Jean Campbell - Beadwork Creates Beaded Bags

Do you consider your handbag a simple necessity? Well, take a seat at the bead table! Youve got some rethinking to do. Theres nothing like beads to spice up a wardrobe, and a beaded bag is a great first step. The thirty bags featured in this book will put you on the right track. A far cry from the rectangular amulet bags that were popular ten years ago, each one of these bags presents a totally new view of the words beaded + bag. The variety of shapes and colors will complement anyones wardrobe, and the array of techniquesoff-loom, loomwork, bead crochet, and bead knittingis enough to keep every beadworker satisfied.

Before you start making your own beaded bag, be sure to check the Tips section on , where each stitch used in the book is clearly defined. Together the illustrations and words will help you learn a new stitch or jog your bead-stitching memory.

So page through the beautiful projects and select your perfect bag. Youre about to make a stunning fashion statement!

by Jean Campbell

by Margo C. Field

by Nancy Geddes

by Jean Campbell

by Barbara L. Grainger

by Jean Campbell

by Robyn Lakeman

by Sheilah Cleary

by Pat Mayer

by David Dean

by David Dean

by Lindsay DeGree

by Shelley Hauge Wong

by Jamie Hogsett

by Jeri Herrera

by Paulette Livers

by Dustin Wedekind

by Janie Warnick

by Robin Atkins

by Lori Kindle

by Nancy Zellers

by Dustin Wedekind

by Bethany Barry

by Jennifer Sevlie Diederich

by Judi Wood

by Sandy Amazeen

by Jeannette Cook

by Marian Lyall

by Chris Prussing

by Julia S. Pretl

Jean Campbell

3" L 1" W (without fringe)

Youre sure to get compliments when you wear this unusually shaped amulet bag festooned with fire-polished beads and pearls.

176 transparent topaz, olivine, and spring green 6 5 faceted fire-polished rondelles

14 transparent topaz faceted fire-polished teardrop beads

1 hank of 5mm golden freshwater pearls

5 olivine 2 25 Czech 2-holed tubes

Size 11 transparent topaz Japanese seed beads

Size 11 opaque olivine Japanese seed beads

Size B gold beading thread

Size 12 beading needle

Scissors

Step 1: Make the front of the bag. Using 2 yards of thread and leaving a 4" tail, create a strip of square stitch 10 rondelles wide by 15 rondelles long. The rondelles should lie vertically for each row. Work the colors randomly. Weave in the tail and working threads and trim.

Step 2: Make the back of the bag. Use the topaz size 11s to create a strip of peyote stitch that is slightly larger than the square-stitched strip created in Step 1. The bag shown has a peyote-stitched strip that is 26 beads wide by 40 beads long.

Step 3: Assemble the bag. Begin by starting a new thread and whipstitch the two strips together at the sides. On the bottom, weave the thread from each bead on the peyote-stitched row to the connecting threads on the square-stitched row.

Step 4: Begin to embellish the top by starting a new thread at the top of the square-stitched row. Use pearls and olivine size 11s to create simple fringe across the bag. Exit through the last rondelle of the bag. *String 1 olivine tube, 1 topaz rondelle, and 1 olivine size 11. Pass back through the rondelle and the tube. * Pass through all of the rondelles on the first row of the bag and repeat from * to *.

Weave through beads so you exit from the fourth end rondelle down. Repeat from * to *, using the second hole of the tube. Pass through the rondelles of the fourth row and repeat from * to *. Secure the thread and trim.

Step 5: Begin the bottom fringe by starting a new thread at the lower corner of the bag, exiting from the corner rondelle. String 1 olivine size 11, 1 pearl, 1 olivine size 11, 1 rondelle, 1 olivine size 11, 1 teardrop, and 1 olivine size 11. Pass back through all but the last bead strung. Pass through the rondelle you just exited and come out between the first and second rondelles. Make another fringe leg.

Pass through the second rondelle. String 1 tube and make a fringe leg. Pass back through all except the last bead strung. Pass through the third through eighth rondelles on the row. Pass through the second hole of the tube. Repeat the fringe sequence so it matches the first three fringe legs. Secure the thread and trim.

Step 6: Make the strap. Begin by starting a new 8" thread at the upper corner of the bag. *String 1 olivine size 11 and 1 pearl. Repeat from * twice.

String 6 olivine size 11s and pass through a tube. String 5 olivine size 11s and pass back through the first size 11 strung in this step. Weave through the whole stringing sequence several times. Secure the thread and trim.

Step 7: Repeat Step 6 on the opposite upper corner of the bag.

Step 8: Using a yard of thread, string 6 olivine size 11s. Pass through the second hole of one of the green tubes added in Step 6. String 5 olivine size 11s and pass back through the first bead strung in this step. Tie a knot.

String beads as desired using all of the pearls, fire-polished, and seed beads. String enough beads so the strap will reach your desired length, compensating for the tube on the opposite sides length. When you are ready to attach the other tube, string 6 olivine size 11s, pass through the second hole of the tube, string 5 olivine size 11s, and back through the first seed bead added before the tube. Tie a knot. Pass through all of the beads on the strap again, tying knots periodically to secure the thread.

Jean Campbell is the editor ofBeadworkmagazine and books.

Margo C. Field

1" L 2" W (without fringe)

You can make this little bag when you travel. Only one color of seed bead is required for the body of the bag, so theres no need to keep track of a pattern. When you reach your destination, make a strap and add the creative embellishments. A work of art!

Size 11 seed beads

Size 15 seed beads

Assorted accent beads

Size B beading thread in color to complement beads

Hook clasp

Size 10 and 12 beading needles

Paper towel roll (optional)

Beeswax or Thread Heaven

Step 1: Using about 2 yards of waxed single thread and leaving a 6" tail, string 48 size 11s and tie in a circle. If desired, slip the circle of beads onto the paper towel roll or work with the circle of beads on your fingers.

Step 2: Work even count tubular peyote stitch for 1". Remove the paper towel roll.

Step 3: *String 3 size 11s, pass over the next space, and through the next. Repeat from * around to make 12 nets of three beads each. Pass up through the first two beads added in this step ().