Introduction: The never-ending story 4

Basics and supplies .......................... 5

Tips and tricks...................................12
Chapter 1: Ndebele herringbone ......14
Basic ..................................................................... 15
Tubular ................................................................... 18
Twisted tubular ......................................................21
Increasing and decreasing .................................... 24
Chapter 2: Daisy chain ....................32
Basic .................................................................... 33
Daisy chain circles ................................................ 35
Chapter 3: Inspiration ......................38
Chapter 4: Peyote ............................44
Basic .................................................................... 45
Increase ................................................................ 48
Tubular increases and decreases ......................... 49
Circular .................................................................. 51
Triangle ................................................................. 53
Square .................................................................. 58
Chapter 5: Spirals ............................60
Basic spiral ........................................................... 61
Cellini spiral ........................................................... 62
Seamless bracelet connections ............................. 64
Two-bead spiral .................................................... 66
CONTENTS
MORE SEED BEAD
STITCHING:
Creative Variations on
Traditional Techniques
Chapter 6: Fringe ............................ 70
Chapter 7: Combinations ................ 74
Adding accent beads to herringbone .....................75
Combining herringbone with peyote .......................78
Diamond stitch II ................................................... 80
Peyote and brick stitch .......................................... 81
Chapter 8: Skinny ropes .................82
Basic .................................................................... 83
Skinny Russian spiral .............................................87
Skinny diamond stitch ........................................... 90
Bonus project: Square pillows ............................... 91
My thoughts ...................................94
About the author .............................95
Sources ...........................................95
3
4 More Seed Bead Stitching
THE NEVER-ENDING STORY
Even though Seed Bead Stitching was
completed, I never stopped playing with beads,
and continued creating more variations of
tried-and-true beading techniques. As I worked
with the beads and moved through a number
of stitches and variations, I once again thought
I had actually invented some new ones. And as
before, I was disappointed to find that I did not.
But not one to give up, I gave these new-to-me
techniques my own spin.
Throughout this book, youll find new variations
of stitches I introduced in the first book, as well
as completely different stitches. Many have basic
instructions and illustrations to get you started
instead of a full project. I wanted to use as
much space here as possible for new work and
techniques. For stitches that were not covered in
the first book, such as Ndebele herringbone,
I wrote detailed instructions and gave you a
project or two. Also, because so many of the
stitches are three-dimensional, I used bright,
contrasting colors and more written instructions
and illustrations in order to make sure that each
step is clearly explained.
Some projects are tubular and may be a bit more
challenging if youre new to beading, but time,
practice, and patience will pay off in the end as
you learn new techniques.
Mixed with the projects and instructions, youll
find stories about my lifelong bead journey and
the evolution of my seed bead work over the past
almost three decades. I am constantly amazed
at the beaded fabrics that emerge from stitching
one bead at a time. I love the excitement
of watching project ideas evolve with simple
changes in colors and beads.
While the structure of this book is similar to
my first, I am excited to give you some new
goodies, including seed beading tips and tricks
and a chapter about inspiration. There you will
find stories from other beaders, some of whom
I communicate with on a regular basis and
some of whom I have never met. I wanted to
give them a chance to help me in this book by
imparting some of their bead wisdom. I cant
thank them enough.
Some life experiences are such that one vows
never to do them again, no matter what
(childbirth comes to mind, as does writing my
first book). Yet the mind and the body forget
the pain and the process over time, as the
wonderfulness of the experience begins to reveal
itself. I feel that way as I watch my girls grow
and thrive, and I feel that way as I hear from my
readers who are discovering the joy of seed bead
stitching through my published work.
I cant thank you enough for trusting me once
again to help guide you in your own seed bead
stitching journey. If you are ready, lets get on
with it. Enjoy.
56 More Seed Bead Stitching
Six-bead start triangle
When I rst started making these triangles,
I was using a six-bead start instead of the
three-bead start I discovered later. When
working with a six-bead start, you will
notice that there is a two-bead gap on
each side of the triangle.
The pendants on page 30 use a six-
bead start, as do the toggle clasps
shown here. (Instructions for making
the lariats are on page 90.)
B
E
A
D

P
L
A
Y
For this bracelet I attached three open
triangles to three regular triangles. The
open triangle on the end is used as part
of the clasp. A peyote-stitched toggle is
attached to the other end.
B
E
A
D

P
L
A
Y
64 More Seed Bead Stitching
Bangle bracelet with a
seamless connection
This will take concentration to complete. You may want to try Suzanne
Goldens tips of using correction uid on the protruding beads on each side
to make sure you are connecting the correct beads.
Before connecting the two ends, you need to remove the thread that you used for your base
row. If you look at the tail end of your rope, you will see tiny bits of thread peeking out
between the rst row. Slowly pull the thread out one bead at a time. When your thread is once
again coming out the 80 bead (or whichever bead you picked up rst), you are done. You can
now continue with the connection.
I suggest reading through these instructions before trying to make your first
connection.
Make sure that you have completed an entire round of beads and that you have completed
the last step up into a turquoise bead.
Hold the two ends as close as possible without losing sight of the beads you need to connect.
Look at the how the beads line up, paying close attention to the direction you will be going as
you make the connection. I am going to call the end of the tube that your working thread is
coming out End X and the other end End Y to help guide you.
For this three-bead spiral I
used 60, 80, and 110 beads.
For the nine-bead spiral I used
beads in this order, 60, 80, 110,
110, 110, 150, 110, 110, and 80.
chapter
Combining stitches and adding accent
beads adds a new dimension to your
work. Has it occurred to you yet that I
have a very short attention span? It
takes a great deal of patience and
perseverance for me to make a piece of
jewelry that is created using one stitch
and one type of bead throughout. I like to
play. I like to experiment and I love to see
what adding a bead here, or changing a
technique there, will do to the look and
feel of my beaded fabric or rope.
Changing the size, shape, color, or
number of beads is something that I just
have to do. But changes like these beg
the question, How do I seamlessly blend
the techniques? The answer for me is
to add an accent bead and then change
the stitch or the pattern. This device gives
you many options and helps you create
your own work of art jewelry.
7
Combinations
74 More Seed Bead Stitching