The delightful aspect of quilting is the ability to add bead art to your quilts. Bead embroidery is a craft where you actual create a design or picture using beads. It is a step above adding decorator beads to your quilt. This part of quilting takes a great deal of patience. Practice on small project before actually adding one to your quilt.
The first step in bead embroidery is to select your pattern. Choose a design that will match the theme of your quilt. For example, if you are doing an angel quilt it would be best to select an angel picture or perhaps a small halo depending on the size and design of your quilt. Make sure that the design size will fit into the section of the quilt when making your selection.
Once your design is chosen, it is time to transfer the pattern onto the quilt section or your practice fabric. For transfers you have several options. You can use chalk to trace your pattern. You can also use tracing paper or transfer paper. Stay away from permanent markers or pens because these can bleed and ruin your quilt. Keep a clean copy of your bead embroidery pattern to follow while you're creating the section.
The majority of bead embroidery designs will need 11/0 seed beads, 3/0's charlotte beads, and 15/0's tiny beads. It is really up to you which type of beads you think will look nice in your design. Select the colors of beads that you will need. It is recommended to purchase more beads then you think you'll need for this part of the project since they can always be added as singles throughout your quilt later on if you end up with extras. Take your pattern with you to the store and use it to determine if the bead sizes will fit nicely across the design. This will also help you in matching colors.
One more step is needed to before sewing your beads onto the quilt section. You will need to back the section with substrate fabric piece or with a heavy starch spray. This will keep your quilt section from puckering later. Once the fabric is slightly stiffened it is time to frame it. You can use a traditional embroidery frame to actually sew the bead embroidery design together. The key is to not pull the fabric too tight in the frame. The material should be pulled enough to allow the beads to lie side by side but not so tightly that when removed the piece will cave in on it.
Now you are ready to attach the beads to the design to create your bead embroidery picture. The key is to have the beads lie flat in individual rows between the pattern lines. You can either sew the beads individually in rows or you can load your needle with up to four beads at a time. Recommended stitches are the lane stitch, for multiple beads and the back stitch, for single beads or multiple beads. Line beads on the pattern, load to the needle and attach to design one row at a time. Do not try to work your design like paint by number because you will be switching rows, which will cause the fabric to pucker or the beads to not lie flat.
When your bead embroidery is completed, you will have a gorgeous design or picture for this section of your quilt. You can add the additional beads to other areas of your quilt or set aside for another bead project in the future. Many quilters find that the bead embroidery sections are great for the centerpiece or one along each inside edge of the quilt. They take time and patience but can be a wonderful addition to your quilts.
Anyone who takes a single look at beads will realize that in order to create a work of art from these tiny materials, you need to have a lot of patience and creativity.
It will probably take a very long time to finish a moderate sized design, particularly if you are beginner in the art of bead embroidery. However, it is kind of exciting to watch the design unfold on your fabric while you work on your bead embroidery.
If you do not have an idea of what design to make, it will probably be a good idea to imitate a pattern from a drawing to make sure that your work does not turn up to be a mess. You can also trace a design onto your material with washable ink. As you grow accustomed to the process, you will be able to create your own bead embroidery designs with no trouble at all.
Pieces of clothing with bead embroidery are now considered to be very fashionable. They display your uniqueness and creativity to the world.
Bead embroidery is also a fun way to recycle your old clothes. If you have an old tank top, for instance, that still fits but is starting to look quite boring, you can easily spice it up with a little bit of bead embroidery, and it will be just as if you bought yourself a new outfit.
When you are planning to start a bead embroidery project, make sure that you have the appropriate tools necessary. For example, check that you have the right kind of needle for the particular size of beads that you will be working with. Also, set aside enough time to do the project because as mentioned earlier, bead embroidery is not a 5-minute endeavor. For more info see http://www.allthingsembroidery.com/Embroidery_Designs on embroidery designs.
Practically any sort of bead may be used for embroidery. The ones that make the most intricate details, though, are the smaller kinds. The smaller the beads, the more design possibilities you will have.
You must keep in mind that smaller beads require more skill and greater patience as it will take a longer time to finish if you are working on a rather complex design.
Once you get the hang of it, you will find out that bead embroidery is not so hard after all. You might even enjoy it so much that you can actually start your own business making customized bead embroidery. Many people have found this business to be quite profitable, since the beads do not have to cost a lot.
Both Jan Myers & David Faulkner are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jan Myers has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family, Depression Cure and Family. Jan Myers is the author of numerous articles and books on topics from organizational development and leadership to quilting. It was her avocation, the love of quilting, that inspired the popular online membership site for quilters known as the ?world's la. Jan Myers's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.
David Faulkner has sinced written about articles on various topics from Recruitment, Diamonds and Dental Implants. You can also find more info on and. David Faulkner's top article generates over 201000 views. to your Favourites.