In this area you will find information about different beading techniques. Each page briefly outlines the technique and then gives you links to free tutorials with key tips that will help you to get it right first time around. I have also included links to patterns that will help you to develop your skills in each of the key beading techniques.
- The clasp blends seamlessly with the gold chain
This section offers individual posts looking at basic beading techniques, including how to make simple jewellery and posts that will help you with the basics of bead-weaving, like threading needles, reading patterns, setting up your workspace and other handy tips.
Peyote Stitch Beading Technique
This page briefly outlines the history of the beading technique known as Peyote stitch. It goes on to describe how the technique is worked and talk about the various different peyote stitch variations.
Right Angle Weave Beading Technique
On this page you can learn the basics of Right Angle Weave – how the stitch works, what it looks like in practical terms and there are links to free tutorials to help you understand this group of beading techniques in both its flat and cubic variations.
This is one of the basic bead-weaving techniques. This page looks briefly at the origins of Herringbone and then goes on to talk about the different technique variations, with links to patterns for you to try the stitch.
Brick Stitch Beading Technique
This page talks about the basic flat brick stitch technique, how to turn this into a tube and also how to add shaping to create flat shapes or three-dimensional objects. The page includes links to free tutorials and patterns to help you master this group of beading techniques.
On this page you will find an outline of the history of French beading and the different beading techniques that can be used to make a range of French beaded flowers. The page also includes links to other useful resources to help you learn French beading.
Square Stitch Beading Technique
Square stitch is an excellent alternative to loom beading techniques. Instead of setting up all those warp and weft threads, you can create the same style of beadwork, just adding the beads one at a time. This page includes links to free tutorials for learning this beading technique.
This is one of the basic bead-weaving techniques and it is a very easy technique to start with if you are just beginning to learn about beading. Netting creates a very flexible flat fabric, but can also be made into beautiful necklaces and worked in tubular form. The page includes links to patterns to help you learn the technique.
The “Ava bead” necklace instructions are to do Mraw around the rivoli. If don’t know how to do the stitch go to your web-site and get the instructions. I can’t find anything about MRAW. Am I reading the instructions wrong?
Thanks
Judi K
Hi Judi, you’re reading the instructions right – the free technique sheet for Modified Right Angle Weave (MRAW) is on the beadflowers.co.uk website (not this website!) – this link should take you straight there. http://beadflowers.co.uk/beads/tutorials/modified-right-angle-weave-free-technique-sheet/
You’ll be pleased to hear that MRAW is, I think, a little easier than the traditional RAW – or at least, a lot of my students find it so! I hope you will agree and thanks for getting in touch.
Katie
Think I was just not focused at the time I sat down to do the necklace. After I sent the e-mail I sat down and did the bezel and have the necklace finished. Guess I just had to look away for awhile. I did a bracelet to match and it’s really cute.
Thanks
Judi
I’m so pleased to hear that! Sometimes the brain just doesn’t want to oblige us and a break is all it needs! I thought this would make a lovely bracelet, so I’m really thrilled to hear you’ve done it.
Thanks ever so much for letting me know how you got on. Happy beading!
Katie
Hi, I’m trying to do a brick stitch around a coin shape bead and one side just seems to be loose, am I doing something wrong or is it not possible to do a tight stitch around a coin bead? Any help you can give me would be great.
Thanks,
Maria
Hi Maria – it should be possible to stitch around a coin shape. Brick stitch may not be the best choice of technique. I would more usually go for Peyote or Right Angle Weave. Because, in order to hold the beading snug, you need to decrease a little over the front and back of the coin and that’s not always so easy with brick stitch…not impossible! It’s hard for me to say if you’re doing something wrong without seeing a photo. So, if you want to send one to beadflowers@btinternet.com, I can take a closer look. You may also find this book helpful: https://beadflowers.co.uk/beads/books/bead-embellished-cabochons/
I hope that helps a little – do email me if you want extra advice.
Katie
This is all too complicated to me. I prefer to just spill a bunch of seed beads on the floor and spend the rest of my life trying to find them all. I swear some of them must be having babies because I keep finding them everywhere.
LOL – I think you’re right…I’m sure they breed! They seem to turn up in the most unexpected places!!