beading with a sewing machine

[eagle wings]

Has anyone ever tried to bead with a sewing machine using the zigzag stich? Does this work?

[Lakota Wiyan]

I cant even imagine how you would do that. Where do you string the beads?

[Wojapi4Me]

Has anyone ever tried to bead with a sewing machine using the zigzag stich? Does this work?

This sounds like an excellent way to visit your local IHS clinic

[DancersMom]

I know it sounds funny I ahve never seen it done but I had a friend tell me that she has an attachment for her very expensive sewing machine that does beading. It still sounds weird to me.

[wyo_rose]

I could see doing this on something like a beaded bridal gown in white on white, but not on native style beadwork.

If you really need a shortcut - GLUE!!

[Lakota Wiyan]

I could see doing this on something like a beaded bridal gown in white on white, but not on native style beadwork.

If you really need a shortcut - GLUE!!

Yeah, thats what I was thinking, too. Maybe for attaching pre strung beads, but you kinda have to do it the old fashioned way if you want to do an exact design. Or maybe its to attached a loomed piece.

I think the art of beading needs to be preserved, so thats why its hard to get quick short cuts just right. Some things just need to be done the old traditional way!

[Lakota_winyan]

well let me know when u find one..tho..I am lookin for short cuts..lol..but not a visit to the ihs clinic...hahahaha..I know some machines can sew things like leather fringe to outfits but not beadin..lol

[JinglnCrazyLilBird]

There was a woman a while back I met at an art market who said she did her stuff wit a sewing machine. I wasn't all that wow-ed by her stuff tho. Face it, great things take time!... and calluses!

Besides, me and sewing machines don't get along. They have minds of their own.... and I already have enough trouble just controlling my hands! ;) I have this horrible mental image of the needle hitting a bead, the tip of the needle breaking off shooting across the room and lodging in my eye. Trust me... if I can imagine it then it'll probably happen. Ya'll will know now what happened when you see a jingle dancer lookin like a pirate wit an eyepatch at your next powwow. Just call me Long John Silver-Jingles!

[Lakota_winyan]

Trust me... if I can imagine it then it'll probably happen. Ya'll will know now what happened when you see a jingle dancer lookin like a pirate wit an eyepatch at your next powwow. Just call me Long John Silver-Jingles![/QUOTE]


crazee....hope it doesn't happen..

[eagle wings]

hahaa! it was just a thought - but I do agree, some things are best left to do the traditional way!

[trob226]

I have this horrible mental image of the needle hitting a bead, the tip of the needle breaking off shooting across the room and lodging in my eye.

My mother ran the needle right through her finger once. Picture that - an eyepatch and a missing finger....yuck....

[spottedeagle]

I know a couple lazy folks who, new to beading tried to sew down loomwork using a zigzag stitch. It almost seems like an alright ideal, you are catching the outer threads and sewing them down right....until you start breaking threads because you missed, beads start falling all over the place and your work is ruined. LMAO, guess that one mistake you are bound to learn from!!!!

[DancersMom]

I am good with a machine and I still break needles all the time. I really don't see how it could be done on a machine but each to his own I do it the old fashioned way and still learning. LOL

[Czechy]

There is a special foot you can buy for your sewing machine so you can sew down strung beads or cording. There is another foot for sewing strung sequins. I've have not tried either one. I've only seen machine beading used on single strands of beads and on stuff from Taiwan and China. In my mind, machine beadwork equals crap. The method sounds like a pain in the patootie to me and probably isn't that much faster than doing it by hand the normal way.