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Rolled paper and fabric beads
are fun to make. They can be used for making necklaces and bracelets, or for decorating
other textiles as border patterns, decoration for edges, decoration on frames
or parts of fringes and tassels.
The basic shape is a long, narrow triangle, but you should try different widths and lengths of triangles to produce a variety of beads.
Use coloured and painted papers, paper cut from magazines, and different kinds of fabrics. You will find that paper can be cut more accurately than fabrics, but you could iron Bondaweb onto your fabric and draw your shape on that. Take care using the iron, and cover your fabric with baking parchment. You might like to let some fabrics fray at the edges for a textured look.
Cut the long triangle from paper or fabric. Starting from the widest end, roll your bead round a knitting needle or tube. You can get a big split pin from the hardware shop and this will hold the wide end of the bead very securely.
You will need to run some glue along the centre of the bead for the last two centimetres. Hold the end firmly in place until you are sure it has stuck.
Museums often have some lovely examples of glass or faïence beads from ancient Egypt which could give you ideas for designs for your paper and fabric beads. If you use fine elastic as your thread you will not need a separate fastening.
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drawings from the
Kelvingrove Museum Glasgow, Scotland |
by
Chris Berry
First published in the Young Textile Group Project Book - Spring 1996; ©
The Embroiderers' Guild 1996
if you want to share this project with others, please link to it - don't copy it
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Embroiderers' Guild | Embroidery | STITCH with the Embroiderers' Guild
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Guild by Fiona Dix at hiraeth
mixed media