Student Orientation & Curriculum Guide 
Curriculum
Electives: Bead Weaving

Stitches and beads.    Create simple or elaborate forms using different techniques for connecting, interlocking and embellishing beads and beadwork.  That's beadweaving, and you see the results in amulet bags, beaded sculptures, beaded vessels, necklaces, bracelets, loomwork, appliques and more. Many projects attempt to emulate a piece of cloth or textile.Other projects are more figural or sculptural.

There are many different techniques of bead weaving.  The most popular are peyote stitch, loom work, brick stitch, ndebele, and netting.

Students interested in bead weaving should begin with the Stitch of the Month program. When they identify specific stitches they are more interested in, they can begin to pursue the developmental pathways for that particular stitch. Students are encouraged to participate in our Bead Study Groups, as well.

CRITICAL SKILLS TO LEARN:
- The pros and cons of different kinds of threads, waxes, and needles
- Knowing what all the parts (jewelry findings) are, how they are used, and their strengths and weaknesses
- Knowing about the quality of beads, and what happens to beads (and their finishes) over time
- Knowing about the quality of metals, and what happens to metals (and their finishes) over time
- Knowing about stringing materials, and when and when not to use specific ones
- Some understanding of how and when to use different types of glues
- Understanding "thread tension" and how to maintain and manage it
- Learning how to hold a needle, and pick up beads with a needle
- Learning a range of different stitches
--- The history of the stitch
--- Appropriate beads to use with this stitch
--- Appropriate projects to do with this stitch
--- How to read a pattern
--- Variations on the stitch, including
------ Increasing/Decreasing
------ Flat, linear, circular, tubular
------ Embellishment
------ Edges, Fringes, Straps
------ Splitting, or creating negative spaces
------ Creating oversized pieces and multiple piece compositions
------ Free form techniques and creating your own patterns
------ Dimensionality and sculptural projects
--- How to finish off your pieces
--- How to add clasps and connectors or other structural elements/components
- Learning basics of jewelry design principles
--- Colors, color schemes, special considerations when using beads and colors
--- Principles of Composition
--- Principles of Form and Function

Begin with:
Orientation to Beads and Jewelry Findings

Start the Stitch of the Month Program:
Stitch of the Month

Pick up:
GEN6003/BS0001: Basics of Bead Stringing and Attaching Clasps
BS0003:  Pearl Knotting

Begin the Beaded Beads Workshops (offered quarterly) for intermediate/advanced level projects.
Why Bead A Bead? by Kathleen Lynam

Join a Bead Study Group (meets twice a month)

Finish off with The Jewelry Design sequence:
GEN6001: Introduction to Color
GEN6006: Jewelry Design I: Composition and Design Principles
GEN6008:  Jewelry Design II:  Jewelry Forms in Relation to the Body

Course Electives:

General Bead Weaving:
MANAGING THREAD TENSION
DESIGN ELEMENTS: FRINGE, EDGE, STRAPS, EMBELLISHMENT
See the Stitch of the Month

Peyote Stitch:
STARTERS / REFRESHERS
PEY2002: PEYOTE I: Learn How to Peyote
BEGIN IN-DEPTH STUDY
PEY2011: PEYOTE II: Tubular Peyote
PEY2015: PEYOTE III: Peyote Around A Cabochon
INTERMEDIATE STUDY
PEY2014: Free Form Peyote Bracelet
PEY2016: Peyote Vessel
PEY2017: Scalloped Edges With Peyote
PEY2018: Sculptural Peyote
ADVANCED STUDY
PEY2012: Advanced Amulet Purse Design
PEY2013: Advanced Peyote Techniques

Loom Work:
STARTERS / REFRESHERS
Loom2020: Intro to Loom Work - Bookmark
BEGIN IN-DEPTH STUDY
Loom2021: Loom Project - Following a Pattern, Increasing/Decreasing - Beaded Tapestry
Loom2022: 3-D Loom Project - Treasure Bracelet
INTERMEDIATE STUDY
Loom2023: Loom Project - Split Loom, Twist - Bracelet
ADVANCED STUDY
Loom2025: Loomed Split Weave Necklace
Loom2026:  Loomwork - MultiPanel Purse/Surface Embellishment

Brick Stitch:
STARTERS / REFRESHERS
BW2001: Intro to Brick Stitch
BEGIN IN-DEPTH STUDY
BRICK2042: Increasing/Decreasing w/Brick
INTERMEDIATE STUDY
BRICK 2043: Tubular Brick
BRICK 2044: Amulet Bag in Brick Stitch
ADVANCED STUDY
BRICK 2045: Advanced Amulet Bag in Brick Stitch - Design and Embellishment

Bead Crochet
BC0101: Introduction to Bead Crochet Ropes
BC0101B: Finishing Off Your Bead Crochet Ropes
BC0102: Intermediate Bead Crochet Ropes

Netting and Lace:
BW2005: Netted Purse
NET2061: Netted Ornament
NET2062: Picot Lace
NET2063:  Beaded Egg

Miscellaneous Stitches:
STARTERS / REFRESHERS
BW2490: Monets Garden Bracelet
BW2494: Introduction to Ndbele
BW2495: Right Angle Weave Bracelet
BW4: Daffodil Embroidered Cuff

BEGIN IN-DEPTH STUDY
BW2491: Spiral Rope
BW2493: Chevron and African Helix
BW2496:  Ogalala Butterfly Bracelet
BW2497:  Zulu Flowerette Chain Bracelet
BW2498:  Daisy Chain Variations
BW2499:  Zulu Square Tube Necklace
BW2492: Advanced Spiral

Beading Around A Cabochon:
BEGINNER:
BW5: Beading Around a Cabochon – Back Stitch Method
BW6: Beading Around A Cabochon – Peyote Stitch Method
INTERMEDIATE:
BW7: Beading Around A Cabochon – Netting Method

Beaded Beads Workshops
Every quarter, we offer a workshop on a different kind of beaded bead. These workshops are for intermediate and advanced beaders.

Why Bead A Bead? by Kathleen Lynam

Also, check out our
Stitch of the Month
Advanced Study Groups.