This week I am sharing more bead embroidery fun with another of my Beady things. These little pieces of hoop art are really experiments with stacking various beads and sequins and combining them with embroidery. To be honest they have become far too enjoyable. At the moment, these disks of beaded embroidery are little hoop art pieces but I may pull them together into one wall piece type project.
For this project, I used some unusual square sequins I purchased recently. The sequins have been printed with an abstract pattern on them. I laughed at myself as they are almost hidden under the beads, Satin stitch, French knots, Oyster stitch, and Ghiordes Knot or Turkey Knot.
This closeup detail demonstrates how I have stacked sequins and seed beads to stand free from the surface of the work.
The surface is fairly encrusted with beads and embroidery. I have used some quite large glass bicone beads (about 10mm High) and topped them with a seed bead so they stand free from the surface of the fabric too!
In this close detail, I have used bugle beads topped with seed beads so they stand up straight. This technique looks fun nestled in between beads that you stitch flat to the surface.
I hope you have enjoyed seeing my latest adventure exploring bead embroidery fun.
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Thread Twisties!
Experimenting with different threads can be expensive. You would normally have to buy a whole skein of each type of thread. My thread twisties are a combination of different threads to use in creative hand embroidery. These enable you to try out stitching with something other than stranded cotton. For the price of just a few skeins, you can experiment with a bundle of threads of luscious colours and many different textures.
These are creative embroiders threads. With them, I hope to encourage you to experiment. Each Twistie is a thread bundle containing silk, cotton, rayon and wool. Threads range from extra fine (the same thickness as 1 strand of embroidery floss) to chunky couchable textured yarns. All threads have a soft and manageable drape. Twisting them around a needle makes experimental hand embroidery an interesting journey rather than a battle. Many are hand dyed by me. All are threads I use. You may find a similar thread twist but no two are identical.
You will find my thread twisties in the Pintangle shop here.
Thank you for the close-up photos and the advice regarding how to get started with our own explorations in bead embroidery.
BethB
Your welcome Beth. Once past the exploration phase, in other words once I really know what I am doing and have explored the ins and outs of this I will probably write a clear step by step tutorial.
Fabulous! Your work is so inspiring!
Thanks Angela great to see you here
Such fun Sharon, I love your colours too.
Thanks Gill I enjoyed working with them
I really like your bead embroidery. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the compliment Betsy!
Wow, just wow! Absolutely gorgeous. To date I have never worked with beads, but your work is so inspiring. I think I will have to try. Just wish I knew where to start and which beads to begin with and where to purchase. There is so much that scares me which is holding me back.
Hi Lene – I think if you are just starting buy small quantities of beads that attract you and at the same time make sure you have some threads that will go with them. Start out exploring just small piece. Work on a firm fabric and back it with some interfacing so it take the weight of the beads. I use ordinary sewing cotton. As I say work small. This piece is only 3 inches across then as you become more confident expand your collection and work larger. Relax and enjoy yourself the worst that can happen is that you waste some fabric and thread as you can always cut off beads. Hope this helps!
Thank you Sharon, yes that helps a lot. I guess I just have to dive in!
I certainly have enjoyed it. Just like your collection of buttons (from that box that fell onto your quilt!), you have a good selection of beads to play with. It’s like looking at at tin of candy and sweets. Delicious!
Thanks Queenie – I have to agree a good range of colour texture and size is helpful when stitching these.
Sharon, so delicious. Very inspiring, but also just enjoyable to look at and then observe closely.
Thanks Frances they do look a bit candy-ish
I like this piece very much!
Thanks Marcie
hi Sharon, Playing with beads is one of my favourite occupations, so it is great to see what you have done with these lovely little pieces. I have just made 7 beaded covered buttons for a friend to put on a hand spun, hand knitted cardigan, and I am really looking forward to seeing the result. Once again thanks for the inspiratiion
Joan your buttons sound interesting
❤️ your bead work. Very pretty piece of art.
Thanks Cath
I just love the stand up bead and sequin stitches you used! Thank you for the ideas and inspiration!
Hi Beth yes I can’t stop touching the little stand up bead and sequin stacks. They just make me smile. I have taken to doubling the thread on them to make them a little stronger just in case I fiddle with them too much!
This piece is gorgeous and very inspiring Sharon- thank you!
Thanks Margaret – I am pleased you found it inspiring.
I love the colours and the 3d effect. Thanks for sharing
Thanks Terri I really enjoyed working with the colours – I think it shows!
The colors are so vibrant, it is a very appealing and cheerful piece, love the originality!
Thanks Marianne – I loved playing with those colours