My favorite of all of the bead weaving stitches is Peyote. It's very calming for me. Although starting, like in all bead weaving stitches, can be frustrating. Put it in your mind that the first couple of rows will look weird until you get further along. I like to use Delica beads for my peyote patterns because they snap in and look better. You can also use regular seed beads, if you prefer. When you are just learning the Peyote stitch, you should start with an even count Peyote. Odd count Peyote requires a step up. It's not hard, but it's better to do the even first. I also recommend picking two different colors to start. It will be easier to see which bead to go into next.
First you cut an amount of thread that you are comfortable with. *Put a stopper bead on the thread leaving a tail that will be long enough for you to weave in later. String on an even amount of beads of your first (A) color. String on one of your second (B) color and skip the last (A) bead you just strung and go thru the next (A) bead. Pick up another (B) bead and skip the next (A) bead and go in the bead after that. You continue across. Try to get your work as close to the stopper bead as you can. Pull the beads so they snap into place. When you are done with that row, pick up an (A) bead and go thru the (B) bead that is sticking up. Continue across by picking up an (A) bead and going in the (B) bead that is sticking up. Switch colors and continue until you reach the length you want. You don't have to use two colors but this way you can see which bead you need to go into because it's a different color.
And that's Peyote!! There are so many things you can do with this stitch.
*A stopper bead is a different bead than the ones you are using to do your stitch. You go thru the stopper bead with the needle and thread. Then you go thru the same way again so that it actually anchors the bead on the thread. Pull the stopper bead down to the tail. The stopper bead will hold the beads you are using on the thread. It is very easy to take the stopper bead off when you have a few rows done.
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Peyote Patterns
I love Peyote stitch the most. It's relaxing and looks and feels wonderful. Below are a few of my designs that you can purchase on www.katsbeadboutique.com. The word charts are very easy to use. These are even count peyote. I recommend you start with even count if you are a beginner. I would also suggest that you start with either the chain pattern or the black eyed susan's pattern. There are only a few colors in those. The tulip one has alot of colors, but pattern is easy so if your daring go for it.
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Wednesday, January 20, 2016
List for a snow storm
Here in Pennsylvania we are watching an approaching snow storm. Now no one knows how much we will get because it keeps changing. I decided to make a list of things to get just in case
1. beads
2. extra beads in case I want to make a different project
3. needles
4. fireline
5. more beads just in case
6. Wine
7. Don't forget the wine
8. a few extra beads
9. snacks
10. If I have extra time Milk and bread
1. beads
2. extra beads in case I want to make a different project
3. needles
4. fireline
5. more beads just in case
6. Wine
7. Don't forget the wine
8. a few extra beads
9. snacks
10. If I have extra time Milk and bread
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Beads, beads everywhere!
Every time I think I am close to getting all the different kinds of beads in my shop, they create a new one. I can't keep up with them. Single hole, double hole, verticle holes, horizontal holes, my head is going to explode.
The seed beads are pretty easy. One hole, no problem....unless you don't know which size you need. In beads that are used for stringing, their sizes are by milimeter. Easy, right? The bigger the number, the bigger the bead. Seed beads, though, have to be different. They do not go by their measurement but by a number, 15, 11, 8, and so on. Now you would think 15 would be the biggest, right? Nope. Size 15 seed beads are smaller than let say 11 or 8's. So the higher the number in seed beads and the smaller the bead gets.
Then we have regular seed beads and Delica seed beads. Regular seed beads are rounded. If you get a reputable bead like Miyuki or Toho, they will be pretty uniform. They work well in any bead weaving stitch, although I like Delicas for Peyote better.
Delica beads, made by Miyuki, are cylinder beads that fit together perfectly when doing peyote. And since I LOVE Peyote, I love delica beads. We have a wonderful selection in our shop and on our website. Of course, I still can never find the color in my head, haha.
When doing a project, Miyuki and Toho seed beads work good together. I wouldn't use Delica's with other seed beads if you want everything to be perfectly flat, like in Peyote.
