Why Do I Need Bead Runway??

The Bead Runway

is used as a tool to assist you in laying out #kumihimo patterns so you can make your own designs visually. It is most useful with graduating patterns starting with the largest beads in the center and graduating out both ways smaller and smaller.

Bead Runway graduated bead layout

Bead Runway in use

Bead Runway

It does come with basic directions giving you the theory behind it, where to begin, where you should end up and how it can help you in other ways. It also allows you to count out your beads for existing patterns then load from the runway. This reduces the amount of times you count the beads when loading from pattern.

sponsored by Jesse James Beads

example graduated bead size layout

the constant

start with largest beads in the center

sponsored by Jesse James Beads

load beads to cord from runway

start in the center with largest beads

graduate down in size from the center, in both directions

Place your Bead Runway in a tray to keep beads from rolling off and start by picking your largest focal beads and build an inspired design around them

earth and sea technique project in different colorway variations

Earth and Sea project with a beaded extender

variation of Earth and Sea project with a beaded extender

Bead Runway graduated bead layout

purple druzy

Beader’s choice

Beader’s Choice project varies by student choices

Beader’s Choice Pattern. Technique: Graduating Bead Sizes, planning your own pattern using Bead Runway layout, 2-color spiral

Beader’s choice beads; the variable

Beader’s Choice project varies by student choices

Beaders Choice Pattern Technique

Beaders Choice Pattern Technique

Beader’s Choice project varies by student choices

It can also help alter existing patterns. If you layout an existing pattern, you can swap out bead groups, bead by bead, to customize the design with your own beads.

Beader’s Choice project varies by student choices

example graduating size layout

Beader’s choice beads; the variable

earth and sea technique project in different colorway variations

earth and sea technique project in different colorway variations

sponsored by Jesse James Beads

Beader’s Choice project varies by student choices

Start with largest beads in the center and graduate down in size both ways

Sponsored by Jesse James Beads

sting beads from the runway

Beader’s Choice project varies by student choices

Place your Bead Runway in a tray to keep beads from rolling off and start by picking your largest focal beads and build an inspired design around them

graduated experiment

Beader’s Choice project varies by student choices

purple druzy

Now, My book…

I teach a technique focused pattern series with the hope that if you master the techniques taught in the patterns, and keep a Bead Journal reference log, you will eventually be able to pull from all that data and make your own patterns using your own beads. The first volume is almost complete and it will be available this month. I plan to publish another by June of 2019. It contains technique focused kumihimo projects with the patterns and instructions, with the bead runway as a tool used. It contains even more detailed explanations of the techniques, reasons behind them, types of beads it enables, all kinds of creative ideas on how to revolutionize the way you approach kumihimo.

My website MadeYouLookDesign.com has bead companion kits to the book patterns. The kits contain beads, and findings.

If you want something new in kumihimo, you have found it. It is a really exciting time and I am so happy you found me. Also, you will be my student for life. I am an email or text away.

I will begin doing live class webinars soon, so that is also something to look forward to.

Thank you so much for your interest and support!!

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Why Bead Runway??

The Bead Runway

is used as a tool to assist you in laying out #kumihimo patterns so you can make your own designs visually. It is most useful with graduating patterns starting with the largest beads in the center and graduating out both ways smaller and smaller.

Bead Runway graduated bead layout

Bead Runway in use

Bead Runway

It does come with basic directions giving you the theory behind it, where to begin, where you should end up and how it can help you in other ways. It also allows you to count out your beads for existing patterns then load from the runway. This reduces the amount of times you count the beads when loading from pattern.

sponsored by Jesse James Beads

example graduated bead size layout

the constant

start with largest beads in the center

sponsored by Jesse James Beads

load beads to cord from runway

start in the center with largest beads

graduate down in size from the center, in both directions

Place your Bead Runway in a tray to keep beads from rolling off and start by picking your largest focal beads and build an inspired design around them

earth and sea technique project in different colorway variations

Earth and Sea project with a beaded extender

variation of Earth and Sea project with a beaded extender

Bead Runway graduated bead layout

purple druzy

Beader’s choice

Beader’s Choice project varies by student choices

Beader’s Choice Pattern. Technique: Graduating Bead Sizes, planning your own pattern using Bead Runway layout, 2-color spiral

Beader’s choice beads; the variable

Beader’s Choice project varies by student choices

Beaders Choice Pattern Technique

Beaders Choice Pattern Technique

Beader’s Choice project varies by student choices

It can also help alter existing patterns. If you layout an existing pattern, you can swap out bead groups, bead by bead, to customize the design with your own beads.

