Beadwork Magazine Presents: The Beader's Companion (Spiral-bound)

by Judith Durant (Author), Jean Campbell (Author) "Beads have been made in thousands of shapes and sizes and out of too many different materials to count..." (more)
Key Phrases: string one bead, string three beads, string two beads (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"A handy reference." -- Library Journal

"I’ve personally used this book almost every day since I purchased it." -- BeadFx, Inc.

"This book teaches all you need to know to be an excellent beader." -- Knitaddicted.com

"This is my favorite all-purpose beading reference book." -- About.com's Guide to Beadwork

"This is one of those, ‘if I can only have one book, I need to have this one’ book[s]." -- The Beadwrangler

Review

"This is a handy reference." —Library Journal

"This is one of those, "if I can only have one book, I need to have this one" type of book." —The Beadwrangler

"Re-written, revised and updated with the latest in tools and materials....Worth the update." —Workshop on the Web

"This book teaches all you need to know to be an excellent beader." —Knitaddicted.com

"'Expanded and updated'—that's a little of an understatement."  —About.com Guide to Jewelry Making

--This text refers to the Spiral-bound edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 104 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press; 1st edition (May 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 188301056X
• ISBN-13: 978-1883010560
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #138,107 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This item is part of The Companion Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

223 of 223 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars basic guidebook for weaving and embroidery techniques, May 28, 2000

By	Patricia O'Tuama "rissa" (Illinois) - See all my reviews

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.

93 of 95 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't leave home without it!, August 13, 2000

By	"lunartic" (Torrance, CA USA) - See all my reviews

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.

[e-mail]

78 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a excellent comprehensive purse/briefcase size book., April 7, 1999

By	[e-mail] G. Parsons (USA) - See all my reviews

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!