Beadwork is an ancient art of making bead and bead jewelry. It is very common among the people and is used not only for clothing, but also for weaving various figures and toys.
Figurines made of beads were popular among peasants, and even among wealthy ladies. Many items in those days were decorated with small beads: wallets, handbags, caskets, candlesticks and pillows.
Interest in beads sometimes subsided, then flashed with renewed vigor. Nowadays, beadwork began to revive in the 70s, when bead jewelry, belts, bracelets and even toys became popular.
Beads of various shapes and sizes are used to make bead products . For work you will need scissors, pliers, tweezers and
thin
copper wire. It should be so thick that it passes through the bead several times. A thick fishing line may be needed for some parts.
Figures from beads in most cases are made using the parallel weaving technique. To do this, each next row is strung on a wire, and then its second end is threaded again through all the beads.
Beaded animals are more often formed from nose to tail, since it is easier to hide the ends of the wire from the back than from the front. But sometimes they are weaved, on the contrary, to the nose, and the remains of the base are used to form a mustache, trunk or beak.
To make the figures from beads dense, after stringing each row, you need to draw the wire. You need to tighten it only when you have done everything necessary in this row: attached ears, horns or formed the correct volume.
For the manufacture of round elements using the technique of mosaic weaving. Each new row with this method is staggered to the previous one. To make a circle, gradually increase the number of beads and weave usually from center to the edges.
For weaving toys, a looped stringing is also used. It is convenient when performing animal ears. This is a fairly simple method: after stringing the beads, simply fold the wire with a loop and twist the ends.
A more sophisticated technique is weaving a cross. It is performed on two needles and is available only to experienced craftswomen.
Sometimes when creating animal parts, they make double loops - they build up a large one on a small loop. But this method is rarely used to weave bead figures.
The easiest way to weave from beads is flat figures. For them, you can take any pattern of embroidery or fantasize yourself. These toys are good as hairpins or brooches. These products are quite simple and accessible even to children. They are woven from individual parts, which are then connected.
Small animals from beads are very popular now, especially among children. They are very easy to manufacture and like children of any age. They can be played, but can be used in the form of a pendant, pendants on a phone or bag.
Experienced craftswomen can create complex figures from beads, similar to works of art. Such handmade products are very appreciated, so beadwork can be not only a hobby, but also a way to make money.