Written by Michele Wheat
Beading is a fun activity for people of all ages. For kids, it can be a great way to learn patterns and learn the basics of creating their own jewelry. Adults can create more intricate and in-depth creations using beads of all shapes and sizes, as well as wires and other materials. Creating bracelets, necklaces and other types of jewelry can be a great hobby or even a budding career if you want to bring your creations to a market or sell your creations online! With so many different kinds of stitches to try to create intricate designs, you'll find there are endless possibilities to express yourself with beads.
What is Beading?
Beading Jewelry 101 has created a detailed explanation of what beading that covers many questions newcomers to the beading hobby may be asking themselves.
How To Make Beaded Necklaces
This article discusses how to make three different designs of beaded necklaces that anybody can make!
Russian-Style Leaves Using the Peyote Stitch
Create three-dimensional Russian-style leaf earrings using a peyote stitch. It may require some practice to get it right but, in the end, you'll have gorgeous earrings that will have heads turning to get a better look.
Tips for Starting a Beading Business
The demand for beaded jewelry and fashion has been growing over the years which makes starting your own beading business a profitable idea. If this is something you've been thinking about, this page provides some factors to think about to get started.
Jewelry Making Cheat Sheet
Before you get started with any beading or jewelry-making projects, take advantage of this cheat sheet so you know what supplies to purchase, standard jewelry lengths, and birthstones so you've got a leg up when you get started!
Beading Terminology
The Guide to Beadwork created a beading terminology page to help beginners gain a better understanding of some of the common phrases in the beading world.
How to Start a Jewelry Business
Do you love making beaded jewelry and feel like you want to share your creations with the world? These tips can help you get started in creating your own beaded jewelry business.
How To Make Beaded Necklaces
Necklaces are eye-catching pieces of jewelry because they're easy to see and admire, but that doesn't mean they're hard to make! In fact, they are some of the easiest projects because they only require a few tools and they use skills that are easy to learn.
Make a Strong Beaded Bracelet
Using strong, high-quality materials you should have no problems following these tips to make a handmade bracelet that will last for years to come.
Bead Size Chart (PDF)
The size of the bead you choose for your patterns is just as important as the type of bead you choose. This size chart can give you an idea of how big the bead sizes are so it will be easier to buy the right size for your project.
Beading Tips
These fun tips can help you relax and give you a push in the right direction when you're getting started in beading.
How To Bead for Beginners
Learning how to bead is about understanding your materials, essential equipment, how to select the correct bead for your pattern, and of course, practice.
Beading Techniques
Beading is much more than just slipping some plastic beads on a string like you did as a kid! It comes with a bunch of different techniques that you should learn and this page includes a few pointers to get you started.
Types of Beading Stitches
The best way to start out in beading is to master the basics! Crafting News has created a page devoted to the basic types of beading stitches you need to learn as a beginner so you can become a master!
Bead Embroidery
When you're doing your beadwork on fabric, you'll be using simple stitches to form the basis of your pattern and it can be a little difficult if you're relatively new to it. This article goes over the basic stitches you need to know for bead embroidery.
What's the Difference Between a Brick Stitch and a Peyote Stitch?
Brick stitch and peyote stitch may seem similar at first glance because they are used in similar ways and use a similar patterning, but they are two distinct patterns you need to learn to effectively create and follow patterns.
How To Use Cross-Stitch Patterns to Bead
Cross-stitch is a form of embroidery used to create intricate pictures, but did you know you could use the basics from cross-stitching to make beading projects of all shapes and sizes?
Confusing Beading Terms Explained for Beginners
When you're new to a hobby, there are a lot of terms that might seem really confusing at first, this terminology glossary makes understanding beading a little easier!
Cree Sewing and Beading Terms
Beading is an ancient form of art in the Cree community. Originally artisans used natural materials like stones, bones, copper, and shells over hours of meticulous work to create elaborate jewelry. Today, it's a sign of resilience and pride in Cree culture.
Indian Beaded Jewelry
Beads in India range all the way back to the Indus Valley civilization and have been used in jewelry ever since. They've used items found in nature as well as precious metals like gold and silver to create items of religious and spiritual significance.
Bead Glossary
This glossary can help you understand some of the common terms in the beading community to describe different forms of beading, as well as slang artists use to talk to one another.
Botanical Jewelry - Necklaces and Bracelets Made from Plants
Beads have been a popular way to make jewelry for thousands of years thanks to nature! People have been able to use different plants and objects from nature as beads for their jewelry; these are just a few examples!
The Wonderful World of Beads
The Mingei International Museum has an exhibit of over 11,000 beads, bead strands, and beaded objects; this exhibit shows how beads were used in art in cultures all around the world.
Free Beading Pattern for Bracelet Amaranth
Create this beautiful bracelet or wristband using this pattern with step-by-step instructions and a visual guide to help you along as you make it.
Getting Started with Bead Pattern Maker
Creating your own pattern is considered a difficult part of the process, but this tool makes it simple to create your own pattern for your projects.
Beginners Guide to the Right Angle Weave
The right-angle weave creates a flexible piece of beadwork and even though it's easy to learn, it's usually the basis for more complicated projects.
Shades of Pink Bracelet
Using a variety of crystal beads, you can create this easy pink bracelet even if you're just starting out!
Beaded Stretch Bracelets
Bring your kids in on the fun of beaded bracelets and jewelry with this fun craft.
Free Beading Pattern for Evelyn Necklace
This simple pattern includes a step-by-step video tutorial and a PDF diagram to help you create this elegant and versatile necklace.
How to Create Beadwork Spiral Chains
The spiral rope chain is a popular beading technique that is a great option for beginners as well as experts because it has endless possibilities for designs.