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40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Complete" refers to seed beads, September 16, 2004
This review is from: The Complete Guide to Beading Techniques: 30 Decorative Projects (Beadwork Books) (Paperback)
The beautiful beadwork on this book's cover alone will demand that you explore the contents, but the title of the book is somewhat misleading. "Complete" refers only to seed bead techniques, not to all beading techniques. The Beader's Companion (Interweave Press) is a far better book for "complete beading techniques." For working with seed beads, though, this book does provide instructions that are fairly easy to follow.
Jane allots a chapter for each technique: loomwork and stitches including square, brick and ladder, peyote, netting, herringbone, right-angle weave, and knitting.
The 30 projects provided may scare or discourage a beginner. For many seed bead projects to have a successful outcome, much depends upon consistent thread tension. Beginners must practice thread tension on simpler projects than Jane gives us, although her suggested sampler gives some practice. The projects are absolutely stunning, so this book would be the cat's pajamas for someone already-skilled in working with seed beads who is looking for a challenge.
Interspersed with the diagrams and text are examples of finished work, both antique and new, serving to inspire the bead artist. Blank pages that can be copied for graphing a design in various bead stitches are a handy addition.
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43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
For the Seed Bead Connoisseur, October 12, 2002
This review is from: The Complete Guide to Beading Techniques: 30 Decorative Projects (Beadwork Books) (Paperback)
For the person who loves working with seed beads in close, detailed hand work, there are a lot of techniques to try in this book. Most of the projects involve some type of sewing beads together to create beautiful tapestries for home decoration. There are pieces to be framed and hung, coasters, small bead weavings for decorating other surfaces, such as small boxes. There are projects for decorating lamps with beads and accessories such as small purses and a scissors case. Some projects require you to knit with very small knitting needles, incorporating the beads into the knitting. One project escapes from seed beads momentarily to show how to do wirework to make jewelry items. There are quite a few stitching techniques used, such as brick, square, ladder, and peyote stitch. The instructions are very good, with large drawings showing the beads and the direction of thread passed through them. One nice touch is that instructions are provided for a small practice piece for some of the techniques. The projects are beautiful and delicate pieces of art for patient crafters, and for those who have never done this type of work before, there's a lot to learn.
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34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
wonderful resource, September 29, 2003
This review is from: The Complete Guide to Beading Techniques: 30 Decorative Projects (Beadwork Books) (Paperback)
with this book, the beader gets basic instructions for a dozen different techniques, one of which i have seen nowhere else (beading with tambour work). given the number of techniques covered, the instructions are limited to the absolute basics, but the beader has the chance to at least try a technique to see if she likes it enough to go beyond the basics. there is also an impressive amount of information about beads, beading tools, thread, etc. the large projects are very good (the netting project is gorgeous), and, for those who just want a practice piece, there are small projects are both quick and attractive. there are also some stunning examples of beadwork for inspiration. the photos are first rate. AND, there are blank GRAPHS!!! this is one of the best parts of the book--graphs for single and double peyote and brick stitch, for loom and square stitch, are fairly easy to find, but this book has, in addition to all these, graphs for netting, right-angle weave and knitting! and the graphs are full page size, which makes designing easier. the graphs alone are reason enough to buy this book. the only thing i didn't absolutely love about this book, and the reason for the four stars instead of five, is the illustrations of the techniques. i found them hard to follow, and the square stitch technique is not the best example of this stitch. i have one or two other books with better illustrations, but they are limited in the number of techniques and quality of projects. however, that is a minor drawback compared to what this book offers. it definitely belongs in the library of any beader.
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