Other Resources for Beadwork

Readers tell us about their favorite beading stitch, and show off a project or two that they made using that stitch.See submissions

Tell us how you got started in beadwork. What inspired you? Was it an accident? Did you decide that you wanted to learn a new craft? If you still have it, show us a picture of your very first beading project! See submissions

Choosing seed bead colors for your beadwork project can be confusing if you don't know what all the colors and finishes mean. These are some of the most commonly found and most beautiful colors and finishes of seed beads.

While the most commonly used seed beads for beadweaving are round, there are lots of other beautiful shapes that you can use to add texture and variety to your beadwork.

Japanese cylinder beads are the favorite bead of many beaders who love to do peyote and brick stitch. Their amazing range of colors and precisely uniform shape and size create a beaded fabric unlike anything else.

Japanese seed beads are very uniform in size and their finishes tend to be very durable, making them the perfect choice for your beaded jewelry projects. They come in a wide range of colors and finishes, so you are sure to find the perfect color.

Czech seed beads are a favorite bead of many seed beaders. These beautiful glass seed beads come in a wide range of colors and can add a wonderful organic or ethnic feel to your beadwork.

Information about the different sizes of seed beads used for off-loom beadweaving.

Do you have a favorite source of inspiration for your beadweaving designs? If so, share it here.

Are you searching for the perfect gift for your favorite beader or looking for a treat for yourself? Here are some great ideas for a special gift for holiday time or any time.

Ten great gift ideas for your favorite beader or for yourself.

For me, the best thing about beadwork is the incredible amount of books out there. Beading books are great for so many reasons – you can learn a new stitch or technique, find out information about the beads that you are using, get ideas for new projects and color combinations, and of course, look at the beautiful work of other beaders.

These books are great for beginners or to just round…

I’ve heard lots of questions about seed beads from beginner and advanced beaders alike. Here is a list of some of the most common questions about seed beads.

Show a before and after picture of your latest UFO (Un-Finished Object), and tell us how and why you finished it.See submissions

Terms of use for the free beading patterns designed by Jennifer VanBenschoten for About.com.

Links to all the free charted peyote stitch patterns currently available on the About.com Beadwork site.

These fun and easy Halloween beading patterns are sure to be a big hit. They make great accessories for your favorite Halloween costume.

Show and Tell your beading area with other readers. Tell us about your lighting, where you sit, your work surface and give some advice for others who are also looking to set up or change where they bead.See submissions

A place to submit information about your blog about beading or beadwork. Tell us a little bit about why you blog, what you write about, what motivates you, and any advice you have for someone who is looking to write a blog. You can even submit a screen shot of your blog if you wish. See submissions See submissions

Reviews of local, independently-owned bead shops submitted by readers.See submissions

User submitted reviews of Tila beads, manufactured by the Miyuki Company of Japan.

If you have a question, this is where you can find out where to post it on the About.com Beadwork site.

What is beadwork? This article answers the question, "What is beadwork?" and gives examples of different types of beadwork and beading.

Beaded ropes can be made using either a tubular version of a flat beading stitch or by using a beading stitch that has no flat variation such as spiral rope. Either way, they work up quickly into beautiful beaded jewelry, and can be used for other things like purse handles or beaded embellishments for clothing. Here are some beaded rope...

About.com Readers' Choice Awards 2011 - Vote for Your Beadwork Favorites in the 2011 About.com Readers' Choice Awards

This is a list of basic essential tools that you should have before learning how to do beadwork. Make a beader's basic toolkit with these items to have handy whenever you sit down to do off-loom beadweaving. All of the items in this beader's basic toolkit can be easily packed up to take your beading on the go with you.

Everything you need to know about off-loom beadweaving, including stitch tutorials, free patterns and directions, reviews of beading books, kits and tools, and helpful advice and suggestions for organizing and storing beads, buying beads, and

Peyote stitch is such a popular and versatile stitch that there are thousands and thousands of beautiful patterns available in books and on the Internet. Once you learn how the stitch basically works, you can use these patterns to create beautiful pieces of jewelry, beaded bags, beaded ropes, and more. Because each variation on peyote stitch has it's own set of rules, reading a peyote stitch pat…

Step by step instructions and tips for how to read a tubular peyote stitch pattern or graph. Tubular peyote stitch can be used to make amulet bags, beaded ornaments, or needle cases.

