Jema Hewit - First Beading: Simple Projects for Beaders

First
Beading

Simple projects for beaders

Jema Hewitt

I have always been attracted like a magpie to anything that sparkles. In my youth, I loved the pots of sequins used by my mother to sew onto dance costumes, loving the way the beaded and bespangled garments came to life under the spotlight. It was a slippery slope and I knew that one day my life would be filled to bursting with these delightful objects.

One of the loveliest things about beads is their longevity. If made from a high-quality substance, such as semiprecious stone or crystal, they will look as good hundreds of years from now as they do today. I love to rework necklaces worn by my mother and grandmother into new designs more suitable for me. It allows me to retain the memories of the beads but create something I will actually wear. Jewellery is no good in a box it is there to be adapted and worn.

This book is divided into five chapters: Bead Threading, Wire Work, Looming, Embroidery and Bead Weaving. The projects range from those that are quick to make, to those that take time and require more skill. They are all explained in simple language and are designed to introduce just a few new techniques at a time, building up your confidence steadily and surely.

A comprehensive workshop section at the beginning of the book illustrates the basics, so you can see exactly what to do. Easy-to-follow text will teach you all the techniques you need to create the projects in the book. Each technique has a reference number, which is used for cross-referencing in the patterns.

The project section features 34 stylish pieces of jewellery for every occasion. Each one is accompanied by clear text and step-by-step photographs showing the key stages for easy reference as you work. The instructions for each project contain reference numbers, which direct you to the relevant technique in the Workshop, should you need to learn a new technique or be reminded of a familiar one.