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Book Review – Bead Crochet Jewelry

by

This book is great fun!  Once I got it in my hands and browsed through its colorful pages, I couldn’t wait to try to make my own bracelet!  This is the first book where I’ve really been able to understand the technique for crocheting a cylinder with beads.  And, if I can understand it – so can you!  Trust me on that.

The authors, mother and daughter, take the crocheter step by step through all the information need to be successful with bead crochet.  As a beader myself, I thought I knew a lot about beads.  Not so!  The Freed’s carefully and quickly detail the best kinds of beads and ‘wire’ to use for crocheting their pieces.  They have especially clear and helpful pictures of both the best and not so great beads to use for various applications, making it easier to select the beads you’ll want to use either in person or online.

The easiest projects are simple chain stitch bracelets or necklaces using beads of all shapes.  I, however, was drawn to the circular crocheted bracelets and necklaces.  I own a couple of the lariats that my grandmother wore.  They are so pretty, but not colors I will wear, so I’ve wanted to make my own.  Using the techniques described in this book, especially the suggestion to start with ‘cheater beads’ (larger than those chosen for the project) has inspired me to dig through my rather large bead stash to work on my own necklace.

This book will get you moving from the most basic projects up to those which are much more challenging – double teared circulars, knotted and bow-tied circulars, dangly earrings, and many others.  Every step of the way, there are detailed instructions and close up photos to insure your success.  If you’ve ever wanted to jump into bead crochet, this is the book for you!

To see a slide show of projects and instructions, check out the information here.

Book Specs:

Bead Crochet Jewelry, An Inspired Journey Through 27 Designs by Bert Rachel Freed and Dana Elizabeth Freed

St. Martin’s Press, July, 2012

136 pages, durable softback with satin finish and lots of color photos

ISBN: 9780312672942

$22.00 USD

Comments

  1. Thank you for the review. I’ve been on a real binge of crocheting with beads lately. I haven’t really made any jewelry using crochet and beads but it’s something I’d like to do.
    I’ve made the rope type necklace using the peyote stitch and seed beads an it takes a very long time just to make a choker. I think crochet would be much faster, especially for a lariat like your grandmother made.

Have you read?

Christmas Tree Crochet Scarf – A Fun and Festive Pattern Worth Revisiting

Some crochet patterns are practical, some are pretty, and some are just pure holiday fun. This Christmas Tree Crochet Scarf from CraftBits falls firmly into that last category, and honestly, that is exactly why it caught my eye again. It is quirky, cheerful, and the kind of novelty scarf that makes people smile before you have even had a chance to explain that yes, you really did make it yourself. The pattern comes from CraftBits and creates a scarf made up of Christmas tree motifs joined together into one gloriously festive wearable.

If this scarf looks a little familiar, you might already have spotted it in our roundup of 18 Free Christmas Crochet Scarf Patterns To Make As Gifts or in our collection of 15 Fun And Silly Crochet Scarf Patterns. It has definitely popped up on Crochet.CraftGossip before, and for good reason. It is one of those patterns that manages to be both wearable and wonderfully ridiculous, which is a very fine line in the world of festive crochet.

What I like most about this design is that it does not try to be subtle. It fully embraces the novelty Christmas vibe, and sometimes that is exactly what a seasonal project needs. The scarf is made using repeated tree shapes, so it has that satisfying motif-based construction that many crocheters enjoy. It also gives you the chance to play with embellishments like pom poms and stars, which adds even more personality to the finished piece. According to the CraftBits pattern, the scarf uses Red Heart Super Saver yarn, a size I hook, and simple decorative extras including felt and pom poms.

This would be such a fun project for a holiday party outfit, an ugly sweater event, a handmade gag gift, or just for someone who genuinely loves festive accessories. We all know at least one person who would wear this proudly while serving Christmas lunch or turning up to school pickup in December like the absolute queen of holiday spirit.

It is also the sort of pattern that feels a little nostalgic in the best possible way. CraftBits has had this project around for years, and it still holds up because novelty crochet never really goes away. It just waits patiently for the rest of us to catch up again. And let’s be honest, there is something refreshing about a project that does not take itself too seriously. Not every scarf needs to be neutral, elegant, or sensible. Some scarves are allowed to be actual Christmas trees.

So yes, you may have seen this one before in our scarf roundups, but I think it deserves its own little spotlight too. If you are in the mood to make something playful, memorable, and completely unapologetic for the holiday season, this one is worth another look.