STITCH OF THE MONTH
Learn a New Bracelet Stitch Each Month
Instructor - Kathleen Lynam
$35.00 fee each session plus supplies ($35.00 deposit reserves space)

The Stitch of the Month curriculum is designed to teach 12 major bead-weaving stitches/techniques in a comparative context.   This is perhaps one of the best ways to learn bead weaving.   You get a clearer understanding of what each stitch is, how to manage and control it, and what your project and design options are, when you learn them comparatively, rather than in isolation from each other.

Each class is devoted to explaining a little of the history of the stitch and the how-to basics of doing the stitch. Students then practice with variations on the stitch, such as increasing/decreasing, flat vs. tubular vs. circular, and the like. Students are guided in creating a bracelet, using the stitch, and usually one or more variations of the stitch.

The student will typically cover this information in each class:
1. The history of the stitch
2. Learning the basic stitch
    a) How to start the stitch-project
    b) How to implement the basic stitch throughout the project
    c) The most appropriate kinds of materials (beads, findings,
     stringing materials) for this stitch
    d) The most appropriate kinds of projects for this stitch
3. Increasing and Decreasing using the stitch
4. Finishing off the piece (clasps, edges, embellishment, fringes, and the like)
5. How to read a pattern for this stitch
6. An introduction to other variations using this stitch
7. Making a bracelet, using this stitch

Each class is "in and of itself". Students may join the Stitch of the Month at any point in the 12-month cycle.  You may do all of the classes, or only one or some of them, as you desire. If you miss a class, it will be repeated in the next cycle.

Each class is $35.00 plus supplies, and lasts about 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

You register each month for each specific class, not the Stitch of the Month curriculum as a whole. You can register in-person at Be Dazzled Beads, or by phone (615-292-0610). You will want to register at least a couple days before the scheduled class you are interested in.

For our students interested in learning to use needle and thread to create wonderful beadwoven bracelets, necklaces, amulet bags, and other adornments, our Stitch of the Month program is perfect for you.

We teach bead weaving differently, (and I believe much more effectively), than most other places. At other places, you typically take a class and learn to do a set of steps to create a very specific project. You don't learn how to apply these steps in other situations. And you probably forget how to do the project.

In our Stitch of the Month, we take a developmental and design approach. You learn about the stitch and how to make choices about the stitch. You learn about how to choose materials (clasps, beads, stringing materials and the like) appropriate to that stitch. Then you practice what you learn by creating a bracelet. By taking more than 1 stitch over the year, you also begin to learn in a comparative way, which reinforces what you have learned.

The Stitch of the Month curriculum is designed to teach 12 major bead-weaving stitches/techniques in a comparative context. This is perhaps one of the best ways to learn bead weaving. You get a clearer understanding of what each stitch is, how to manage and control it, and what your project and design options are, when you learn them comparatively, rather than in isolation from each other.

The Twelve Sessions

1. June: BEADWEAVING PRIMER, and Introduction to the SQUARE STITCH.
Look 'n See The Project

This session covers:
What tools and supplies you need in beadweaving
Basic starting techniques, such as threading a needle, tying a finishing knot, and tying a connecting knot
A review survey of various types of bead weaving, such as off-loom vs loom; following patterns vs. free form; flat vs. tubular; increasing and decreasing; circular and spiral
A review of the types and varieties of beads used in bead weaving
How to choose a clasp for beadweaving projects
Learning the Square Stitch

Supplies:
4mm Miyuki cube beads
size 11/0 seed beads in green
size 11/0 seed beads in various flower colors
Size #10 or #12 English Beading Needle
Bees Wax
Nymo or C-Lon size D
Scissors, Work surface
Bic lighter or thread zapper

2. July: NETTING
Look 'n See The Project

This session covers:
History of Netted Beadwork
Most appropriate beads to use, and most appropriate projects for netting
Basic netting stitch
How to decrease and increase
How to embellish
How to make an embellished bead toggle clasp

Supplies:
For the base:
size 11/0 seed beads in 2 contrasting colors
Embellishing the netted base:
size 11/0 seed beads
Add 2-3 more seed bead colors in the contrast group
Option: a tube of mini fringe drops

Size #10 or #12 English beading needles
Nymo or C-Lon thread size D
bees wax
scissors and work surface
Lighter or thread zapper
2 size 8mm or 10mm round beads for toggle closure
Bead stopper

3. August: NDBELE STITCH (also known as Herringbone)
Look 'n See The Project

This session covers:
History of Ndbele Stitch
Most appropriate beads for use with this stitch
Most appropriate projects for use with this stitch
The basic technique and some variations, like increasing/decreasing and netting

Supplies:
For the tubular stem:
green size 11/0 seed beads

For the flower:
1-3 shades of one color (dark yellow, light yellow, very pale yellow) in size 11/0 seed beads
1-2 shades of one color in size 15/0 seed beads
12 drop beads (Miyuki mini fringe drops) to accentuate the tips of the flowers
Green glass leaves
small glass flowers

Lead free Solder diameter size .125 (can be purchased at hardware store)

Other basic supplies:
Size #10 or #12 English beading needles
Nymo or C-Lon thread size D
bees wax
scissors and work surface
Lighter or thread zapper
File
Bead Stopper

4. September: PEYOTE STITCH
Look 'n See The Project

This session covers:
Learn the peyote stitch and its variations.
- even count
- odd count
- increase/decrease
- tubular
- mixing sizes of beads
- doing a pattern

Supplies:
3 colors of size 11/0 delicas (these can be contrasting or blending)
15/0 seed beads to match
Some 3mm-4mm accent beads
Fireline thread, size D, in black or white
Simple magnetic clasp (the small round disc shape) -- you will be covering the clasp with beadwork, so it doesn't need to be fancy.

