Adding Beads to Crochet after finished

I'd lean towards using a weaker thread than you crocheted with. The theory being it would wear out faster than the crochet work (leaving that in tact). Sure it will make a bit more work adding the beads and coins each time, but the main piece will be intact (sort of brake pad vs wheel theory).

I'd probably just chain stitch along the already crocheted work with same colour sewing thread, stopping and starting every 5 inches or so.

Tara

Thanks for the suggestion Tara, but what I need is stronger. The girls don't want their baubles to fall off. I really need an easy way (instructions) for adding the beads, bells and coins after I finish the girdles.

I'd lean towards using a weaker thread than you crocheted with. The theory being it would wear out faster than the crochet work (leaving that in tact). Sure it will make a bit more work adding the beads and coins each time, but the main piece will be intact (sort of brake pad vs wheel theory).

I'd probably just chain stitch along the already crocheted work with same colour sewing thread, stopping and starting every 5 inches or so.

Tara

I see a few choices. First, you could sew each coin and bell on separately, then bead just as if you were sewing beads onto woven fabric. This is the most secure method. Second, you could thread the beads, coins, and bells in exact order onto the heaviest thread you have that will go through the smallest hole (probably the bead holes), using thread that matches the crocheted part. Then crochet a simple chain stitch through from the back along a less visible line, and when you reach a place where you want a bead (etc), slide it into place and keep on crocheting. Third, if the already crocheted fabric is loose enough, you could crochet along from the front and pull a bauble through when you reach the spot. Or, of course, you could do each type of decoration separately and have three sets of crocheted chains, but that would add a lot of bulk and probably obscure the design.

Any needle threader can be used to get beads onto the thread before doing any crocheting. Poke it through the bead so as to pull the thread through without having to find a needle that thin. It's tedious but so is anything painstaking.

Oh - belly-dance baubles fall off eventually. It happens.

=Tamar

Thanks Tamar. I know they fall off eventually. I have beads and coins all over my kitchen from the girls' hip scarves that they had bought!! I guess that I will probably sew on the beads and work in the bells and coins. I have some transparent beading "thread" (it's actually fishing line) that I think is thin enough to work with, but strong enough to at least keep the coins and bells on for awhile. But I don't know how well it will "crochet" onto the edges. I'll just have to do a test piece.

Thanks, Val

I see a few choices. First, you could sew each coin and bell on separately, then bead just as if you were sewing beads onto woven fabric. This is the most secure method. Second, you could thread the beads, coins, and bells in exact order onto the heaviest thread you have that will go through the smallest hole (probably the bead holes), using thread that matches the crocheted part. Then crochet a simple chain stitch through from the back along a less visible line, and when you reach a place where you want a bead (etc), slide it into place and keep on crocheting. Third, if the already crocheted fabric is loose enough, you could crochet along from the front and pull a bauble through when you reach the spot. Or, of course, you could do each type of decoration separately and have three sets of crocheted chains, but that would add a lot of bulk and probably obscure the design.

Any needle threader can be used to get beads onto the thread before doing any crocheting. Poke it through the bead so as to pull the thread through without having to find a needle that thin. It's tedious but so is anything painstaking.

Oh - belly-dance baubles fall off eventually. It happens.

=Tamar

Have you tried dental floss?

Katherine

This is a common problem with metal or cheap glass beads (cheap as in compared to 'art' beads produced by hand.) The edges of the holes of such beads are often quite sharp and cut through thread. Some beaders actually file the holes of such beads to reduce the sharpness. Another solution is to thread a seed bead as a cushion against the hole of the bead.

I use Nymo for beading, which is quite strong and comes in a wide range of colors. There are other specialty bead threads which could be used along with your thread to lend strength. You might try googling rec.crafts.beads.

I went to look at the Crochet with Dee website but couldn't find the tool you were talking about. I have no idea how such a thing would work. I imagine you would just use it to pull the thread through the beads and then through the fabric. Sort of like a needle.

Dora

Val Roll> Hello everyone and thanks in advance for any help you can give me. I > usually lurk. >