Exploring the Bead Plane
Ellie Baker, Susan Goldstine · 2014
T he process of making a bead crochet bracelet involves a sequence of five component activities: pattern selection (or creation), stringing, starting, crocheting, and closing. Step one, creating or choosing a pattern, is the primary focus of this book. With a pattern design in hand, step two is stringing the beads onto thread in the order specified by the design. After the beads are in place on the thread, step three involves creating an initial round of stitches, analogous to casting on in knitting (Figure 1.1(a)). In step four, the crafter crochets the beads in a continuous spiral, pulling one bead into each stitch (Figure 1.1(b)) until the rope reaches the desired length. In the final step, closing, the artist sews a seamlesslooking connection between the two ends of the rope (Figures 1.1(c) and 1.1(d)). We provide a set of tutorials on techniques for starting, crocheting, and closing, as well as tips for simplifying the stringing process, in Chapter 8. Everything else is all about pattern design!