I googled "learning to bead" and now I'm even more confused. Can someone point me to a good, comprehensive site to get me started? I'd really appreciate it!

Help me learn how to poke holes in my fingertips..g.:

Free Bead Lessons and Tutorials

But the best way is through trial and discovery. Get yourself inexpensive beads, thread, and fabric and just start. Of course, don't start with materials you'll use for your costume masterpiece. All of my costume projects started with scraps and swatches of beading trials to see what would work and what wouldn't work.

Once you actually start the task, you'll either 1) figure out how to do things on your own and develop your own techniques or 2) get suggestions on how others did it. Either way, definitely do, rather than read about do-ing.

Azhia, thank you! I'll definitely get some inexpensive beads and start messing around. I just feel a bit overwhelmed. I keep finding patterns for buffalo, pandas, etc...so I wasn't even sure I was googling correctly. I'm assuming it's the same skills you would use for a costume?

I have a book that was really helpful in showing certain techinques - I'll look for it when I am at home to let you know the title. Very helpful but I agree with Azhia that a book can be a helpful start but actually doing is how you really learn.

Check out your local library. I recently got a load of books, and now I have more ideas than I know what to do with. :)

Ok, I'm great at sewing, not bad at freestyle beading...my "tough" spot is spacing on the edging...You know hte sting a few beads, through a sequin and repeat...

Is there a trick to keeping the beads spaced well and tight??

I can't figure out how to string beads or sequins together at all, Bernie. Do you knot each bead and sequin off separately? I would think it would take years to finish a bra and belt doing that. Just what is the secret?

I found a book last night at Borders for $1.99! It has some nice illustrations as well as instructions so I'm excited to try. My next question is though, do you hard cup the bra before or after you bead it?

Rassicahl - I'd hard cup before I beaded. This way you'll know how the beads will lay.

I hard cup after. It's very hard to push the needles through the glue and buckram, even more so with beading needles. I found that the design was never affected after I added the hard stuff on the inside.

I can't find the quote functions with all these questions marks in boxes...to answer the question about spacing, COUNT beads and use your eye for spacing. That's how I do it, anyways.

As far as knotting, knot every so often (if you're doing a long, repetitive pattern). That way, if one snags up, it won't allow the whole shebang to come apart. If I'm sewing coins, I'll knot after every coin, however, too precious to lose even one.

Thanks so much, everyone! I'm anxious to try this but right now I'm snowed in and can't to a fabric or beading store. Once I do I'm sure I'll have more questions.

Originally Posted by rassicahl

I can't figure out how to string beads or sequins together at all, Bernie. Do you knot each bead and sequin off separately? I would think it would take years to finish a bra and belt doing that. Just what is the secret?

I just tack (like this: lllll ,but in the same spot) a few times between every 5-10 stitches, makes live a lot easier. Only when I run out off thread I'll knot off. You could even coat the tacks with glue or nailpolish for extra security, but I never bother.

Originally Posted by rassicahl

I can't figure out how to string beads or sequins together at all, Bernie. Do you knot each bead and sequin off separately? I would think it would take years to finish a bra and belt doing that. Just what is the secret?

I just tack (like this: lllll ,but in the same spot) a few times between every 5-10 stitches, makes life a lot easier. Only when I run out off thread I'll knot off. You could even coat the tacks with glue or nailpolish for extra security, but I never bother.

I knot every so often. On my bras, I knot more often because they seem to get more wear and tear.

On the belts, when I'm done beading, I smear a thin layer of fabric glue over the back to seal the thread. The lining goes in after the glue dries to cover it up. Once it's glued, if a thread breaks on the front, only the beads on that little bit of thread will be lost and the rest of the stitches won't unravel. I use Aleene's brand "Flexible Stretchable" Fabric Glue.

I learned to bead by getting scrap fabric and beads and just going for it. So I definitely agree with Azhia that just trying it and seeing what you come up with is the best way to learn.

There are also some great reference books on how to bead on fabric that might help. I think this one is a great place to start:
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Embellishing-Beads-Nancy-Nehring/dp/1402727666/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266446851&sr=8-7]Amazon.com: Embellishing with Beads (9781402727665): Nancy Nehring: Books[/ame]
It explains different types of beads and how they work on different fabrics, shows various types of stitches, and even talks about stringing your own fringe.

This is great, thank you all! Now next question, any good online sources for ordering beads and supplies?

Here are some places I like:
Beads- Wholesale Beads and Jewelry Making Supplies - Fire Mountain Gems and Beads but they have so much that the selection gets a bit daunting
also Cartwright's Sequins, Beads, Buttons & Glitter
Sew-on rhinestones Rhinestones, SWAROVSKI Rhinestones, Crystal Beads & Trims | Dreamtime Creations
Rhinestone chain- RHINESTONE CHAIN.NET
Sequins-I've had good luck with the ebay sellers Vincy_Ming and bluewilly23

Thank you so much, Mintaka!