The seed beads are pretty easy. One hole, no problem....unless you don't know which size you need. In beads that are used for stringing, their sizes are by milimeter. Easy, right? The bigger the number, the bigger the bead. Seed beads, though, have to be different. They do not go by their measurement but by a number, 15, 11, 8, and so on. Now you would think 15 would be the biggest, right? Nope. Size 15 seed beads are smaller than let say 11 or 8's. So the higher the number in seed beads and the smaller the bead gets.
Then we have regular seed beads and Delica seed beads. Regular seed beads are rounded. If you get a reputable bead like Miyuki or Toho, they will be pretty uniform. They work well in any bead weaving stitch, although I like Delicas for Peyote better.
Delica beads, made by Miyuki, are cylinder beads that fit together perfectly when doing peyote. And since I LOVE Peyote, I love delica beads. We have a wonderful selection in our shop and on our website. Of course, I still can never find the color in my head, haha.
When doing a project, Miyuki and Toho seed beads work good together. I wouldn't use Delica's with other seed beads if you want everything to be perfectly flat, like in Peyote.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Taking the mystery out of some of the Threads on the market
Can you believe all of the threads on the market right now? Which is good for which project? In my opinion, if you are going to be beading with crystals, bugles or any kind of rough or sharp beads, I would recomend fireline. It holds up really good with sharp beads. I just started waxing mine, although you don't have to, and it makes it glide through the beads easier. Fireline comes in different sizes or pounds as they call it. The smaller pound like 4lb is thinner than the 6 lb and the 8 lb. I like 6lb or 8lb unless the holes of the beads are small and I am going to go thru them multiply times. But mostly 6lb or 8lb works just fine. Fireline comes in smoke, clear and green. Some people dye their fireline but I haven't been that adventurous yet. I like the smoke for darker beads and clear for the lighter beads. I don't use green. To really decide which to use, you should string a few beads on the thread and see which looks better. Another reason I like fireline is that you can burn the tails with a thread burner an it forms alittle ball so the knots won't come out. You can also add thread with the burn method, something I learned from my customer and a teacher at Kat's, Marla, but that's a future post and video. We sell 4lb, 6lb, 8lb, and 14lb in smoke and clear, at our store and on the web. For the smaller spool which is 50 yds, it is $9.00. For the larger spool, which is 125 yards, it is $24.00. We will be having it put on the website, but for now, if you would like some you can just email me at katsbeadboutique@gmail.com and I will get it to you.
The next thread I am going to talk about is silamide. Here at Kat's we have silamide in 900 yards, which is $8.75 and 100 yards, which is $3.10. The 900 yard spool is waxed and size A. I actually am not sure about the 100 yard spool. I used silamide before I found out about fireline. I still use it if I want thread that matches the project I am making, like a bead embroidery project. Silamide is a nice thread for seed beads because they are not sharp. It will rip if rubbed on a sharp spot. One thing about silamide is that it is easy to knot together when you add another thread. (I hate hiding tails). We have different colors in the larger spool but only black and white in the smaller one. I can probably get any color you need, though, just ask
The next thread I am going to talk about is KO thread. This thread can be used for anything that silamide is used for. It comes in alot of colors and my customers like it for the wrap bracelets that are in style and different bead weaving stitches. Gentle sewing is what they call it. No sharp edges. It holds up well when going back and forth in beads such as seed beads.
Nymo, the thread I started with when I first started beading. We have sized D at Kat's. $1.69 for the smaller spool and $6.00 for the large spool. As you see, I don't have many colors but I can get whatever you want. I have to admit, there are alot of people that love Nymo. I am not among them. I have found that it frays unless you wax it. I have to admit, though, before I heard about other threads, I loved nymo. It's all about what works for you. This thread, again, is not good for sharp beads.
