An Introduction to Beads and Beading

May 30th, 2009 · No Comments · Hand Crafted

Beads are small decorative objects that are usually used to make jewelry. In order to be used beads must usually first be pierced so that thread can be passed through them so that they can be joined together on a string. However beads can also be used to decorate the surfaces of items such as sculptures and wall hangings in which case there would be no need to pierce them. Beads can also be found decorating personal items such as purses and handbags. They can also be used in home furnishing such as table cloths and cushions. Beads differ vastly in size from tiny little beads that are too small to handle without precision tools to large beads that are more than a centimeter in diameter.

Please don’t get confused by the term “seed bead”. It doesn’t actually mean that the beads are necessarily made from seeds, although some beads are. The term “Seed bead” is a generic term that is often used to describe any small bead.

Beads can be made from all kinds of different material, but glass, plastic and stone tend to be the most common. However beads are also made from many other materials including bone, horn, shell, ivory, coral, pearl, metal, gemstones, polymer clay, metal clay, resin, wood, ceramic, fiber, paper, seeds and synthetic materials. As you can see you are spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding what materials you would like to work with.

Beads have been used since the very first civilizations. One of the earliest findings of jewelry are a pair of beads made from sea snail shells that are estimated to date back 100,000 years. Apart from being used in jewelry and personal adornment beads are also used for religious purposes, good luck talismans and curative agents.

The craft of making items from beads is known as beadwork. There are many different beadwork techniques and they can be broadly categorized as stringing, embroidery, crochet, knitting, loom weaving and off-loom weaving.

Beadworking is a craft that can be practiced by hobbyists of all abilities. The simplest examples of beaded jewelry can be created by a novice beader in virtually no time at all. It may takes weeks of meticulous work for experienced beadworkers to create some of their beading projects and they will often need to use special tools and equipment.