BEAD WORK
Second Edition
edited by
Jules & Kaethe Kliot
A Compilation of Original Early Twentieth Century Sources by
Belle Robinson
Sophie T. LaCroix
Emma Post Barbour
Virginia Snow
LACIS
PUBLICATIONS
Berkeley, CA 94703
T
his LACIS, SECOND EDITION of BEAD WORK has been expanded to include an
unabridged republication of the following early 20th c. publications:
PRISCLLA BEAD WORK BOOK; A Collection of New and Old Bead Work with
Patterns and Lessons for Working, edited by Belle Robinson, published in 1912 by
Priscilla Publishing Co.,
OLD AND NEW DESIGNS IN BEADWORK, Book No. 20: Sautoir Chains, Beaded
Necklaces, Bags, Purses, Slipper Buckles, Watch Fobs, Etc. by Sophie T. La Croix
from this same period, published by St. Louis Fancy Work Co.
NEW BEAD BOOK by Emma Post Barbour, published in 1924 by National Trading Co..
and selections from:
VIRGINIA SNOWS AUTHORITY ON BEAD BAGS, NECKLACES ETC. Book No.
29 by Virginia Snow, published in 1926 by Collingboume’s Virginia Snow Studios
Original page numbers have been left intact where different from book pages and should be
used for text references. It should be noted that all references to materials and prices are as
originally published and are no longer relevant other then for historical data.
SUPPLIES
In addition to the obvious bead, supplies needed can include fine threads, usually
either of silk, nylon or linen, beading needles, fine crochet hooks and knitting needles,
tambour needles, accessory items such as purse handles, ear wires, etc. and bead
looms.
SOURCES CF SUPPLY
LACIS specializes in fine beads for beadwork, the finest crochet hooks and knitting
needles, bead looms, purse frames and a full line of tools, materials and books for
lace making, embroidery and costume. For complete catalog visit web: lacis.com
LACIS
PUBLICATIONS
3163 Adeline Street
Berkeley. CA 947C3
Original Edition: © 1984, LACIS;
ISBN 0-916896-21-8
Second Edition
© 1996, LACIS
updated reprint: 2006
ISBN 978-0-916896-73-7
[Cover Plioto: From original cover of NEW BEADWORK]
I N T R O D U CT I O N
T
he purpose of this book is to rekindle the spirit of
fine beadwork as worked in the past, provide ideas,
patterns and techniques for executing new beadwork
and to provide a valuable resource for study, repair and
conservation of beadwork.
The use of the bead must go as far back into antiquity as
man himself. With the basic need for personal adornment,
the bead, in as primitive form as a piece of shell or acorn,
was most likely fashioned as an article of adornment. From
this simple beginning, the bead would be formed from
every material known to man and be used as a basis for
barter, trade and currency as well as ornament. In terms
of creativity, the functional use of the bead would be
secondary to its purity as a form for artistic expression. In
addition, the strung bead had a more utilitarian purpose
when used, even to this day, as a counting device, whether
for practical purposes such as in knitting or for religious
purposes as a guide to prayers as in the rosary. In the
ancient tombs of Egypt, bright colored beads of various
shapes in glass, pottery, gold, coral, etc., can be found in
elaborate assemblages, representing one of the richest of
periods of bead ornament.
Since the fourteenth century, Venice has been one of
the main centers for bead production. In recent times,
Czechoslovakia has gained the reputation for producing
some of the finest glass beads. India is now becoming a
major source for decorative glass beads and Japan has
earned a reputation for the finest of seed beads.
Beadwork skills reached their height along with other
craft techniques in the Renaissance where they not only
decorated man and objects but were used to form objects
themselves. The beaded purse of the 17th century is a
popular example of this expression. With the lighter fabrics
of the 18th century, beadwork lost some of its popularity.
The 19th century brought widespread publication of
pattern books and emphasis on all feminine crafts including
beadwork. Beadwork patterns were included along with
those for cross stitch, crochet and canvas work. In the
1920s, beadwork became virtually a necessary part of
fashion; flapper dresses and evening bags elaborately
decorated with the embroidered bead.
The fashioning of beaded articles today is not a fad but a
continuation of the process of bead artistry begun long ago.
The bead, which will generally outlive the item which it
adorned, has made its way through the centuries, constantly
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being adapted to current fashion styles. The richness of
color, permanence, modulation of light, artistry of design
and basic value of the material have given the bead this
unique status in adornment materials.
In fashioning with beads, many techniques are available
from the simple strung necklace to the techniques of
weaving, knitting, crochet, tatting, bobbin lace, tambouring,
needlework on canvas, needle lace and bead embroidery.
Many of the beaded patterns are suitable for several
techniques, as are most of the charted patterns for cross
stitch and other needle techniques suited for beadwork.
Many of the beads as described in this book might not
be readily available but substitutes can be easily obtained
through most craft suppliers.
C O N T E N TS
Note: Numbers in [ ] designate page numbers of this book.
Other page references are from the original publications
and should be used for text references.
PRISCILLA BEAD WORK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
OLD AND NEW DESIGNS IN BEADWORK . . 49
NEW BEAD BOOK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
BEAD BAGS, NECKLACES, ETC. . . . . . . . . 92
B I B L I O G RA P H Y
Embroidery With Beads, Angela Thompson
BEAD EMBROIDERY, Harding and Watts
BEADED BAGS AND MORE, Jules & Kaethe Kliot
THE BEADING BOOK, Julia Jones
HOW TO DO BEADWORK, Mary White
BOOK OF BEADS, Janet Cole & Robert Dudwig
CLASSIC BEADED PURSE PATTERNS, Jong-Kramer
INNOVATIVE BEADED JEWELRY, Gineke Root
BEAD WEAVING: ACCESSORIES, Takako Sako
BEAD WEAVING: ELEGANCE, Takako Sako
BEAD WEAVING: CLASSICS, Takako Sako
TATTED LACE OF BEADS, Nina Libin
AMERICAN INDIAN BEADWORK, Hunt & Burshears
THE ART OF BEADWORK, Valerie Hector
THE ART OF MAKING HAND-BEADED BAGS, Torrisi
BEAD & SEQUIN EMBROIERY STITCHES, Levy
BEAD CROCHET ROPES, Judith Bertoglio-Giffin
BIJOUX EN CRISTAL: DENTELLES DE PERLES,
Marie le Sueur
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