Authentic American Indian Beadwork and How to Do It by Pamela Stanley-Millner

Author:Pamela Stanley-Millner
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780486141626
Publisher: Dover Publications
Published: 2012-10-09T00:00:00+00:00

Appliqué Beading

Once you choose a design for bead appliqué, place tracing paper over the full-size pattern in the book, secure it with paper clips and copy in pen or pencil. Don’t copy the color key numbers in the pattern; it’s easier to refer to them in the book as you work.

It’s also necessary to choose the material on which to bead applique. Suede, garment leather and velvet are all suitable for bead appliqué; the project—purse, vest, wall hanging—will determine what’s best. Keep in mind whether the bead colors in the pattern will stand out on the color background you choose. If the background material must be a given color, you may wish to adjust bead colors for a stronger effect.

Once you have a pattern tracing and material to work on, you’re ready to transfer the pattern from the tracing to the material. Work on a piece of material larger than the finished dimensions of the project; cut to size after the applique beading. Place the material right side up on a flat surface. Next, place a sheet of carbon paper—larger than the pattern—on the material, carbon side down, followed by the pattern tracing, tracing side up. Holding all three layers securely in position, firmly retrace the entire pattern with pen or pencil; the pressure should transfer a carbon outline of the pattern to the material for bead appliqué. No special carbon paper is required; you may use dressmaker’s carbon if you prefer, especially if you need a light outline on a dark material.

Once the design is transferred and the material is ready for applique, stretch it taut in an embroidery hoop or stapled to a frame. Use the color key accompanying the pattern in the book as a guide to the bead colors you will need. Size 0 nylon thread, a No. 16 beading needle, a No. 9 sharp needle, scissors and beeswax—once gathered together, you’re ready to begin.

In beading all design elements, outline first, then fill in the interiors. Whether to outline with one, two or three rows of beads is determined by overall design proportions. Bead the interiors along lines that enhance the look of a given motif. Study the finished bead appliqué projects on the front and the inside back covers for examples of interiors beaded to advantageous effect. You will also notice variations in outlining.

Thread each needle with a double strand of nylon thread two feet long, ends knotted together. Remember to wax it. Begin with the beading needle. Draw it from the back to the front of the stretched material, and pull until the knot is tight against the back. Do this at a point in the pattern where it is logical to begin laying down beads to outline a design element (for example, a leaf, a petal, a bud). Then string enough beads on the thread to cover the outline of this design element, but not so many that there won’t be a loose end of thread with which to tie off.

Now take up the other needle, the No.

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