The Bottom Line
Pros
- Comprehensive directions for many off-loom beadweaving stitches
- Clear illustrations
- Many variations included for each stitch
- Beautiful photographs of beadwork from well-known artists to inspire you
Cons
- Has a more "textbook" feel to it than other beading books
Description
- Paperback binding makes this book easy to use
- Beautiful illustrations and detailed directions for off-loom beadweaving stitches and their variations
- Many inspirational photographs of completed beadwork in many forms: jewelry, purses and bags, sculptures and wall hangings
Guide Review - Creative Bead Weaving by Carol Wilcox Wells
This is a comprehensive beadweaving book that includes instructions for peyote, brick, netting, African helix, herringbone, square stitch, right angle weave, and Chevron chain. Carol covers all of the necessary variations including increasing and decreasing, tubular and circular. At the end of the book, she also includes ideas for ways to combine stitches to give a broad range of options when working with each stitch.
For the new beader, the basic materials used in off-loom beadweaving are also profiled in their own separate section at the beginning of the book. Needles, beads, threads, findings and tools are all covered. Basic techniques such as fringe and adding and ending threads while stitching are included to make this a real stand-alone reference book.
The illustrations are clear and easy to follow. Beads are clearly marked with the thread path, which assists in teaching oneself each stitch.
Project for each stitch range from the relatively simple to the more complex. Graphs and charts are included for each project, with increases and decreases and starting points all clearly marked.
Photographs illustrating how each beadweaving stitch is used are included throughout the entire book. The pieces chosen for inclusion are so beautiful that they inspired me to really master each stitch and all the variations included. The photographs included not just wearables and jewelry – there were beaded baskets, purses and bags, and three-dimensional sculptures included.
It’s easy to see why this book is considered an essential text and reference for the beginner and advanced beadweaver. This is one book that you will refer to again and again for clear directions for each of the most popular beadweaving stitches.