Supply List

To Bead or Not to Bead

Susan Brittingham, Instructor

Many of the items you need require explanation.  To make this easier to read, the actual supply list items have been highlighted in bold face type.

Beads

There are many types of beads, but we will be using mostly seed beads and bugle beads made of glass.  These beads lend themselves quite well to bead embroidery and embellishment.  Glass beads are preferable to any sort of plastic beads not only because of the way they look, but also because plastic beads can melt when subjected to heat.

You will need a variety of glass seed beads, size 11 and larger preferred.  Seed beads are simply small round (spherical) beads.  Size 11 seems to be the most common or average size bead used for bead embroidery and they come in many colors.  Another term you might see when looking for seed beads is rocaille.  This term refers to a slightly squashed or flattened seed bead.  For our purposes, rocailles and seed beads are interchangeable.

When you look at size numbers for beads, remember

The numbers very roughly correspond to beads per inch.  Size 14 and 15 beads are sometimes available, but they are quite small and more difficult to see and to work with. Size 8 beads are a bit larger than size 11 and work quite well for bead embroidery as do some even larger beads.  However, very large beads are somewhat problematic when attaching to fabric.  We will look at beads in greater detail in Lesson One.           

European bead sizing is different and the sizes are in millimeters (mm).  This site provides a good chart that lists the relative sizes of beads:
www.wigjig.com/jewelry-tools/WJU/techniques/measures/pg12.htm

Sizes from 2,1mm to 3,1mm will be best, as they seem to correspond to the sizes 11 to 8 in American sizing for seed beads and rocailles.  I understand that a common size is 2,6mm and that should roughly correspond to a size 9 or 10 American and would be fine for the work we do in class.

The size of the beads you use in class is not critical, most medium-small seed beads will be fine. Stay away from very tiny ones which are hard to see and require a very small needle, until you get some experience. Larger beads can be nice accents but are more difficult to get to lay flat on the surface without thread showing.

In the US the mm sizing is reserved for round beads such as semi-precious stone or even pearls, and for sequins.

You will also need some bugle beads.  Bugle beads are long glass cylinders which may be twisted or not.  They vary in length from sizes only slightly longer than seed beads to 30mm and longer.  The best sizes for use on fabric and quilts would be 5-6mm or shorter in length.  Longer bugles are very likely to break when used on quilts and garments.

Beads are sold in small packages, tubes or containers, by the hank, or by weight.  Tubes can be small, 1/2" diameter by 2" or larger, 1/2" diameter by 6"-7", or 1" diameter x 2"-3".  They are a convenient way to buy and store beads, but do not usually contain as many beads as a hank. 

A hank consists of a number of strands of beads of a specific length.  Common hank size for seed beads might be 12 strands, each 16" or 20" long.  A hank may contain 2500-4000 beads, which is quite a lot when you are doing bead embroidery, but not so much if you are doing large bead weavings.  If you are buying beads by weight, be sure to check carefully that you are not buying too many or too few.  A half kilo of beads is a LOT of beads.

For class, you will want

You may want greater variety of color in your sampler, in which case feel free to add more.  My sampler probably contains at least 10-12 different colors and types of size 11 seed beads.  Buy small tubes of beads to start out, one per color.  Larger quantities are mainly for jewelry making or bead weaving or knitting with beads, in which you wish to have consistent color running through a single object.  Beads on quilts can be successfully mixed and, in fact, they can look best that way.

If you wish to make a beaded pin, you will also need beads to match the fabric motif specified below.

Sequins: You may use any type of sequin you wish.  They come in many sizes and shapes. We will use small round or faceted sequins, 5-8mm, with fringes and scattered sequin/bead combinations.  We also use larger round sequins, sized around 30mm, as a decorative center for radiating bead designs.  Sequins can usually be found at any store that sells craft supplies.

Thread Choices

My needle of choice right now is a Clover Appliqué needle, size 10, which is a short needle with an eye large enough to thread without undue hardship, and which will go through most size 11 and larger beads more than once without difficulty.  

My best advice is to find a needle which is comfortable for you, usually in a size between 10 and 12, that is not too difficult to thread, and that will fit through the beads you plan to use. 

