Tips & Techniques

hooked on

bead
crochet
Bead crochet is a very popular technique for
making jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets,
earrings, and more. If youve done a little bead
crochet or youve been intrigued by it but havent
tried it yet, read on. Youll learn about different
methods for doing bead crochet, a formula for
determining how long to make a rope that will
become a slip-on bangle, and about choosing
the right hook for your project.

Bead crochet methods

While the projects shown on this page have all been worked using the
slip stitch method (Basics, p. 116), bead crochet ropes can also be done
in single crochet with the beads worked in either the first or second yarn
over. Consulting with local beader Diane Kestelman, we tested the three
approaches to see what the differences are. Below, you see the same
type of beads stitched in the same pattern using three basic methods.
Our thanks to Diane for her assistance.
When worked
in bead slip
stitch, the beads
nestle much like
in peyote stitch.

When worked
in bead single
crochet with the
bead added in the
first yarn over,
the beads line
up at an angle.

When worked
in bead single
crochet with the
bead added in the
second yarn
over, the beads
line up more
vertically.

Making a slip-on bangle

Wanting to help a teacher at his store figure out
how long to make a crocheted rope that was
going to become a slip-on bangle, Robert Jennik
of Knot Just Beads worked out a simple equation.

The finished piece needs to have a specific inside
diameter so that it will slide over your hand but
still fit well. To determine what that diameter will
be, wrap a string snugly around the widest part of
your hand, keeping your thumb tucked into your
palm. Measure the length of the string, and divide
this measurement by 3.14 to get the needed
inside diameter (D).
Work about 1 in. (2.5cm) of the design with
the beads youre using for the project, and then
measure how thick the crocheted rope is (T).*
26

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Add the inside diameter to the thickness (D + T),

and multiply the sum by 3.14. This gives you the
total length youll need before joining the ends
together in a seamless design. So, our equation
is as follows:

FL (finished length) = [D + T] x 3.14

*At this point, you may also want to
count how many beads youve used so
that when you determine how long the
rope needs to be, you can be certain
that you have enough beads loaded
onto your cord.

Example:

Suppose the w
idest part of yo
ur
hand measures
8 in. (20cm).
8 3.14 = 2
in. (6.4cm).
If the rope is
in. (1.3cm) thic
k,
the equation is:
FL = [2.5 + .5
] x 3.14
FL = 3 x 3.14
FL = 9.42 in. (b
ecause bead cr
ochet
ropes stretch so
mewhat, round
down to 9 38 in
./23.8cm)

Steel crochet hooks

Bead crochet ropes are usually worked
with steel crochet hooks, which are
short hooks (about 5 in./13cm long)
with very small heads (approximately
13mm). Two major brands, Boye
and Bates, are widely available in craft
stores. Other brands are also available,
though you can generally get them only at
specialty and online stores.
Todays steel hooks are
marked with a size (0014, with
the head getting smaller as the size
number gets higher) and a metric
measurement. As seen in the chart
below, however, hook manufacturers
arent consistent in their use of size numbers. So whenever possible, choose your
hook based on the metric measurement.
A bead crochet project will usually
specify a hook size, which is determined
by the thread used. The thinner the thread,
the smaller the hook youll need. However,
individual stitching tension is also a factor,
and you may find you need to
deviate from the suggested hook
size. Visit beadcrochet.com for an overview of what size hook to use with various
thread sizes and stitching tensions.
Metric
measurement

U.S. size

(in mm)

Bates

Boye

00

2.7

3.5

2.55

3.25

2.35

2.75

2.20

2.25

2.0

2.1

1.75

2.0

1.7

1.9

1.6

1.8

1.5

1.65

1.4

1.5

1.25

1.4

10

1.15

1.3

11

1.05

1.1

12

1.0

1.0

13

.95

.85

14

.9

.75

WHICHEVER STATE, WHATEVER THE COLOR

beadandbutton.com

February 2007

27

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