Bead Embroidery for Kids?

I would say that bead embroidery would not fit the time period. I think regular embroidery, especially crewel, would. The stitches are fairly easy and the yarn and needles are larger than traditional embroidery floss and needles.

Barbara

Bead & Polymer Clay Habitué

There is a very fine line between a hobby and mental illness. (Dave Barry)

I've been asked about teaching for an arts program that my daughter's in.

Hmmmmmm, I was looking at websites, and found some like this:

It seems like some old beadwork may be from Germany in the Middle Ages. I was hoping to find something that would make a good kid's project, but I think I'm in over my head. I need to talk to my friend who has a Master's in History, but since he's a guy, he's probably not going to be able to help me with jewelry quesitons. Lol.

Maybe try a search for Medieval or Middle Ages jewelry rather than just beadwork.

I found this page, Medieval Jewelry, at Central European University. It describes different types of adornment from buttons and brooches to rings, necklaces and hair adornment.

And this page, Gallery of Renaissance Portraits (including 1400s, 1500s and 1600s) shows different types and styles of jewelry. And there was a neat netted bag at the old.medievalbeads site you had in a later post. Looks like a fun project. When my oldest son was studying the Middle Ages, they chose a guild to work in and he chose pottery. So I helped the kids in his group design and make bas relief clay tiles.

Kids that age can use a needle I'd think. Use 6's or something for the beads. You could have them embroider one of those sheer bags that beads often come in from artists. That, I think, would fit into the medieval theme of things.

They could make jester hats out of felt (with beads embroidered on?). With a little thought you could come up with a pattern, or find one online I bet. Felt can be hand sewn (when I was a teen I used to make hats out of felt, so BTDT).

Thanks, Kathy!

I really like the netted bag, but it might be too much for the kids. We did Egyptian collars last year, and some of the finished and a few of them didn't. Some of the kids REALLY got into it. It was fun.

I also taught a wire class and those kids did great! The only kids had had problems with were two mall-rat types. You could tell they were just raised to be pretty and helpless to get people to do things for them. (They were sisters.)

I like the bag idea.

Do you still have any of your hats?

Hmm, maybe an Alms Purse?

Here's a nice article on all styles of jewelry from the Medieval period... maybe while you're reading it, it might give you some ideas:

"Children had their own types of jewelry. References to children?s jewelry are quite early. Both noble families and wealthy bourgeoisie decorated children with brooches, chaplets, girdles. These were similar in fashion to those worn by the adults, if only cheaper and smaller in size. In Italy in the fourteenth century it was customary to give new-born babies crosses or pieces of coral to be worn round the neck, even more for the protection of the infant than as a decoration. The Child can be seen wearing a coral of this like in a number of quattrocento paintings of the Virgin and the Child." Maybe have the kids make a simple chain necklace with a piece of coral hanging down? This link to a woman's old website shows a pic of the August/Sept 2004 Bead & Button magazine, which has an article on "Sacred Embelllishment: A Look at Medieval German Bead Art", by Jen Segrest. - if you don't have that issue, I could try to find it for you as I'm sure I have it. :))) has a wonderful collection of pincushions! Seeing as how embroidery was so big back then, a pincushion made of felt and decorated with beads could be appropriate. I love the grinning cat face and eyeball pincushions. The girls could end up using their pincushions to hold any jeweled pins they have or maybe just stab it with pins when they're hit with teenage angst. :D But I think your Chainne Maille would be great for a 'girdle' or belt for the girls... just a loose chain for their waists, with a longer chain hanging down. Simple is best. :)

Wow! Thanks, Linda!

I'm printing out the first one to sit and go through.

I like the pin cushion idea, and the girdle, too. Yes, simple is best. I've found that things take 10X longer to do when you're doing them with a group of kids!!

You know what might be easier than bead embroidery? Beaded needlework. Use needlework canvas, but put beads on the thread to work the design. Since it's on a canvas, there's not as much work to covering it as regular bead embroidery and it might be easier to create a simple design, such as a fleur de lis, or some other medieval motif.

Evidently I was mistaken. Nice find.

Barbara

Bead & Polymer Clay Habitué

There is a very fine line between a hobby and mental illness. (Dave Barry)

Hmmmmmm, I was looking at websites, and found some like this:

You're very welcome, Jerri. I had fun trying to find a project for you, also. :))))))

Unfortunately, no. Lost in countless moves. :-(

And there's a simple fleur de lis pattern here:

I think you could adapt it to the canvas technique I was talking about, or maybe have them bead it on colored cloth.... Or you could use those tiny seedless beads and GLUE the design.

Honestly, you learn the coolest things in this group! I love the pincushion idea too.