Japanese Bead Embroidery, Phase II

Two weeks ago I attended a Japanese Beading class to learn the techniques used in Phase II. The Phase II design is a folio entirely covered with just two shades of bead, jet-black and pewter. The beads are tri-cuts that reflect the light beautifully and they are arranged either in flowing lines or as random seeding to maximise the effect. The design is called ‘Calm Flow’.

The guidelines are printed onto the background fabric, black polyester satin that I laced onto a Japanese embroidery frame in the usual manner. The design of Japanese frames allows you to make the fabric drum tight which gives a lovely surface for stitching. After tensioning the fabric, the printed design can distort slightly so I stitched around a template cut from the master design to create a true outline.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

I first outlined the folio with a double row of black beads. Most, but not all of the guidelines indicate the position of a line of pewter beads.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

The beads are threaded onto a double strand of polycotton and wound onto a pair of koma.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

The beads are attached by couching over the thread every other bead. This method gives a smooth line of beads.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

I apologize for the poor quality of the photographs. I have heard others say that it is difficult to get a good photograph of beads, especially black ones. I experienced the same difficult!

Happy stitching.