Over the years we have come across countless valuable tips around beads and beading. Some are funny and nice to read, other tips help you to do some things easier, or it is a tip that gives you that little push in the right direction. We have collected them all below.
- Have patience… always!
- Be kind to yourself
- Don’t give up, just take a moment and try again
- Don’t hesitate to ask questions when you are stuck.
- Practice by learning with big beads, then make your piece with the smaller ones.
- Make sure you have good supplies to help you.
- Use YouTube, as there are a lot of instructions there.
- Remember, even when you don’t have any result by the end of the day, you had a lot time beading and exploring, and that is priceless too.
- Meet each other, as beading together gives extra possibilities to learn from each other.
- Pay attention to what you are doing, don’t hurry and take everything step by step.
- Choose one technique each time to learn. And when you know them, try to combine them to increase your learning curve.
- When you are not sure about the next step, end your thread and start a new one. This way you can remove the last added part easily.
- Try to use your ordered beads quickly, as your taste might change and then the beads will not be used.
- Always try something! Not everything will work out or fit, but it could have the most interesting results.
- Concentrate on how you hold your needle and pull the thread, as it is time consuming to take knots out of your thread.
- Accept that you are a beginner when you start a new technique, you only need some fun beading time to become experienced.
- Make sure to get enough beads for your beading project. Nothing is more frustrating then not being able to finish it.
- When you are halfway a big project and your new ordered beads of that same color is slightly different, then mix it with what you had left, so that the difference disappears. But only do this when you still have quite some beads at home, otherwise the difference is still there.
- In most of the techniques the first rows are always fiddly and not neat. Once you continue and the piece is getting bigger, it will get easier to hold and it will get in shape.
- Don’t bead when you are upset, always bead happy. Unless the beads will make you happy, of course. 😉
- Sometimes mistakes turn out to become the best part of your piece.
- Force yourself outside your comfort zone once and again.
- Let some-one else choose colors for you. Working with different, may-be strange colors can lead to surprising results.
- Match your needle size with your thread, to make it nice and comfortable.
- When you watch YouTube tutorials remember that the way the YouTuber is holding the work is so that you can see everything good. You might find that the way you actually hold your piece is different.
- Bead weaving is a part maths, a part physics and a part creativity. Enjoy the journey.
- Threading a needle is easier if the needle is held in front of a white piece of paper. I keep a small piece in my beading tray.
- Go at your own pace, not someone else’s pace.
- Always pull your thread through the bead in the direction of the hole, not up or down. This way the beads will stay in place better.