FAVORITE LINKS
About.com’s Beadwork Forum
A friendly and informative bead forum where you can ask questions and post samples of your work. There’s an incredible wealth of beading information here, contributed by fellow beaders of all experience levels.
Alexis Beads
Alexis has the most comprehensive list of beading links on the Internet and some really beautiful patterns available for free. The site is in English, German and French, and it is a real treasure.
Auntie's Beads & Supplies Free Videos
Aunties has a number of great videos available for free at the Auntie's Beads & Supplies Web site, plus much more in their Jewelry Learning Center.
Bead-patterns.com
Sova-enterprises.com
Rita Sova and her family at Sova Enterprises have created two unique and wonderful Web sites for beaders and designers. There are literally hundreds of bead patterns for sale in downloadable PDF format (or you can have Sova print and mail them to you). There's also quite a few free patterns available, as well as lots of free instructional material on the different beading stitches and techniques.
The Bead Bugle
The Bead Bugle is an online bead magazine from BeadBabe. They offer patterns for sale via PDF (free to premium subscribers), and there’s TONS of free stuff available in the archives, including a number of beautiful designs by Alice Korach.
Beaducation.com
Beaducation offers online beading videos for sale and also some for free. Laura McCabe's Crystal Squared Pendant (downloadable video and instructional PDF) make seem rather pricey at $28 but I thought it was well worth it, especially if you are struggling with bezeling rivolis.
Beadwrangler Samples
This site contains lots of well-written tutorials on a number of beadweaving techniques: bead crochet, bead embroidery, netting, brick stitch, herringbone stitch, peyote, the square stitch and right-angle weave. There’s also some great information on the history of beadweaving techniques.
BellaOnline
A great selection of free project instructions and unique articles here.
Bracelet and Necklace Sizing Chart
From SunfluersJewelryDesigns.com. Very handy.
Eagle Spirit’s Beadwork Tutorials
Eagle Spirit is a wonderful resource for beaders. At this site, you can find fully illustrated instructions for many different weaves, as well as variations of the weave: African netting, chevron weaves, traditional and Potowatami daisy chains, the Karmen necklace and weave, Victorian lace and lots more.
Fire Mountain Gems Free Beading Instructions
Lots of goodies here, including beading videos.
FusionBeads.com's Techniques
A terrific abundance of free step-by-step instructions and beading techniques here—all well-written, illustrated and wonderfully presented.
Glitter Glow Beading
Glitter Glow is known for having one of the most comprehensive lists of beading links on the net. You can spend hours here and never get to the end.
Guide To Beadwork
The Guide to Beadwork is Greg Vinson’s online book that contains fully illustrated and detailed instructions for the chevron and daisy chain, as well as the gourd stitch (circular peyote technique), flower stitch, twill stitch (even count peyote), brick stitch and lace stitch (netting). There’s also an entire chapter on creating fringe.
JewelryLessons.com
Created and maintained by "Eni Oken & Friends," this site has lots of tips, tutorials and articles for free and for sale.
Miyuki Conversion Charts
11/0 Delica to 11/0 Round seed bead conversion and vice versa.
Robyn’s Bead Page:
Robyn has put together a collection of 10+ tutorials that are especially ideal for beading beginners because they are so well-written and fully illustrated. Her Double Diamond Stitch is one of my favorites.
Ruby’s Jewelry Design & Beadwork
The author of Beading With Ruby also has a number of free tutorials up on her Web site. Her Daisy Bracelet and Another Daisy Variation Bracelet are especially stunning but there are many more, all FREE.
Suzanne's Jump Start Classroom
Suzanne Cooper's wonderful peyote stitch tutorials.
WhimBead's Bezel a Rivoli
This free tutorial by Beki Haley is fantastic. More tutorials at the Whimbeads classroom.
Wigjig
If you are exploring wirework, then Wigjig is the site to peruse (and if you are not interested in wirework, you will be after you see how easy Wigjig makes it look). They have a huge selection of jewelry making tools and jigs, as well as over 2,900 pages of free wirework instructions and some videos. Free instructions include how to make your own earrings findings, clasp and tie-chain, and hundreds more pages for creating bracelets, earrings and necklaces.
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