One Handed Beading Techniques?

Jesse,

I also am a one-handed beader, but have some use of my second hand. I call it "hand junior" since it is limited. :-) Beading is great therapy for manual dexterity, and also great for forcing some creative thinking. I do less now because I've developed arthritis in the base of my thumb, but do keep my hand in (bad pun).

Right off the bat I'd advise getting one of those inexpensive bead design boards so that the beads can't skitter away! :-)

I'd be glad to offer any assistance/tips/whatever as you find questions.

Gina in Virginia

Jesse the K wrote:

Good plan. I scrounged a couple of those foam trays that meat comes in, thinking one could set it at an angle and spear beads right through to the foam.

I'm planning on starting with bigger, developing technique, and then going smaller.

How do you thread needles, or are you a big Softflex fan?

j the k

Those or any kind of styrofoam you come across.

since the kid went to the mainland for college threading needles has become a major issue for me. Beading needles work for me, memory wire, haven't started with softflex yet as crimping still scares me (to get it right). My problem isn't so much using one hand versus the other, but rather having no manual dexterity to speak of and my depth vision disappearing as the difference between my eyes is about 2 diopters now. In can read with store bought +2 reading glasses, but really only with one eye. - In really good light I can still read without glasses, if the weather is good and there are no other allergens around.

My problem is probably different from yours, but may not be as different in the end as you might think.

Maren

I am able to hold the needle in "hand junior", then I hold that under a magnifying lens and light and try valiently to get the thread to go through the eye. I have involuntary motion, though, so it gets ... interesting. If I did not have hand junior I might stick the needle in a blob of modeling clay. Hmmm, that might be more stable than hand junior ... I'm going to have to try that myself!

Gina

Jesse the K wrote:

Hi--I had a stroke a few years ago that took away my fine motor control. I've compensated by using memory wire and the stronger beading wire. If I need to use thread, I dip the end it in glue or nail polish to stiffen it. I also use dental floss threaders instead of needles-- the eye is nearly as wide as my thumb.

To pick up seed beads I've dropped, I use a lint roller or piece of masking tape. For findings/pins, I have a couple strong magnets I sweep over the floor or table. I used magnetic tape strips in my plastic boxes to anchor the metal findings -- if the box falls, most items remain stuck to the magnet.

Painter's tape (it's bright blue amd found at Wal-mart and any hardware store) is one of my best friends. It holds many things but doesn't leave a sticky residue.

If you any specific questions, please post them--someone here is bound to have found a solution.

Marylee

Thanks for these great detailed suggestions!

I had my first lesson & it was big fun -- so the dread of the unknown has been replaced with the thrill of possibility.

My student also has a "hand junior", all of your techniques will come in handy.

We've scheduled a weekly beading bee, and I look forward to sharing what we learn.

(And you're right Maren, it's not so much the physiology as the creative approaches we take to doing it differently.)

I have wild double vision so I do almost all 3D work with the weaker eye shut. Checked with the eye doctor, said it's really the best approach when there's only so much prism they can put in glasses.

Thank you so much for your post. Very encouraging. I had a stroke June 27, 2021. I WAS doing bead weaving with seed beads. Anybody have experience doing that with a paralyzed hand?

My name is Dixie and I was an avid beader of most techniques Including seed beading. I had a stroke on my left side 6 months ago. Have no use of my left hand. My. dominant hand is fine. I’m looking for help or suggestions on anything I can bead. I bought a third hand machine and have a Vice but nothing seems to be working. HELP