Other basic supplies:
Size #10 or #12 English beading needles
scissors and work surface
Lighter or thread zapper
File
Bead Stopper

5. October: LOOM
Look 'n See The Project

This session covers:
History of Loomwork
Most appropriate beads to use
Most appropriate projects lending themselves to loomwork
How to warp a loom
How to loom
Some variations -- increasing/decreasing
Reading a pattern
Finishing off your loomwork

Supplies:
Loom (a simple 1 foot wood loom is fine)
Size #12-long loom needle
Nymo D or C-Lon D beading thread for warp and weft
1 color of size 11/0 delicas for background
multiple colors of 11/0 delicas for leaves
Button for closure
scissors and work surface

6. November: BRICK STITCH
Look 'n See The Project

This session covers:
History of Brick Stitch
Most appropriate beads to use for brick stitch
Most appropriate projects for using the brick stitch
The basic stitch and how to get started with it
Some variations on the stitch
How to finish off your piece

Supplies:
Size 8/0 seed beads in 2 contrasting colors
Size 15/0 seed beads in colors matching the 8/0's
Magnetic clasp
Size #10 or #12 English beading needles
Nymo or C-Lon thread size D
bees wax
scissors and work surface
Lighter or thread zapper

7. December: SPIRAL ROPE
Look 'n See The Project

This session covers:
About the spiral rope
Variations on the technique

Supplies:
2 tubes of constrasting seed beads (11/0's)
2 tubes of Miyuki mini fringe drop beads
clasp
Size #10 or #12 English beading needles
Nymo or C-Lon thread size D
bees wax
scissors and work surface
Lighter or thread zapper

8. January: FRINGE
Look 'n See The Project

This session covers:
About bead embellishment.
Types of fringe techniques.
Creating a bracelet made up of fringes.

Supplies:
Small button
Various colors of size 11/0 seed beads
Size 8/0 seed beads
Pearls or a variety of 6mm-8mm size round or roundish beads.
Size 15/0 seed beads in assorted colors
Nymo D or C-Lon Size D thread
Size #10 or Size #12 English Beading Needles
Bees wax
scissors and work surface
Lighter or thread zapper

9. February: RIGHT ANGLE WEAVE
Look 'n See The Project

This session covers:
Learn to make a reversible 2-sided right angle weave bracelet.
Some history about the stitch
Most appropriate beads to use
Most appropriate types of projects for the RAW
Variations: increase/decrease; netting; 3-D

Supplies:
4mm fire polish beads or austrian crystal bicones
Delica beads in a constrasting or complimentary color
Miyuki mini fringe drops
Nymo or C-Lon beading thread, size D
Size #10 or Size #12 English beading needles
Bees wax
A 2-strand filigree box clasp
scissors and work surface
Lighter or thread zapper

10. March: BEAD EMBROIDERY
Look 'n See The Project

This session covers:
About bead embroidery and some history.
Most appropriate beads.
Most appropriate tools.
Most appropriate projects lending themselves to bead embroidery.
Creating, Preparing and Using the "surface" - various techniques and approaches.
Back Stitch
Couching Stitch

Supplies:
Assortment of seed beads (all sizes) and regular beads (3mm-6mm)
Small cabochons or flattish beads
Color coordinated thread (Nymo or C-Lon size D)
Size #10 or Size #12 English beading needles
SIze #10 or Size #12 Sharps beading needles
Bees wax
scissors and work surface
Lighter or thread zapper
Tim-tex or Lacy's Stiffy Stuff
Piece of ultrasuede
Metal bracelet cuff blank (1/2" wide)
E-6000 glue
Fabri-tac

11. April: PETERSBURG CHAIN
Look 'n See The Project

This session covers:
Some background on the stitch
Learn the Petersburg Chain
Some variations on the Petersburg chain in the use of the stitch, and in the use of various beads

Supplies:
2 colors of size 8/0 seed beads
1 color of size 11/0 seed beads
1 strand of 3mm fire polish beads
1 button
Color coordinated thread (Nymo or C-Lon size D)
Size #10 or Size #12 English beading needles
bees wax
scissors and work surface
Lighter or thread zapper
[Bring your bead stash, because you may want to use a different assortment of beads.]

12. May: BEADED BEADS
Look 'n See The Project

This session covers:
Why do beaded beads?
Different techniques and approaches
Making Netted Beaded Beads
Using Beaded Beads

Supplies:
12mm Wooden Beads painted or colored with markers to either match or contrast with delicas beads
or, 12mm Glass Beads in colors to match or contrast with your delicas
11/0 delicas in 2 coordinating colors
Nymo or C-Lon thread size D
Size #10 or Size #12 English beading needles
bees wax
scissors and work surface
Lighter or thread zapper

General Supplies Needed

There are some basic supplies that you will want to consider bringing to any of the sessions above, including:

Size 11/0 or size 10/0 English beading needles
C-Lon thread or Nymo Thread Size D in various colors that will coordinate with your beads
Delicas in a main and 2 accent colors.
Size 11/0 and size 8/0 seed beads, in a few coordinating colors
Size 15/0 seed beads in a few coordinating colors
Miyuki Mini fringe drops in a few coordinating colors
Assortment of 3mm and 4mm size beads in druks and fire polish, or austrian crystal beads
Buttons to use as button clasps
Scissors
Bead board, tray and work surface (you will want a way to spread your beads out, but keep the colors separated)
Lighter or thread zapper
Bees wax

ABOUT 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.

CRITICAL BEAD WEAVING 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
--- 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