Bead Embroidery – Book Review

Beaded Embellishment, Amy C. Clarke and Robin Atkins, Interweave Press, 2002, ISBN 1-931499-12-8, $21.95

As soon as I looked through this book, I wanted to rush out and spend my childrens’ inheritance buying beads and charms and lovely expensive silks to put them on. And when consider that I am a serious needlepoint addict and hardly need another way to spend my money, this book is just too beautiful to resist!

I have always shied away from beadwork because I couldn’t ever get the hang of those stitches which seem to be at the heart of this work. Beaded Embellishment makes it easy for stitchers of all kinds to add beads to their embroidery. In fact, with the techniques and stitches the authors use — it couldn’t be easier. One stitch, The Lazy Stitch, just puts a few beads on the thread and then plunges the needle back into the cloth. Sounds like it wouldn’t look like much — then take a look at the Meandering Path jewelry! There are two methods of couching covered and several traditional embroidery stitches with beads added to them.

The book has beautiful illustrations and photos, which show the techniques, materials and results in great detail. The instructions are clear and would be easy for any experienced stitcher to understand. There are chapters on the history of beading on cloth (with some great pictures of ethnic and historic work), getting started, techniques and several projects using the techniques. While using beads on needlepoint canvas is not covered, beading on cross stitch fabric is. Virtually all the techniques can translate directly to needlepoint canvas. The last two chapters put the icing on the cake. Designing for Bead Embroidery covers basic information about design and insights from the two authors on their approaches to design. There are plenty of ideas in this chapter to spark new work. My favorite chapter in the book is the last, Gallery. In this chapter you see beautiful, close-up photos of the work of many different beaders. These range from realistic “paintings” in beads, to sculptures, useful items and cloth works embellished with beading. In short, I’m in love with the possibilities. Inspired by the book, look for articles (and pictures to accompany them on the site) next month on

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