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From: bridesmom
Date: 02-06-2004, 07:23 AM (1 of 5)
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I really need some help. I have searched and searched for patterns to bead this wedding dress and have found absolutely nothing, even trying the bead shops around me and they have nothing for clothing. I am looking for a pattern to do an 'icicle' type of beading using bugle beads and crystal beads. Does anyone have any suggestions at all. Someone did mention to just draw a pattern out then do it, but I wouldn't even have a clue how to start creating a pattern.
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: linbap
Date: 02-17-2004, 01:34 PM (2 of 5)
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I've only done a little beading, but what I've done is fooled around with drafting curves (those sets of plastic pieces that set out a bunch of different sizes and styles of curves....you can get them at an art store). It takes a while, but you can come up with a pattern that is, say 6 inches wide that you can repeat across (or around) the area that will have the beading on it. If you don't feel very confident about your beading abilities, you can also buy already-beaded appliques, but they are pretty pricey. They would also add a lot of bulk to the dress. Another thought here....you could find a simple lace and tack it to the dress and follow the design with the beading. Then cut off the excess lace. That's kind of what I did with my daughter's veil. I used the same lace that was on the gown around the edges of her veil. Chocolate. Not just for breakfast anymore!
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User: linbap
Member since: 01-16-2002 Total posts: 2 |
From: MariLynnTX
Date: 02-19-2004, 04:22 PM (3 of 5)
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I have done quite a lot of beading, both on wedding dresses and on vintage clothing that I was restoring. Some of it was done by hand and some by machine. I have used pearl beads bought already strung and stitched them down with invisible thread and a zigzag stitch and they looked very good done that way. These were beads from 1/8" to 1/4" in diameter. I have also used very tiny beads and sewed them on by hand, stringing 4 to 6 on a beading needle and then laying them in place, pulling the needle and thread through them and then down through the material, bring the thread back up through the last bead; then adding another group of beads to the needle and doing the same thing again; and so on until I finished the design. For this I used a polyester thread that matched the background fabric. Some of the designs (on vintage clothes) I was restoring to their original look. On wedding dresses I usually either drew my own design and transferred it to the fabric. or used the lace technique described in the last post. Long strings of beads around the design I did with invisible thread by machine. Smaller, more intricate designs I would do by hand as I describe above. I hope this helps. You can copy designs you like from fabric or from designs in books. Almost any simple design can be adapted to beading. I like to put the fabric, if not too heavy, into a hoop for machine-done beading, and dispense with the presser foot, but you can also use a beading foot with strands of beads and a zigzag stitch to couch them down. I hope this is of some help to you. MariLynn Life is a song...we give it harmony or dissonance.
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User: MariLynnTX
Member since: 08-13-2001 Total posts: 256 |
From: MaryW
Date: 02-20-2004, 09:26 AM (4 of 5)
So, that is the trick of beading. Ok, I get it now. I didn't know you were supposed to bring your thread up thru the last bead again before adding the next one. thanks MariLynn. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: bridesmom
Date: 02-20-2004, 10:56 PM (5 of 5)
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You've been a great help! I have made up a few samples and showed them to my daughter. We came up with a design using very small seed beads 3 at a time, in the method you mentioned MariLynn plus crystals of different sizes and shapes and the occasional larger seed bead scattered here and there. Now, to get the courage to actually attempt this on the dress! (she says with a pounding heart!) (Breathe deeply). Laura Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
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