
The most simple techniques of weaving with beads (needle, loop, monastic, brick), schemes and job description
Wave of popularity of bead products of the pastseveral years, may suggest that beadwork is a recent hobby. However, this is one of the oldest types of needlework. He appeared in ancient Egypt. The very first glass bead 9 mm in diameter from greenish glass was found near the excavations of the city of Thebes. The creation of beads in those days was a complicated and painstaking process. On a thin metal rod, the glassmakers wound a thin glass thread, abruptly removed the metal and cut the resulting preform into small pieces. Beads were made not only from glass. The peoples of the North carved beads from tusks of mammoth, in China it was made of porcelain. In Russia they were made from river pearls and mother-of-pearl. At the excavations in one of the countries of Africa, archaeologists found a burial place, where several tens of thousands of gold beads were scattered. At the same time, glass beads remained the most popular. For several centuries, Venice was the main supplier of multi-colored glass beads to all countries of the world. The secrets of making glass were zealously guarded, and very great privileges and privileges were granted to the glassmakers. But with the development of navigation, the opening of new lands, instead of glass workshops, factories began to grow and bead production became widespread. Already in those days needlewomen used completely different methods of working with beads. They could create long low beads with threads and weave them into products, weave the canvas with beads by hand and on the machines, and make fringe. For the basis used horsehair, fine wire, waxed thread. The pattern of the craftsman was invented or borrowed from other types of needlework, for example, from embroidery. The main feature of beads has always been that it was not only a detail of decor, but also the basis of the whole product. This is possible, due to its variety. According to color solutions, beads produce all shades of the rainbow, it can be transparent, translucent, glossy, matte, with a spark or a spark (when the inner surface of the bead hole has a shiny coating), metallic effect, gasoline and mother of pearl. Also distinguish beads in shape - round, flat, faceted, elongated. Also, beads are referred to as a so-called felling - short hollow tubes and bugles - long hollow tubes. They can also be completely different in color and in addition to differ in form, for example, in products very original and original looks like a twisted bugle. With all the diversity, the beads unite one parameter - the requirement for quality. In order to make the product neat, it does not warp, and the shape has not changed, it is necessary to choose a well-calibrated beads, i.e. all beads must be the same size and shape. If you decide to try your hand at needlework for the first time and choose beadwork, or want to supplement an existing hobby, for example, knitting or embroidery, you will definitely enjoy our article. It will discuss the techniques of weaving beads. Having mastered the basic techniques of working with beads, you can create your own elements or even an individual style. So, if you decide to pick up small pieces of a rainbow and create your masterpiece, first, pay attention to the beads themselves. In most instructions and diagrams, the size of the beads is usually prescribed for the products. The most popular from 6/0 to 15/0. The larger the number, the smaller the beads will be. For beginners, the best option is 10/0 or 11/0. The calibration was already mentioned above. If you have purchased Chinese or Indian beads, be prepared for the fact that you have to independently sort the beads before work, as in one package beads are often found, differing in size. Japanese or Czech beads are much better calibrated, while it will cost an order of magnitude higher. For some techniques, for example, a loop, beads of any quality will suit, some will require a good calibration. Another important quality is painting. Here the separation is similar to the calibration. Japanese and Czech beads have more persistent colors that do not wipe and do not fade in the sun. The next moment in beadwork will be the material on which the beads string. This can be a string, fishing line or wire. For fishing lines and threads you will need a special needle for beads - very thin, long and slightly arched. It is also worth mentioning about the workplace. It should be well lit, it is better to lay a table with a light rough cloth, so that the fallen beads can be easily found, and they could not roll anywhere. For storage and work with beads it is worth buying a special organizer - a container with cells, in which it is convenient to lay out beads in colors and sizes. Some needlewomen instead of the container use saucers or other small flat containers with small sides. Now consider the techniques of weaving. The easiest is the loop technique of weaving beads. Suitable mainly for wire. The actions are as simple as possible and can be performed both on a separate piece and on a coil. If you weave on a reel, string about 50 cm of beads. Then, measuring the beads necessary to create one eyelet and pushing the rest further down the wire, make a loop of a small low, twisting the wire at its base. Retreat a little distance from the first loop and weave a new one. Another option for fixing the loop is to pass both ends of the wire into an additional bead. This technique is very popular when creating trees, flowers and bonsai. Can be an element for making necklaces or earrings. In the articles on the Beadwork section of our Club you will find a lot of options for such products. Another light technique is needle. Thanks to this method of weaving is obtainedbeautiful fringe, stamens in flowers, elements for brooches and much more. On the thread, fishing line or wire, the right amount of beads is typed, and then one end of the wire is passed to all the beads except the last one dialed. It turns out a kind of "needle". The next option would be a monastic or weaving with a "cross". In this way, the clothes of church ministers were decorated, the frames of icons and covers, and various utensils were spun. At the bottom of this method lies a chain of beads arranged perpendicular to each other, i.e. forming a cross. To obtain a rhombus, to the side beads are intertwined still crosses. If we weave an entire chain of similar crosses, then the canvas will be square or rectangular. This method of weaving is carried out by 2 threads. Those. The first bead is lowered to the middle of the line or line. Then at each end of the thread string another 1 bead and finally with the 4th bead threads cross. The right tail is passed to the left, and the left to the right. Below is a diagram. The direction is indicated by arrows.
The following technique is called a mosaic orbrick. Beads are arranged like pieces of a mosaic. By appearance, such a cloth resembles a bricklaying. You can execute it with one or two threads. If you have an even number in width, then it is better to choose one thread, and if it is odd, then two. The mosaic weave is straight, oblique and cylindrical. You can also select double and triple weave, instead of 1 bead-brick, string 2 or 3. This is very convenient when you need to weave a bead of a larger size into the canvas. This method can be woven very much - petals of flowers, necklaces, bracelets, belts, braids for carbons and even handbags and beauticians. In order to form the first row, the easiest way is to weave the chain with a cross. Beads of the next row will be woven in the opposite direction between the protruding beads of the first row. Below are the schemes of weaving an even and an odd number of beads.
The following method of weaving is called "Brickstitch". This method of creating a beaded cloth often carries the name of weaving Comanche. By appearance, the beaded cloth looks like a mosaic, if it is turned 90 °. But the principle of weaving differs drastically. The first row is padded by a parallel method into 2 working threads, and then weave into 1 working thread. 2 beads are threaded on the string, and then in the second bead, both ends of the thread cross. Then another 1 bead is threaded and threads are crossed in it. This technique will look great when creating a canvas, in which there should be no gaps. Below are the patterns of weaving.
In the next article of this section, we will consider the French weaving, parallel and Ndebele technique.