Brick Stitch Bumble Bee!!

SO I got a request on one of my videos a while ago, asking for a tutorial for a brick stitch bumble bee! I just knew that I could refuse because as horrible and as scary as wasps are, bumble bees are adorable! They're so fluffy and cute, and they don't want to hurt you at all.

With that being said, I knew that I had to make these bees to be small. Honestly, they're probably smaller than an actual bumble bee, because they are surprisingly large!!

Image source

After a bit of trial and error, I worked out how to make these little guys, with two options of adding a jump ring. The first method just uses an extra bead at the top of the wing, whereas the second option creates a little loop out of beads. I think I prefer the loop, especially now I have found my clear seed beads! (Better late than never, I guess?)

Option 1

Option 2

Which method to you prefer? Let me know!

How to Make Bead Loom Bracelets!

Creating beadwork on a loom is something that has been done for centuries by the Native Americans, along with others. It is a quick and easy way to create intricate designs to use for bracelets, necklaces and even headbands!

You can use any size bead you like on a loom; the larger the bead, the quicker it will grow! Here is a video tutorial on how to make your very own beaded bracelet on a loom!

In this video. I use size 10 glass seed beads, thin crochet cotton and Nymo beading thread. Of course I use a loom too! The loom I have is the Jewel Loom by Beadalon.

Let me know if you enjoyed this tutorial and don't forget that you can show me pictures of your own bead looming creations on Instagram, using #TheCornerofCraft!!

Making My Own Brick Stitch Pattern

This isn't the first attempt at making my own pattern as my carrot and bunny necklace were also a "The Corner of Craft" original, but this was the first time making a pattern with this much detail!

I don't know what made me decide to make a sugar skull pendant, but something did, so I had to make it! I looked around online for a brick stitch pattern of a sugar skull, and I was left sorely disappointed. There simply weren't any around! I could only find peyote, and I'm not going there again! (I've still now finished the peyote bracelet that I started to make myself!)

After much trial and error on BeadTools, I eventually got the shape of the skull to be as close to perfect as I could manage it and the detail to match other pictures of sugar skulls I had seen. As I haven't yet bought BeadTools, I am unable to save my pattern so had to quickly make it up so I didn't lose it! Here is the finished result and I hope that you like it! This little guy is listed in my Etsy shop! http://thecornerofcraft.etsy.com

Have any of you made your own beading patterns before? If so, what's your favourite program to use?