Beads and beadwork
Beads, seed beads and beadwork: stringing, weaving and embroidery.
10 entries
Techniques
Bead crochet and knitting
Bead crochet and knitting make ropes, bracelets and tubular necklaces by stringing beads on the thread before working the stitches.
Techniques
Bead embroidery
Bead embroidery sews beads, sequins and cabochons onto a base of fabric or felt; a textile jewelry technique for brooches and pendants.
Techniques
Bead making and drilling
How stone beads are made: cutting, rounding, drilling with diamond bits and polishing; shapes, sizes and qualities.
Techniques
Bead weaving: peyote, brick and loom
Bead weaving joins small glass beads with needle and thread: peyote, brick, square and right-angle weave, and loom; uses in necklaces and bracelets.
Jewelry around the world
Emberá chaquira beadwork
Emberá women of Colombia and Panama create necklaces and ornaments with chaquira, tiny glass beads in geometric designs.
Techniques
Kumihimo and cord braiding
Kumihimo is a Japanese braiding technique with threads on a disk or marudai; it makes silk cords and bracelets with geometric patterns.
Techniques
Lampwork glass beads
Lampworking melts glass rods in a torch flame and winds them onto a mandrel to make unique beads; annealing prevents them from breaking.
Jewelry around the world
Maasai beadwork and the meaning of colors
Maasai beadwork from Kenya and Tanzania uses color as language: red, blue, green, white, orange and black carry meanings.
Techniques
Pearl stringing and knotting
Stringing fixes pearls on a silk thread with a knot between each to protect them; materials, knots, bead tips and when to restring.
Jewelry around the world
Wampum and North American beadwork
Wampum, made from marine shell beads, and the beadwork of North American peoples carry history, agreements and belonging.