Beaded barrette info...

[CoyoteMama]

Does anyone have any info about beading barrettes to share? I've been looking online & in books for instructions, patterns, etc., but I haven't found much - just about everything else you could want to bead, but not much about barrettes. Any good books to recommend? Tips, advice, patterns? Any guidance at all would be helpful. Thanks!

[n8tivechick]

hmmm.. i might be able to help you..... first can you tell me what kind of barrette you are making.. i mean like what shape and if you are going to use the loom or applique... i hope i can help.
-Kelli

[contemptradish]

my advice-
wear a thimble!!! it took my finger tips weeks to heal after the last one.

[CoyoteMama]

what, contemptradish, no calluses? lol. No needle will ever get through these fingertips...

N8tivechick, I'm looking more for applique info - I've done loomwork, so I can figure it out for that. What I want to make is the large single style barrette, the shape is usually a central circle with smaller circles to the sides, on some kind of backing. Sometimes they have some beaded fringe hanging down. For design patterns I can convert a lot of what I have already, it's more the technique info I really need - anything more would be icing on the cake! Thanks for any help you can give.

[Blackbear]

Crazy Crow sells a video on how to make rosettes and it does go into how to do applique style..and I think they do have a video on doing applique work. It is fairly simple to do but takes time as always and all things. But it is a good video even for the "experienced" for some pointers .

Calluses? What are those? I try to build them up but all I get is cracked and bleeding fingertips LOL!! I made myself some leather thimbles for the two fingers that keep getting affected, that cover the entire finger. I made them that way because I am always making cuts in the creases of my nuckles (on the inside of the finger) with my thread as well as wearing down the skin from the needles. Just can't seem to build up a good enough callus.

[Blackbear]

Oh yeah...you will have an easier time beading through your leather and or card or such backing if you use sharps instead of longs needles. They are made for that purpose. Granted it is a little harder to pick the beads up since most are conditioned to using long needles, but the sharps don't break as easily when you get through a tough spot and go through leather like butter.

[n8tivechick]

well.. with the design you are doing, i'm really not that experienced but i am using that fun foam and making a scarf tie. i used the fun foam because i wanted to experiment with it before i make my crown out of it.

Blackbear, i know what you mean my fingers crack so badly expecially through the winter. if they get really bad i'll wear plastic bags with vasiline in it for my hands overnight, my parents think i'm nuts but oh well..... it helps!
-Kelli

[Singing Otter]

Kelli,

That's a good one for your feet too. Especially during winter time! You can use those cheap white gloves for your hands. ;) Those are better than the bags.

[CoyoteMama]

Thanks for the tips so far!

Geez, I've never had a problem with my hands (callouses) cracking - ouch! What in the world are y'all doing? There have been a few occasions that I've unknowingly sewn myself to items because I didn't feel the needle & thread going through my fingertip! Thimbles are handy, I'll admit, especially when a needle is getting stuck, but they drive me crazy more than they help me so I skip it.

Blackbear, since most of my stitching experience is actually sewing, quilting and embroidery, I tend to use those needles even when I do other crafts like beading (except on a loom) - I guess you just use what you're used to. I had actually been thinking about using real beading needles, though, so I appreciate your advice!

[Blackbear]

Coyote Mama...good!!! I don't know if I understand you correctly so I apologize ahead in case you said it and I just did'nt pick up on it...but they do make the beading needles in sharps..you don't have to use quilting sharps which tend to be a bit thick in the eye for me. That is what I started beading with myself many years ago before I knew they made needles just for beading (hey what can I say? I was 7 when I started beading LOL). The place I used to work at sells beading needles from India made of steel and are VERY good quality. They come in longs and sharps from size 12 to size 10 and are only 1.50 a pack of 25 so a good deal as well.
As far as making a barrette goes though..to stay on topic here... it would be the same as making a rosette except you cut little slits in the backing leather and you either sew the barrette to your card, foam..whatever you beaded on..just make sure it is stiff or you can glue it which is what I like to do, then slip the ends out of the backing and edge bead it. Did I say that clear enough to follow?

[Suzizila]

Here's something I have found useful in making barettes. To keep the barette from sliding out use plastic from milk jugs. Cut the plastic to match the shape of your barette. Make slits in the plastic where the ends of the barette will be. Your backing material(I use leather.)should match the plastic. This works out perfectly to keep the barette in place.

I hope this helps. :)

[CoyoteMama]

These are great tips, thanks Blackbear and Suzizila! I just ran and grabbed the milk cartons I had tossed out earlier today...

I didn't know they made sharp beading needles. The ones I've used before, I just bought because they were long & thin & it said "beading needles" on the package. I've had the problem of eye size that you mentioned, Blackbear, I've just hunted around in my needles till I found one that fit. I haven't done enought beading to really get into the tools & techniques.

Thanks for the help so far. I can't really afford the barrettes I've seen for sale, and even if I bought one I wouldn't want to pick it apart to see how it was made! I was thinking of making a couple for some long-haired cousins this Christmas.

[Blackbear]

Hey if anyone wants me to make them some simple instructions to make a barrette I would be more than happy to type them up and send them to you. Otherwise there is a great book by a woman called Sadie Starr who gives a great step by step detail on making many beaded items. It is a little costly but it is well worth it! I will come back in the morning with the name of the book and a link to a place online that sells it.
That milk jug tip was great...did'nt think of that one!! Better than hot gluing my fingertips LOL!!!

[Blackbear]

Ok here is a link...to Amazon who is selling the book for less than I paid for it..sheesh eh? http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...445832-5249714
It is an excellent book!! Everything from beaded cabachons, to barrettes all with nice big pics to look at as they go along with the instructions.

[Nuumu]

Originally posted by Blackbear
SNIP
That milk jug tip was great...did'nt think of that one!! Better than hot gluing my fingertips LOL!!! [/B]

Hi there :D

plastic milk or bleach jugs work good. Sometimes, to save my aged and worn fingers, I use fabric facing (sometimes a couple layers) for the base to bead on. That Pellon stuff. I then put skin to the back and all that.

In regards to hair barettes though... has anyone had trouble with the sticks breaking because of hair thickness? OR does everyone use those metal clasps now? (am I showing my age?? )

Nuumu:Chatter