The last thread I am going to talk about is S-Lon. We use this for Kumihimo, leather wrap bracelets with beads with alittle bigger holes, micro macrame, and bead crochet (single chain bead crochet, If you want to do the circular it can be used but it is stiffer than other thread that is out there for that). This thread can be used with size 8 seed beads. Depending on the hole in the bead, you can use smaller than 8's but it's difficult. It's a stiffer thread so you don't always need a needle to thread on beads. I have not had any problem with this ripping. We sell it for $2.90 a spool and as you can see, we have alot of colors.
By no means are these the only threads out there. These are the ones that we have here for beadweaving. There are lots of different threads out there but these are the ones I am familiar with.
Any questions just let me know
Kat
The next thread I am going to talk about is silamide. Here at Kat's we have silamide in 900 yards, which is $8.75 and 100 yards, which is $3.10. The 900 yard spool is waxed and size A. I actually am not sure about the 100 yard spool. I used silamide before I found out about fireline. I still use it if I want thread that matches the project I am making, like a bead embroidery project. Silamide is a nice thread for seed beads because they are not sharp. It will rip if rubbed on a sharp spot. One thing about silamide is that it is easy to knot together when you add another thread. (I hate hiding tails). We have different colors in the larger spool but only black and white in the smaller one. I can probably get any color you need, though, just ask
The next thread I am going to talk about is KO thread. This thread can be used for anything that silamide is used for. It comes in alot of colors and my customers like it for the wrap bracelets that are in style and different bead weaving stitches. Gentle sewing is what they call it. No sharp edges. It holds up well when going back and forth in beads such as seed beads.
Nymo, the thread I started with when I first started beading. We have sized D at Kat's. $1.69 for the smaller spool and $6.00 for the large spool. As you see, I don't have many colors but I can get whatever you want. I have to admit, there are alot of people that love Nymo. I am not among them. I have found that it frays unless you wax it. I have to admit, though, before I heard about other threads, I loved nymo. It's all about what works for you. This thread, again, is not good for sharp beads.
The last thread I am going to talk about is S-Lon. We use this for Kumihimo, leather wrap bracelets with beads with alittle bigger holes, micro macrame, and bead crochet (single chain bead crochet, If you want to do the circular it can be used but it is stiffer than other thread that is out there for that). This thread can be used with size 8 seed beads. Depending on the hole in the bead, you can use smaller than 8's but it's difficult. It's a stiffer thread so you don't always need a needle to thread on beads. I have not had any problem with this ripping. We sell it for $2.90 a spool and as you can see, we have alot of colors.
By no means are these the only threads out there. These are the ones that we have here for beadweaving. There are lots of different threads out there but these are the ones I am familiar with.
Any questions just let me know
Kat
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
My favorite beading needles
There are all types of beading needles. I personally like the Tulip needles. They do cost more money but they are stronger and feel better when you use them. Also when they get bent you can straighten them with a pliers to give them some more use time. Don't get me wrong, they still break sometimes and bend beyond repair but they are better than some of the others. We sell them at www.katsbeadboutique.com for the following prices:
size 10 long - $4.50 for 4 needles
size 11 - $4.50 for 4 needles
size 12 - $9.99 for 2 needles
size 13 - $13.50 for 2 needles
I have no idea why size 12 and 13 are so expensive. I like size 10 the best and sometimes 11
Then we have the John James needles. Some people love these the best. I was told they last very long and don't break much. They are also alot cheaper then Tulip needles. We also carry these needles at www.katsbeadboutique.com. The prices are as follows:
John James L4320E size 10 - $6.00 for 25 needles
John James L4310 size 10 shorts - $2.55 for 25 needles
John James L4320 size 11 - $5.70 for 25 needles
John James L4320E size 12 - $5.45 for 25 needles
AS YOU CAN SEE THEY ARE DEFINITELY CHEAPER
There are other brands of needles too like Pony needles. We carry them from time to time. If you would like to order and you don't see them on the website please just email me at katsbeadboutique@gmail.com and I will make sure I get them to you.
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