Jill Wiseman's Beautiful Beaded Ropes : 24 Wearable Jewelry Projects in Multiple Stitches is part of Lark's fine Beadweaving Master Class Series. The authors and books in this series are ones that can push your beading to the next level by teaching techniques that can be used in your own projects and designs. So the book may have 24 projects to make start to finish, the techniques you'll learn will be used endlessly in your own designs.

Ropes are essential to good beading. They are used to suspend pendants, to make bracelets, to join pieces of embroidery and as embellishments. If you've ever spent 10 hours on a gorgeously stitched pendant then another 20 hours trying to work out some sort of chain that works with it to showcase the beadwork, you'll understand the strong appeal of a book that focuses on ropes Finding the right balance can be tricky. A lot of chains are too delicate, a lot of ropes are too intricate. In this volume, you'll find that perfect medium. Ropes of different weights that can provide a decorative and solid base for your pendants, embellishments and tassels.

The book starts with an introduction to supplies and techniques. The tools will probably be in every advanced beginner-intermediate beadweavers supplies already. Then there is an introduction to the basic stitches which is well illustrated and includes spiral rope, peyote, netting, herringbone and right angle weave.

Then into the ropes. The rope types and projects are separated by stitch type. The introduction covers basic ropes, the projects use different bead sizes, embellishments and layers to create new looks. Any of the ropes in this book would work as a necklace just by themselves, with a lot of flexibility based on the colors and bead types you choose. The projects show an example of the different ways the ropes can by used.

Favorite Projects:

• The chapter on spiral ropes has pearl and crystal encrusted bracelet that's just gorgeous.


• Peyote ropes has another bracelet that I love, the Ray of Light Bangle.


• Netted Ropes includes the fantastic sculptural piece that's on the cover, but my favorite rope project in that chapter is actually the Josephine's Fortune Necklace which uses the ropes like ropes to tie an elegant knot.


• Then comes the Ziggurat Ring made from a herringbone rope. This is a strong looking statement ring with a nested crystal.


• As a big fan of right angle weave, that's my favorite chapter in the whole book. My favorite piece in this chapter is just a simple rope necklace, Ladies Who Lunch, which is also covered with small pearls.


• Other stitches, the final chapter, has ropes that use other stitch techniques. Like layering an Ogala butterfly for a more substantial look, and turning chevron chain into a rope.

Lots of full color photographs, clear instructions and good diagrams make this a great resource for advanced beginners through intermediate bead weavers.

Published by Lark Crafts, you can download 2 projects from the book here.
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