Monday, December 6, 2010

Stitching vs. Stringing

I would love to get your thoughts on the pros and cons of stitching jewelry vs. stringing.

I was once VERY hooked on stitching. I learned the odd peyote stitch during a beading cruise sponsored by Auntie's beads.

My Mom, Dad and I all took the class and let me tell you, we had some difficulty with the first couple of rows. I thought it was sort of like math, all of a sudden the fog clears and you get it!! I loved the finished product and couldn't wait to learn more!

After the cruise, I bought a special publication magazine called "stringing". I took it to work with me every day and poured over it at lunch. I went on and on about it to anyone else I happened to be eating lunch with, I'm surprised someone didn't try to hide it from me!

I just came across the photo of this bracelet that looks like some kind of diagonal stitch and was thinking I might want to get back into stitching since it has been quite a while. The last thing I was doing when I got side tracked was the tubular peyote stitch.

It's the same technique as any other peyote stitch, but the first row becomes a circle and you place it over a skewer or some tubular form and then it's like a grade school project!! Add a bead to the needle, take the needle down through the next bead, add a bead, take it through the next bead, etc. Simple stuff that turns out looking very complex!

Please share your thoughts on this if you have a chance!! To stitch or not to stitch???

17 comments:

TesoriTrovati said...

I appreciate the time and effort it takes to wrangle beads like that into submission. But stitching is just not for me. It is pretty but I am not interested in creating something like that. But I do think that there is a true talent in doing that sort of thing. And possibly patience. ;-)
Enjoy the day!
Erin

steufel said...

I'm started with stichting but soon realized that I'm the unpatient type of girl so I switched to stringing. But sometimes I'll grab my needle.

Regina said...

I am stringing person and plan to learn stitching someday, just to see if I like it. But the stitching jewelry is not really my cup of tea, but who knows I might like it if I try it.

Bonnie Kreger at B-LEE KREATIONS said...

Lisa, I use to be a stringer because I also do polymer clay and make my own beads. One day a friend of mine was making a necklace of herringbone stitch. I got hooked. Love stitching now. I'll be posting a herringbone necklace on my blog with a pendant I made of clay. I'm almost done with it.
Once you start stitching and listening to books, it's wonderful.

Higgins Design Studio said...

I love BOTH! Stitching is my relaxation go-to. When I am too tired to work on pottery, I sit on the bed, bolstered with pillows, my beading tray in my lap, and stitch away the stresses of everyday life. Peyote is my favorite stitch...
I also love to string, single, double, multi-strands...

Trish said...

I guess I'm one of those folks who likes the complicated....and the tinier the better.
When I discovered all the different weaves, AND Delica beads....I was lost forever....so many techniques....so little time!

Trish

Unknown said...

How about both? You could make tubular peyote beads AND then string them with an assortment of beads. :)

Unknown said...

Stitching all the way :) I'm addicted to seed beads!
Laura
x

Lisa Crone said...

When I'm stringing, stitching seems complicated, but when I read the comments of the stitchers, it made me want to work on something. Thanks so much!! :)

Kokopelli said...

No question! STITCH! :-))) I can't live without it or should I say without seedbeads. I'm addicted, as you can see. Stitching is like meditating to me.

Suede jewelry boxes said...

I love stitching and seeing those works I too wanted to get into the habit of stringing.It's really a perfect and lovely work to be done with patience and interest.

Mary K. McGraw said...

I like to do it all. I find stitching very meditative and useful when I need to slow down and relax. Stringing is great when I want a design challenge or I want to see immediate results.

Cyndi L said...

I'd like to make a plea for a different form of stitching...bead embroidery! (How did you know I was going to say that? ;-)

I love stringing, stitching, and embroidery...also wire, metal, clay, and everything else that there is!

LissC said...

It's funny I was asking myself this question just last week. I am a stitcher. I love it. I love the look, the feel, and I'm a little crazy so I think that helps on the patience part. However, I also picked up a stringing magazine and thought to myself....wow..this are beautiful, and a whole lot faster.

So, I guess I don't have have an answer for you either. I'm just as perplexed. I guess it's just what ever moves you. And as much as I think the stringing would be faster, I think I'm just a sticher.

Pam said...

I love stitching. Learning new techniques is relaxing for me.

Pandora said...

I adore stitching! I agree with some of the other people here who find it therapeutic. I am not great at stringing.

Anonymous said...

Lisa I think this is so pretty


Sandy W