Beader’s choice beads; the variable

Beader’s Choice project varies by student choices

earth and sea technique project in different colorway variations

sting beads from the runway

Start with largest beads in the center and graduate down in size both ways

graduated experiment

Sponsored by Jesse James Beads

Beader’s Choice project varies by student choices

example graduating size layout

Beader’s Choice project varies by student choices

sponsored by Jesse James Beads

Place your Bead Runway in a tray to keep beads from rolling off and start by picking your largest focal beads and build an inspired design around them

purple druzy

Beader’s Choice project varies by student choices

earth and sea technique project in different colorway variations

Now, My book…

I teach a technique focused pattern series with the hope that if you master the techniques taught in the patterns, and keep a Bead Journal reference log, you will eventually be able to pull from all that data and make your own patterns using your own beads. The first volume is almost complete and it will be available this month. I plan to publish another by June of 2019. It contains technique focused kumihimo projects with the patterns and instructions, with the bead runway as a tool used. It contains even more detailed explanations of the techniques, reasons behind them, types of beads it enables, all kinds of creative ideas on how to revolutionize the way you approach kumihimo.

My website MadeYouLookDesign.com has bead companion kits to the book patterns. The kits contain beads, and findings.

If you want something new in kumihimo, you have found it. It is a really exciting time and I am so happy you found me. Also, you will be my student for life. I am an email or text away.

I will begin doing live class webinars soon, so that is also something to look forward to.

Thank you so much for your interest and support!!

YouTube Video: Bead Runway™ Kumihimo Technique Demo: Beader’s Choice Graduating Bead Layout

Demonstrates how to use the Bead Runway™ to layout a graduating Kumihimo bead pattern of your own, using the beads of your choice, beginning with the center focal beads first. A video supplement to Bead Runway™ Kumihimo Techniques Pattern Series© 2018 Book Series, featured in Volume 1.

Kumihimo Blog: http://www.BeadRunway.com Order Bead Runway™ (patent pending) and companion bead kits: http://www.MadeYouLookDesign.com.

Designed by Cindy Grayson of Made You Look Design. All rights reserved.

Alternating Center Cords Kumihimo Technique

Purple Druzy Kumihimo Necklace

Challenge:

You want to incorporate beads with a bead hole size too small to string onto the cord you are currently using. (Example 1: Fresh water pearls usually won’t fit on commonly used c-lon Tex 210 (.5mm) cording).

Challenge:

You want to incorporate beads with a bead hole size so large that the cord you are currently using  doesn’t fill the bead hole space and as a result, the braid is loose and the cord is showing.

Solution:

In Kumihimo, braiding around a center core can add support to beads that tend to collapse into the center. The best results are achieved when the cording used, fills the bead holes as much as possible. Additionally, materials in the center cord can be alternated into the weave to allow for more options, such as a different cord thickness for a bead hole size that doesn’t fit on the cord being used, or as we will see in this week’s project, Purple Druzy, can be a source to alternate in multiple different types of cord while weaving mid-way through, to accommodate three different bead hole sizes and achieve a tight aesthetically pleasing braid.

For example, the small freshwater pearls will be strung on the black micro c-lon cording, because the hole openings are so tiny, they do not fit on the regular violet tex 210 c-lon cording. Also, the metal mesh beads have quite large hole openings, so we use two suede leather lace cords per bead. When these cords are not in use, they are braided around as part of the center core, until they are called for in the pattern.

The bead stringing portion of this project is handled differently than usual. Since certain beads will be strung on specific cording, the beads are strung in segmented sections depending on which cord is called for.

Bead Runway Layout

Tip 1 :

Before Alternating Cords, work unused cord into braid a bit before it is called on in the pattern. Do this by: when there is one bead left on each strand for the current section you are working, bring down the next alternating cord to be used and join it with the cords in use and continue braiding, picking up two cords as one, until the beads are gone. When beads are gone, separate unused cords, tie in a knot above the braid to prevent unraveling, and join with center core, until it is called on again.

Tip 2:

When using the thinner, Micro C-lon as an alternate cord, keep braiding two cords as one with the regular c-lon tex 210 cording to add more support., instead of joining it with the center core. This is optional but I suggest this method. Of course, always conceal as much visible cording as possible. Choices may vary depending on the project.

The cord setup may seem daunting in this Purple Druzy project, as pictured, but the final results are absolutely amazing! Purple Druzy Kumihimo Bead Kit Available Now!

Additional Reference Videos on Microsoft Sway:

Alternating Cords and Center Core Kumihimo Disc Setup

In Kumihimo, braiding around a center cord core can add support to beads that tend to collapse into the center. Additionally, materials in the center cord can be alternated into the weave t…

Go to this Sway

Purple Druzy Kumihimo Techniques

Alternating Cords and Center Core Kumihimo Disc Setup

In Kumihimo, braiding around a center cord core can add support to beads that tend to collapse into the center. Additionally, materials in the center cord can be alternated into the weave t…

Go to this Sway