Netting

• Beadweaving technique where you string several beads at a time, pass through the centre of the previous string to form a net. (PDF)
• Geometric motifs are formed quickly by color placement. Color pencils are handy for creating designs on 3- or 5-bead graph paper.
• 3-bead netting makes a tight netted fabric. (PDF graph)
• 5-bead netting is great for collars because it is easy to increase and decrease (PDF graph)

Vertical Netting

Advanced Vertical Netting

• You can add lower edge trims as you vertically net every row.
• It's easy to create 'V' by starting from front center, beading in one direction,
    then reversing beadwork. Continue second row following same instructions.
• Sawtooth edges are created as you net in a certain sequence up and down.
• Advantage: Keep on netting until you reach your desired length. Add clasp.

Horizontal Netting

• Ideal for bands and pendants.
• If doing a symmetrical geometric design, you need to use a second needle
   to fill-in the edge on one side after you've netted the pattern.

Tubular Netting

• Once you establish the base, the net keeps growing 3 beads at a time.
• Patterns are possible by picking up appropriate beads as you bead weave upwards.

Ndebele

• Ndebele stitch originated in Africa. Also known as herringbone.
• Beads tilt towards each other in pairs.
• Start off with a ladder of an even number of beads for a base.
• Pick up 2 beads. Go down the next row below. Come up next bead and repeat.

Ndebele Motifs

• Color placement creates motifs.
• Because of the nature of the two beads herringbone stitch, a simple sketched design can have many looks.
• Play around with the repetition of rows of a charted design. The left one doubles ever row. The right has single rows. The center one is a combination  of the two.

Advanced Ndebele

• Ndebele can be flat, tubular or sculptural.
• The center portion of the beaded beads is Ndebele.
   The artist used some creative beadweaving to decrease and cover the oval form.
• Ndebele is very strong because of overlapping threads in each row as the next row is added.

Loomwork

• Beads sit squarely next to each other in loom weaving.
• A loom is required.  It can vary in size depending on the desired outcome.
• Long custom-made looms make it convenient to weave a long band and join it into a medallion or swag, as shown.
• Other types of looms can be used for smaller projects. The loom weaving process is the same.

Loomweaving Basics

• Pre-string the loom with warp threads.
• For every row, two threads passes lock beads on the warp thread.
• Increasing and decreasing are possible.

Loomwork Patterns

• Any charted embroidery pattern can loom woven. It may stretch out with seed beads or flattened out with cylindrical beads.
• Color pencils are handy for figuring out a design on graph paper for loom working with seed beads.
   Here are two sizes: 40x40 (PDF) and 60x60 (PDF)