How Do You Make Native American Beadwork?
Native American beadwork has been around for thousands of years. The designs that this beadwork can take on can be very colorful, expressive and extremely creative. The beadwork can be done with many different materials, such as shells, quills, bone or coral, but the following techniques use glass or plastic beads. After you get the hang of these techniques, you can get as inventive with your designs and materials as you feel comfortable. Cut the material or fabric that you want to use for your beadwork. If there is a sketch that you want to transfer onto the material for beading guidance, do this now. Thread two needles and secure one end of each thread with a knot for this technique. Place beads on one thread in your desired pattern and lay them on the fabric you will be sewing them to. Use the second needle as a whipstitch, threading the beading string to the fabric between each bead that has been strung. This will secure the beading thread and beads firmly to the fabric or material