You will need a piece of cloth on which to make a sampler. This should be no smaller than 10" square, and can be muslin (calico) or other solid or semi-solid colored quilting weight cotton.  Light colored batiks are nice for this project. Select a fabric you like, you will be spending some time with it.

You will need 1/4 yard of fusible interfacing.  The fabric that you use for your sampler should be interfaced with a light to medium weight fusible interfacing.  Tricot fusible interfacing is usually my first choice because it is very soft and provides nice body without stiffness.  Woven fusibles are a little stiffer, but also a good choice.  I usually prefer a knit or woven interfacing to a non-woven type.  Non-woven interfacing tends to shred over time, especially if laundered, so I avoid it, but if you have non-woven interfacing on hand and would like to use it, you may.  If fusible interfacing is unavailable, plan to back your sampler with a piece of flannel or muslin (calico or broadcloth).

A second piece of fabric with a printed motif such as a fish, flower, butterfly, cat or lizard.  The motif should be clear and distinct and not larger than about 3 1/2" in size. This is for making a beaded pin.  Select a motif you really like.  You do not need this until the last lesson, so you can choose it after you see what the project will involve, if you prefer.   You can also buy a pin back.


Pin back in place and shown unsewn

In Lesson Four, we will discuss covering a button with beads.  If you wish to try this technique, you will need a covered button kit, for a button no smaller than 3/4", larger is better.

Bead Sources on the Net

Explore some of these sites for information as well as shopping.  They may have a glossary, bead articles or other helpful information, as well as shopping opportunities.  A listing here is not necessarily an endorsement of the merchant.   I do not claim to have experience ordering beads online from every merchant.  You may also want to start small as you begin your bead collection.  You can just go to a local or national crafts store like Michael's, Jo-Ann's or Hancock's, which actually carry quite a large selection.   Consider too, the many "Bead Soup" or "Bead Gravy" packages of mixed beads when just starting out. They can provide some variety with limited expenditure and can be found in some quilt shops.

http://www.beadcats.com/
Carries Silamide thread, seed beads, not the easiest Web site to navigate.

http://www.beadmerchant.com/
Check out the articles and glossary on this site

Beadwrangler
Sells seed beads in beautiful colors by the hank, and also carries Silamide in 100 yard spools and 900 yard spools.  Offers an eighth hank free with the purchase of 7.  I have ordered from this site and was happy with the service, products and pricing.

http://www.embellishmentcafe.com/
Good selection and prices, very helpful FAQ section

www.firemountaingems.com
On the Fire Mountain Site, look for seed and bugle beads; everything on this page is suitable except for the size 15 rocailles (too small).  Beads on this site are sold in units indicated by weight, either 40grams or 1/2 kilo on the page I visited.  Be sure to order the correct quantities.  You would be unlikely to use a 1/2 kilo of a single color of beads in your lifetime, unless you are making lots of jewelry or doing a large bead weaving.  If the price per item is low, ($2-$5) then it is probably the smaller (40gm) size; if the price per item is high (over $10-20), then it may be a half kilo and many more beads than you will need.

http://www.shipwreckbeads.com/
I have ordered from Shipwreck, in pre-internet days, and more recently.  I selected my beads from the Web site and then used the toll-free number to place my order.   Service was courteous and fast.  Good prices, good variety.

http://www.ccartwright.com/
Cartwright's Sequins, beautiful, unusual sequins plus some seed and bugle beads

There are many more sites available.  Try an internet search to find more.

Canadian Bead Sources

Bead FX  - www.beadfx.com  
Many types of beads, findings and lampworked beads.

That Bead Lady - www.thatbeadlady.com
Huge selection of Miyuki (Japanese) seed beads and Delicas (cylinders)

Canada Beading Supply - www.canbead.com
It is not easy to order from their Web site.  You must download catalogue as pdf.  I suggest trying to order a catalogue through the 800 number.

Other Sites:

www.bead_patterns.com  These are mostly for jewelry and bead weaving, but it is a fun site to explore and find bead patterns.

OUTLINE

Lesson One

Lesson Two

Lesson Three

Lesson Four