I joined in A Time To Stitch 5, so jumped at the chance to join the next round. The challenge was to create a piece of beadweaving following a chart. If you're not sure what a beadweaving chart looks like, take a look at my Pinterest board here. The charts on that board are for the peyote stitch and that's where I began, thinking it would be easy.
It wasn't. The up and down nature of the stitch meant that I struggled to follow the chart! You can find this particular free pattern here. I made quite a few mistakes which had to be ripped out and it took me forever! I stitched this using various size 11/0 seed beads. It is supposed to be a bookmark but it's too short, has one raggedy edge and my attempt at a point was a massive failure!
I have collected a lot of free charts for cross stitch over the years (check out my Pinterest boards) and had always wanted to try one in beads. I realised I'd have to learn how to do square stitch, but that was pretty easy. I chose a pattern and got working.
The free chart is from Matryoshka Biscornue, though I can't find the actual chart now. It's a great blog though, full of free small cross stitch charts. It turned out a lot taller and thinner than I was expecting, but I suppose that makes sense. It's stitched using size 11/0 seed beads and the slight waviness at the edges is due to using 2 different brands of seed bead. The white beads are Miyukis which are very regular in size and shape. The blue were a cheaper brand and lots of different sizes and shapes.
My apologies for the dreadful photos. I'm at the East Midlands Quilting Group of Moderners today and I only realised I hadn't taken photos on Friday morning which meant a quick photo shoot with my tablet and daylight lamp on an envelope before work, rather than with the camera in my lightbox in daylight! What's that, you see no difference from my usual crappy photos? Yeah, OK!
I really enjoyed this challenge. I found out that following a Peyote chart is quite tricky but that you can use any of the millions of cross stitch charts out there to square stitch a piece. I probably should have tried brick stitch. It's like peyote stitch, but on its side, so I could have followed the chart a lot more easily.
If you'd like to see what the other participants in this challenge got up to, you can find them below.
24 comments:
I think both of these are just adorable! I would love to wear that ladybug bracelet in the spring!!
What sweet designs, I love that little bunny, and I'm sure you can still do a fun bookmark from these sweet ladybugs.
Hi Wendy, your rabbit is really cute. If you take a piece of the graph paper and cut the up and down notches in it you can move it along the chart to help you keep track of where you are on the pattern. I clip mine on with paper clips.
Thanks for bringing it to my attention that a brick chart might be easier but give the same peyote look. My mind never went there. All it did was curse the peyote chart and yell to it "why can't you be more linear like square stitch charts?!" I may try a chart again...in BRICK this time! I love the lady bugs! You can work your crafty magic and add fringe or fiber to it and have it reach the length it needs to be to be a bookmark. And the bunny ~ great use of cross stitch for a bead pattern! Love the little tail :-)
HAHA charts that aren't aligned - that are off-set - make my head spin, no matter how simple the design. My brain apparently works in a very linear up/down/left/right mode :D Your ladybugs and bunny are cute!
such fun patterns you picked! love your lady bugs (as would my daughter :) and your bunny is so sweet!
The white beads would also have been tricky to photograph. Beads look easy, but the manipulation is never as easy as one hopes...
Hi Wendy, what a brilliant idea to use a cross-stitch patterns for beadweaving!!
The rabbit is sooo cute!! Well done.
Alenka
Hi Wendy,
Thank you for participating again in the ATTS challenge and I hope you will be back for ATTS 7. Those peyote charts can be tricky especially when you are just doing the picture graph. I prefer the work chart for peyote stitch graphs. But what you attempted is cute I like the Ladybugs. Maybe you can try again with a word chart. I love the little bunny it is so cute! I will have to try the cross stitch patterns for beading.
Therese
Hi Wendy, They look good for your first time. You'll get the hang of it in no time. It reminded me of following a cross stitch chart. I remember when I started beading, I started with peyote.
A bunny and ladybugs...what's not to love? A beaded bookmark would be a great way to combine my two favorite pastimes- reading and beading! Never thought of that. Square stitch, although not hugely popular, is one of my go-to stitches - hope you enjoyed learning it.
I think your lady bugs are wonderful! I remember when I first learned peyote, it was easier to use delicas - that might have made your pattern experience a little easier but the end result is really nice. I like the idea of using cross-stitch patterns too - I have quite a few of those back from my cross-stitching days. Glad you participated in the challenge!
It's funning using charts from one craft to use for another. I remember taking a crochet pattern and using it for cross stitch :) Love the ladybirds
The beaded bunny is lovely Wendy. What a great idea to use a cross stitch chart for beading, there are so many wonderful cross stitch patterns available now you will be spoiled for choice :)
Oh wow, that sounds quite complicated. I do love the little ladybugs, though! And the bunny is very cute :D
They're lovely. I don't see how you could use them as bookmarks though, surely they're too thick?
Charts aren't easy to follow in peyote stitch which is why I don't use them much. You did a great job and get an A++++ for effort with the first chart. Your square stitch piece is really great and that bunny is very cute!
I adore the little beaded bunny!! Adorable!!! I hear what you are saying about following the peyote graph paper, its tough!!! The blocks seem to jump around! Love the ladybugs, sorry it didn't turn out like you hoped!
Your beaded bunny and ladybirds are great Wendy.
Wendy, your creations are beautiful. Peyote charts aren't easy at all. I took part in this challenge as well and even if I have made a peyote piece, I haven't learned how to read a graphed chart. I have used a word chart. I still have to make the connection between the two.
I think square stitch was the first one I learned- using a loom is quicker and easier though, is that allowed?
I love your ladybirds. I think they'd make a lovely adornment sewn onto a purse or something, although that peyote stitch looks very tricky. Your rabbit looks great too. If I ever find find time for bead weaving, I'll certainly start with a square stitch :)
Awwwwww, such cute pieces you made! Love the ladybugs!
Peyote charts are HARD! But I think your ladybirds are lovely - and if you aren't happy with the edge then whack a fringe on. Makes any edge look great! Love your cute lil bunny!
(Sorry it took so long for me to actually get to the hop - family stuff happening.)
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