Learning how to read a peyote stitch pattern or graph can be difficult, even for experienced beaders. This step by step tutorial illustrates each row of beads in an even count peyote stitch graph with numbers for easy identification.

Learning how to read a peyote stitch pattern or graph can be difficult, even for experienced beaders. This step by step tutorial illustrates each row of beads in a flat odd count peyote stitch graph with numbers for easy identification.

A tutorial for how to create an open-backed bezel for a cabochon using peyote stitch.

Step by step directions for how to make a basic loop using wire.

Step by step directions for how to make a wrapped loop out of wire.

Whether you are a homebody or travel frequently, you will always count on your beadwork to relax you at the end of a hard day. Here are some ideas and suggestions for what you need to create a comfortable, inviting workspace to make the most of your beading time.

It's happened to us all. You finish a masterpiece of beadwork and are giddy with delight. You sit down at your work table with your beads in front of you and - nothing. Nothing at all happens. The light in your head does not go off, your fingers won't work properly, and you start breaking needles and beads and your thread gets tangled in an unprecedented mess. So what do you do? Here are a …

Step by step instructions for how to make your own custom and unique mixes of seed beads.

A step by step set of instructions on how to make a wire-wrapped 2-strand clasp out of a set of 2-hole beads.

One of the things that drew me to the art of beadwork is the community surrounding the craft. I have found many wonderful friends through my beadwork and through my local bead store, and one of the things that we enjoy doing the most is getting together once in a while to eat, drink and bead. We share so much with each other about art and life and it’s great to get opinions on our current pro…

After spending hours and hours on a piece of beautiful beadwork, why settle for an ordinary clasp? Instead, make your own clasp out of materials that match the beads you used in your masterpiece. Before you try this, make sure that you are comfortable with even-count tubular peyote stitch.

With all the glum news about the economy and thousands of people uncertain about their jobs, it makes sense that more and more people are turning to handcrafts as a way to soothe their souls and seek refuge from the five o clock news. But when you are trying to stick to a budget, you might think that it can hamper your creative impulses. Not so, if you try a few of these ideas.

Taking a class in beadweaving can be a great way to make new friends, meet new people and add to your set of bead stitching skills. But it can also be a very frustrating experience, particularly if you go into it unprepared. As a teacher of beadweaving, I can offer a few tips for making your class experience fun, relaxing and enriching.

As you explore the fun of beadweaving, you will come to rely on a few simple tools over and over. There are a few tools that I always have handy when I sit down to work. Not only does having these items nearby make my work easier, but also more enjoyable.

You can use this thread path to sew together two horizontal rows of square stitch. It is a different path than you use to join vertical columns.

This chart shows the path of beading thread through picot edges on horizontal netting. To keep correct tension at the end of each row, you slide the picot beads against the beadwork before stitching them in.

If you don't have a ready-made clasp handy and need something to finish off a beaded necklace or bracelet, you can use a button to make your own clasp.

This chart shows the thread path for creating loop-style picots along the edges of flat horizontal netting.

This article walks you through the process of stitching a tubular right angle weave rope by following a pattern. You can read the pattern from left to right, like many other patterns; but you need to keep careful track of bead units.

This diagram shows the thread path for stitching the first two bead columns of vertical netting onto a base row of right-angle weave.

This diagram shows the thread path for stitching the first two bead columns of vertical netting onto a base row of right-angle weave.

This tutorial demonstrates how to perform circular chevron stitch. It's very similar to the method you use for regular flat chevron stitch, except that you need to use a special thread path to complete each round.

Learn how to follow a shaped peyote stitch pattern by stitching this simple beaded leaf.

This is a tutorial for the Olive Bariela beaded bead. You create it by stitching tubular right angle weave over a wood craft bead.

Learn how to use a new length of beading thread to correct loose tension in your beadwork.