Customer Reviews

Beadwork Magazine Presents: The Beader's Companion

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is so little and cute and darling, it will happily go with you wherever you go with your beading projects, tucked in a bag if you take your beads to the beach or the park for an afternoon picnic or if you're traveling and want to work on a project enroute or even if all you plan to do is sit on the couch and do beading while you watch TV. It is aimed at both novice and experienced beaders and, for the most part, includes precise, detailed instructions and clear drawings for easy stitches that new beaders will find easy to follow as well as complex weavings that will definitely challenge those with more experience.

The book begins with descriptions of the various kinds of beads, threads, cords, bead wax and needles that are currently available. Especially helpful are the sections on "Matching Thread to Bead," "Choosing the Right Needle" as well as the information on seed bead sizes and types. Two chapters on bead weaving come next -- the first covers off-loom beading and includes various peyote stiches (even and odd flat stitches, circular and tubular stitches and the Native American or "gourd" stitch); the square, ladder, brick and netting stitches; several variations on the right-angle weave stitch; the herringbone and the daisy chain. The next chapter covers loom beading with lessons on how to set up a loom (including instructions on how to make your own loom) and how to do basic weaving, adding weft thread, increasing and decreasing beads, etc.

The next section is called "Stringing Beads" and begins with a brief description of how to make a simple beaded necklace; the instructions that follow on how to make a knotted bead necklace (with knots between the beads like a pearl necklace) are much more thorough.

The next four chapters deal with embroidering, knitting, crocheting and doing macrame with beads. The embroidery section shows how to incorporate beads into basic crewel embroidery stitches (back, buttonhole, chain, feather and herringbone) followed with instructions for the tent stitch used in embroidery work on canvas (ie, needlepoint and cross-stitch). Also included are instructions on how to use a tambour (a hook similar to that used for crocheting that is used to pull chain stitches and beads through cloth). Next are sections on knitting with beads, crocheting with beads and using beads in macrame.

The next chapter is on findings (clasps, crimp beads, knot cups, connectors, earwires, jump and split rings, end cones and coils, pinbacks, head and eye pins), which, while thorough insofar that it covers most findings, does not have the same excellent, detailed instructions and drawings that characterize the rest of the book. Using head pins to make earrings or attaching a crimp bead might seem obvious but someone who has never done these things may need more than just a brief written description on how they are accomplished. This section would have been so much better had the authors provided clearer explanations as well as illustrations. Also helpful would have been instructions on how to make secure bead loops using head/eye pins.

This chapter is followed by a section on wirework that has information about types of wire as well as tools (pliers, jigs, mandrells, mallets, hammers, etc) and basic techniques for making coils, figure eights, spirals and loops. The final chapters deal with making simple beaded cords and ropes, how to add fringe (including adding Victorian chain edging) and making netted fringe.

One of the best things about this book are the instructions on what to do if you make mistakes. I also liked the various "hints" that are scattered through out it as well.

Should you buy it? Well, if what you are looking for is a book that will teach you how to do basic bead stringing for a necklace or a bracelet or if you need instructions on how to make earrings, then you would be better off skipping this and getting a book like "Exotic Beads" instead. But if you're looking for the basics in bead weaving, etc, then this is definitely a good sourcebook for you. Be warned, however, it does not contain patterns or instructions for projects.

The Beader's Companion is everything it's title suggests.

The Beader's Companion covers beading terminology, how-to bead, what materials are needed for beading. Clear concise directions are included for just about every method of beading, with each method listed on small, sturdy pages. Included with the directions are easy to understand diagrams. And for each method of beading covered, there is a blank beading pattern template.

Frankly, it doesn't get any better than this. Not only is this book a perfect gift for yourself and/or anyone with even the slightest interest in beading, it is also a great travel companion. I take the book with me whenever I know I will have time to bead, while on the road. It is the perfect size, construction, and help to finish any beading project I might be working on.

I recommend this book to anyone who beads, and anyone who would like to learn how to bead. This book is THE Beader's Companion.

lunartic.cindy@gte.net

Do not make the mistake I did and buy a lot of books first to get started in beading. This book covers all the questions you will have. I won't spoil the fun and tell you all the goodies. But it does cover a lot. A few items are: On and off loom weaving techniques; tools, findings, threads, what they are called and how to use them. There are bead size charts, measuring charts and tip boxes throughout. How to use wire, cord making, finishing and knots. There is more but the fun of a new book is being surprised. So I'll tell you no more except, it has good clean black and white illustrations and the print is easy on the eyes. This compact book ends with five different graphs and comes in a plastic protective cover. The one thing that would be helpful are lined note pages. For the beading ideas that will spring up and beading sources/suppliers you will come across. BECAUSE YOU WILL WANT TO CARRY THIS BOOK WITH YOU!

If you're just getting started in beading, and have been browsing stores, feeling overwhelmed not knowing what you need to get started, or how to get started, you definitely can use this book! The Companion covers an introduction to EVERYTHING from types of beads and the differences between their finishes, sizing, threads and other equipment, both looming and off loom stitching, stringing, even working with embroidery, wire....and some blank graphs to plan projects drawn according to the stitch (Peyote, brick, square, etc). The book teaches the basic stitches close up and step by step, and each one I have tried has worked out! It comes in a cute size also, and spiral bound so it won't slam shut on you when you're stitching. Keep in mind it does not have any patterns for any projects, but gets you the skills to be able to work with project books, and to go to the bead store and know what to ask for.

