Getting Started With Beading

Welcome! Lets get started beading! Beading is a great way to spend time with your children and friends. If you are new to beading there are some essential things you're going to need before you start. If you have been beading for a while why not try a new beading technique.

If you are introducing your children to beading (please see my article Beading with Kids) or are staring it for the first time yourself, try to keep the project simple. So before you start you need to decide what you want to bead - a necklace, a bracelet some earrings.... Then I would find a book with a picture and instructions. Keep your first project simple. Get exactly what they tell you in the instructions. You can't go wrong with this. Different beads and different stringing materials will all give you a variety of results.

Basically to start you will need seed beads, beading thread, beading needles, scissors and clear nail polish (to secure the knot). To see a summary of the types of beads and threads available please see my article on Beading - what to bead with. You may also want to see my article on Beading - tools for beading to find out what other types of tools you can use for beading.

I highly recommend getting some good bead books. Stringing a single strand of beads in designs is great and I have made many, many necklaces and bracelets like this. My real passion is for complex bead designs. I find it hard to make up my own patterns so I always have to refer to books. I may change the colors of the beads, but I still need to follow a pattern.

In our house I have a few simple rules around the craft table -

keep the work area neat. I find it hard to be creative and work in clutter, or on a messy surface.

no food or drink at the table while beading (or doing any craft for that matter! Spilling pop on your beading project is not a good thing, neither is having oily fingers from chips or popcorn, the oils get on the threads and will discolor them

put the lid back on the container holding the beads after you have taken out what you need. If you are beading with kids spill happen. Beads spray everywhere when knocked over and are really hard to clean up, then the dog eats them and well you get the picture!

As you start to bead with your children or on your own, you will find out what works best for you. Always remember that it is supposed to be a fun relaxing time. If you start with good habits beading will be enjoyable for the whole family.

My article on Beading with Kids, talks about introducing your children to beading, and doing stuff together as a family

My article on Beading - what to bead with, talks about the types of beads and stringing materials available.

My article on Beading -tools for beading, talks about some of the tools and extra things you might want for beading

Enjoy and happy beading, Jan