How Old is Bead Crochet?
Bead crochet combines the art of crocheting with beads strung onto the yarn, beads worked into the fabric of the crochet, or beads interspersed between crochet stitches, either the simple slip
Let’s step back in time for a moment. Using only one tool, a hook, I assumed crochet was older than knitting, but knitting precedes crochet by several centuries. In Europe, for example, crochet is first documented at the beginning of the 19th century; the first printed crochet pattern was written by Mademoiselle Riego de la Branchardiere in 1829! However, there is evidence of crochet in ancient Egypt, depicted in art but not (yet?) found in physical finds of crochet hooks. Also, a yarn-fabric craft named “nalbinding” is likely a precursor to crochet, and given it builds on short lengths of thread, it may have originated in Neolithic times! The origins of crochet seem lost to time, at least for now…
I love the study of ancient times! BTW, the term “crochet” originates with the French word “crochet,” which means little hook.
Back to bead crochet…😊
Researching this topic opened my eyes to what can be done with a crochet hook, yarn/thread, and beads. Bead crochet is used to create purses, for example, and all manner of jewellery.
Ann Benson’s latest book, “dimensional bead crochet” and a print screen image from her YouTube channel, titled “Bead Crochet Euro.” These both use a single crochet stitch as has become popular in Western and Eastern Europe.
Supplies
As a craft, bead crochet requires simple tools: a big eye needle (or other beading needle, depending on what you are making), crochet hook, crochet thread, and beads!
- The big eye needle is amazing for the purpose of stringing the many beads required for making a beaded rope. It opens, which accepts the cotton thread with ease, and is thin enough to allow beads to pass over it.
- Crochet cotton is available at local yarn shops, craft stores such as Michaels and in the US, Joanne’s, Walmart, and my favourite source, the local thrift shop.
- The Beading Room sure has you covered for beads. Start with one colour of size 8/0 Czech Preciosa seeds or 8/0 Japanese Miyuki seeds , and if you go with one colour, a spinner will make stringing a breeze.
How to Begin
Researching bead crochet wasn’t as easy as other beading techniques as there is scant info on this topic. But, lots of YouTube lessons! Here are some of the basics that I picked up. For the purposes of this blog, I’m mostly focusing on creating a beaded rope, i.e., tubular crochet.
(Print screen image from the Danysska YouTube channel, titled “How to Start Bead Crochet.” Here Daniela demonstrates the crochet method that captures individual beads.)
- Depending on the size of beads you’re going to use – 2mm, 4mm, 6mm round beads, seed bead size 8/o or 10/o, you may go with threads using terminology such as size 10 crochet cotton, 30-weight crochet cotton, or size 12 or 16 perle cotton thread. (Using 15/o seed beads is possible, but you must be quite comfy with the path thread in bead crochet before you tackle those little sweeties!) Generally, the pattern you begin with will include a list of materials.
- You will need size 1mm crochet hook (metric sizing), also known as size 10 (USA sizing), or size 4 (UK sizing) crochet hook. You may need a hook the next size up (1.10mm for example), depending on your personal tension and thread thickness.
- If you’re new to this stitch, select 8/0 or larger beads, start with perhaps 6 beads per round, and maybe stick to one colour? Jumping into complex patterns, which require sorting and counting beads prior to stringing, and following a new-to-you schematic of bead sequences, may result in frustration rather than success.
- String your beads onto the crochet thread (or thread recommended by the designer) prior to beginning. There’s no need to string the entire sequence of beads, and thank goodness. Some designs work with up to 30 beads x 100 rows, for example. That’s a lot of beads and a lot of weight. Beginning a new thread and stringing anew after several sequences is quite easy.
- To move along, you will slide one bead down, create a crochet stitch while pushing the bead to the outside edge (either a slip stitch or a single crochet), and continue. Crocheting in rounds naturally creates the outer bead side and an inner working of thread. Larger rope circumferences may require adding a plastic tube or other inner structure to keep the rope from collapsing into a flat ribbon.
- B. It takes about 5 rows for the bead crochet to begin looking “good.” Until then, it looks messy and wonky. Alternatively, you could make a few rows of simple crochet rounds and then begin adding the beads. The beginning yarn tube will disappear when the end caps are added.
(Pattern from the Danysska YouTube channel, titled “How to Start Bead Crochet.” )
Super easy beaded crochet strands, with a retro vibe, that look delightful as a necklace and as a wrapped bracelet. Print screen from the Bohemian Mermaid YouTube channel.
More Resources
- Here’s a fun article from Yarnspirations, The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Bead Crochet.
- Check out the Facebook group, Crochet bead rope.
- This lesson is from Crafting for Weeks and offers an easy method for adding beads to a crocheted item, no pre-stringing needed!
- If you want to see bead crochet in its teensiest form, check out this YouTube (It’s in Russian, but you don’t need words to grasp the wow! Factor! Curiously, the creator calls this video “Bead Crochet Rope for begginers [sic]”). Go to about the 3-minute mark to watch a .50mm crochet hook in action, and to the 11-minute mark to see the beads being added.
- Great YouTube teachers:
Danyysska – bead crochet purses, ropes, ornaments – and excellent instructions
Ann Benson – a gifted teacher, Ann also offers beading books on this topic Bohemian Mermaid – for a simple yet super attractive crochet + bead method
As always, The Beading Room has tons of beads in oodles of colours to help you create the beaded project of your dreams! If you need help, I am at your service.
Until next month, dear beaders, bead happy! Cathy