Jamie Cloud Eakin - Dimensional Bead Embroidery: A Reference Guide to Techniques

In this chapter, youll find all the information you need about beads and components for your designs and the tools you ought to have on hand.

tip

Purchase the same color of bead in sizes 15, 11, 8, and 6. Its often useful to have a selection of bead sizes of the same color to fit into a space as youre covering a surface.

Seed beads, small glass beads named for the seeds they resemble, are used throughout the projects. Theyre round in appearance and are also referred to as rocailles. There are also seed beads, such as Delicas and Tohos, that were created especially for loom and other weaving stitches. These beads are more cylindrical in shape and therefore not as versatile for bead embroidery.

Seed beads are sized according to number; the higher the number, the smaller the bead. The most common size seed bead is size 11. (Seed bead size is indicated by a number followed by the degree symbol, which is pronounced ott, or by a slash and a zero: 11/0.)

A bead is anything that has a hole through it so it can be sewn on, strung, or woven.

Meanwhile, a component is anything else that you wish to incorporate into your designs but that doesnt have holes. This includes cabochons (which are stones, gems, or other objects that have a flat back and a smooth, domed surface), rivolis, buttons, donuts, etc. Beads and components may be created from man-made materials, such as glass and acrylics, or from natural materials, such as genuine stones, shells, and more.

When selecting your beads and components, you need to consider the function of the end piece. Its generally easier to choose beads and components for jewelry than it is for garments and home interior items because many beads are sensitive to excessive sun exposure or cleaning agents. It can be difficult to determine these sensitivities because dyes and coated finishes on beads are so pervasive and done so well that you cant tell by simply looking at them. Accordingly, the best method is to test a sampling of the beads and components by using typical cleaners on them and exposing them to sunlight.

I also encourage you to create your beadwork independent of the item youre working on so that the beadwork can be removed when, say, a garment needs to be washed. Apply an attachment method that suits the item, such as sew-on snaps, hooks, or Velcro. This is also helpful because your beadwork will probably last longer than any garment, anyway!

Beading needles are different from regular sewing needles: theyre much thinner and the eye is smaller. Theyre made specifically for beading and are labeled beading needles. I prefer English-made needles because they tend to have a larger thread hole in relation to the needle size. Beading needles come in sizes 10, 12, 13, and upthe higher the number, the smaller the needle. For most of the embroidery in this book, I suggest you use a size 12 beading needle.