I live in an area where there are no beading classes/workshops, bead stores, or beading buddies. It's just me with the urge to start beading, NOW!!

I work from my own ideas and designs, I just needed to learn the basics and what kind of beads might work best for the projects in my head. This book fills the bill, and as previous reviewers mentioned, it is compact enough to keep in your beading supply kit. It may not be the only beading book you'll acquire, but it truly is a companion book! Thank you, Beadwork Magazine, for publishing this no-nonsense book!

... as the reviewer Caren said below. I LOVE the fact that this handy little guide wastes no space (and none of my time) with someone else's idea of pretty and-or useful projects. My sole interest is in embroidery with beads -- there are about 10 pp on that, with good stitch-and-bead drawings. You'll also find sections on beads in knitting, crocheting, macrame, stringing, and loom, and off-loom techniques; charts on bead sizes, thread sizes, and types of beading needles; and more.

I gave this book 2 stars, because it's a good reference for seed bead techniques. If that's what you're looking for, and you are a beginning beader, you might find this book useful, although many of the same techniques can be found in the back of most beading magazines. I found the rest of the book to be extremely disappointing, offering little more than illustrations. I am new to this hobby, and there wasn't much there (other than the seed bead techniques) that I couldn't figure out by looking at the illustrations or going to my local bead store.

`The Beader's Companion', written for `Beadwork Magazine' by Judith Durant and Jean Campbell is, at first blush, a terrific little reference work for beading basics. It covers, in some depth, all the essentials of beads, threads, tools, looms, `hardware', needles, and stitches. Being primarily a loom beader from way back, I was particularly impressed by the wide variety of `freehand' techniques, especially those which can be used to incorporate beads into various stitching and knotting techniques such as macramé, knitting, and crocheting.

The problem I found with the book is similar to the response I got on a school project from my 6th grade teacher, who said the result showed a lot of work and knowledge, but it really didn't communicate the knowledge as it should have done. In several ways, this is the problem with this book, in spite of all its good points.

The first problem I experienced with the book is the fact that it described various bead types by comparing them to seed bead sizes, before describing the system for sizing seed beads. Now I have a pretty practical handle on seed beads and general methods for sizing little things such as diamonds and wire and the like, but without the concrete description of what the seed bead numbering system meant, using it to describe Bugle beads or Delica beads or Charlottes leave me cold. The description on seed bead sizing should have come at the very beginning of the book.

A second weakness I found was in all descriptions of colors and finishes used for beads. The book would have been 100% better if by the descriptions of things such as `Luster', `Matte', `Opal', `Satin' and the like would have been pictures of these finishes. The problem is deeper than simple color, as the type of finish also reflects gloss, degree of transparency, granularity, and type of metallic finish. These finishes are very complex and are described using words we don't commonly use day in and day out. In this case, it is clear that the picture is worth many thousands of words.

My third main problem is in the descriptions of the various off loom stitches. I confess this may simply be due to the fact that I have never tried these, and this book is more a `reminder' on how to do them, but I don't think so. As I look at the diagram for the even-count peyote stitch, I really have a hard time following the path of the thread in creating the first two rows of beads. The diagram for the odd-count stitch, oddly enough, is a bit easier to follow, but I would be happier if the directions for the simplest of the peyote stitches were crystal clear.

These irritations aside, this is an excellent introduction for showing one around the beading world, so that at least you know what's available and what can, in general, be done both on and off the loom. And, to that end, the book is great in providing a bibliography of books which can fill in the details, plus some graphs for laying out square stitch, loom work, brick stitch, peyote stitch, right angle weave and herringbone weaves. Unfortunately, the book's pages are so small that from a photocopy of these pages, you will not be able to lay out a very big pattern.

All in all, this is a great reminder reference and guided tour through the world of beading. I look forward to seeing if the authors have corrected any of these shortcomings in their new edition.

Exactly what I needed as I learn more about beading. Good reference source, tutorials (basic how-tos) and clear illustrations. I like compact size and the wire binding, too.

Do not make the mistake I did and buy a lot of books first to get started in beading. This book covers all the questions you will have. I won't spoil the fun and tell you all the goodies. But it does cover a lot. A few items are: On and off loom weaving techniques; tools, findings, threads, what they are called and how to use them. There are bead size charts, measuring charts and tip boxes throughout. How to use wire, cord making, finishing and knots. There is more but the fun of a new book is being surprised. So I'll tell you no more except, it has good clean black and white illustrations and the print is easy on the eyes. This compact book ends with five different graphs and comes in a plastic protective cover. The one thing that would be helpful are lined note pages. For the beading ideas that will spring up and beading sources/suppliers you will come across. BECAUSE YOU WILL WANT TO CARRY THIS BOOK WITH YOU! "BEADERS COMPANION" ISBN 1-883010-56-X