Sewing up an amulet bag

Ok, stupid me. I picked this pattern in peyote, got through it, and didn't
realize it's a little big. Lol It's about 3 1/4" wide by 3" tall and I
haven't even put any fringe on it yet!

Well, I'm determined to finish, but I have no clue how to sew up the sides.
Do you sew without going through the beads. By this, I mean attaching the
sides, using the threads going through the beads. I'm figuring this is the
only way to keep a smooth finish. If I go through the beads, the seams on
the sides would really stick out.

As soon as I figure this out, I'll start thinking about fringe. I have no
idea how I'm going to do that, either! (But I do have my bag that Arondelle
made to look at for ideas.)

--
Jerri (who needs a clue)
www.beadbimbo.com
To subscribe to my mailing list, send an e-mail to: with
"Subscribe" in the subject line.

Beadbimbo wrote:
Ok, stupid me. I picked this pattern in peyote, got through it, and didn't
realize it's a little big. Lol It's about 3 1/4" wide by 3" tall and I
haven't even put any fringe on it yet!

The pattern was probably designed for Delicas. Even though Delicas are
labeled 11/0, they are actually about 14/0. So, in any pattern designed
for them, but worked up in regular (round) seed beads, the finished
piece will be about 20% bigger. I found that out when I made that
"Celebration" banner: it was supposed to be a necklace...

Well, I'm determined to finish, but I have no clue how to sew up the sides.
Do you sew without going through the beads. By this, I mean attaching the
sides, using the threads going through the beads. I'm figuring this is the
only way to keep a smooth finish. If I go through the beads, the seams on
the sides would really stick out.

Are the sides flat or jaggie? And, is the bag body in one piece or two?

If the sides are jaggie, you can just sew them together like doing up a
zipper.

If the side are flat, you can just stitch through the threads, and
perhaps add beads that stick out on the side as a sort of picot edging.

As soon as I figure this out, I'll start thinking about fringe. I have no
idea how I'm going to do that, either! (But I do have my bag that Arondelle
made to look at for ideas.)

Can't help you the I do mine mostly by trial and error, depending on
the style of the bag. :-)

Arondelle
--
================================================== =========
To email me, empty the pond with a net

Hi, Jerri. The bag ends should fit together like a zipper. Then
you sew through the beads. Go through one side of the beads and then
sew through the other bead next to it on the other end... it's quite
like a back and forth weaving motion to attach them together.

If both sides are equal, that is to say... smooth and they don't fit
into each other like a zipper, then you have to add one more row to one
end. This will achieve the zipper-effect and the piece should fit
together. Almost like a puzzle edge or zipper. Hope that's clear!
Linda

"Beadbimbo" wrote in message
...
: Ok, stupid me. I picked this pattern in peyote, got through it, and
didn't
: realize it's a little big. Lol It's about 3 1/4" wide by 3" tall and
I
: haven't even put any fringe on it yet!
:
: Well, I'm determined to finish, but I have no clue how to sew up the
sides.
: Do you sew without going through the beads. By this, I mean attaching
the
: sides, using the threads going through the beads. I'm figuring this
is the
: only way to keep a smooth finish. If I go through the beads, the
seams on
: the sides would really stick out.
:
: As soon as I figure this out, I'll start thinking about fringe. I
have no
: idea how I'm going to do that, either! (But I do have my bag that
Arondelle
: made to look at for ideas.)
:
: --
: Jerri (who needs a clue)
: www.beadbimbo.com
: To subscribe to my mailing list, send an e-mail to:
with
: "Subscribe" in the subject line.
:
:

Thanks Arondelle and Linda,

The sides are smooth, so I'll be sewing together the smooth sides.. The
uneven part is the top and bottom.

--
Jerri
www.beadbimbo.com

/lecture on

Don't ever say "stupid me" out loud where the universe can hear you.
The universe believes what you say - and we all know how incredibly NOT
stupid you are!!! Words have power. /lecture off

That being said - I personally view this as a garment - turn it inside out,
sew it through the beads, then turn it right side out. No seams.

--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net
"Beadbimbo" wrote in message
...
Ok, stupid me. I picked this pattern in peyote, got through it, and
didn't
realize it's a little big. Lol It's about 3 1/4" wide by 3" tall and I
haven't even put any fringe on it yet!

Well, I'm determined to finish, but I have no clue how to sew up the
sides.
Do you sew without going through the beads. By this, I mean attaching the
sides, using the threads going through the beads. I'm figuring this is
the
only way to keep a smooth finish. If I go through the beads, the seams on
the sides would really stick out.

As soon as I figure this out, I'll start thinking about fringe. I have no
idea how I'm going to do that, either! (But I do have my bag that
Arondelle
made to look at for ideas.)

--
Jerri (who needs a clue)
www.beadbimbo.com
To subscribe to my mailing list, send an e-mail to:
with
"Subscribe" in the subject line.

Yay! I got it! I sewed up the side, adding a bead to each stitch and it
looks fine!

Thanks, y'all!

Oh, and Arondelle, I was going to try that "trial and error" fringe, too!
Lol. I read that and thought, "Yep, that's my method!"

--
Jerri
www.beadbimbo.com

Ok, I should have said, "What was I thinking?"

--
Jerri
www.beadbimbo.com
To subscribe to my mailing list, send an e-mail to: with
"Subscribe" in the subject line.


"Kandice Seeber" wrote in message
...
/lecture on

Don't ever say "stupid me" out loud where the universe can hear you.
The universe believes what you say - and we all know how incredibly NOT
stupid you are!!! Words have power. /lecture off

That being said - I personally view this as a garment - turn it inside
out,
sew it through the beads, then turn it right side out. No seams.

--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net

Beadbimbo wrote:
Oh, and Arondelle, I was going to try that "trial and error" fringe, too!
Lol. I read that and thought, "Yep, that's my method!"

One thing I do look at when trying to figure out a fringe is how
elaborate the bag itself is.

If the bag very fancy, i.e., wild design, heavy texture or
embellishment, you might want to go with a simple straight, looped (like
the fringe I did on your bag) or double fringe, maybe with some shaped
beads (I like Toho triangles, which add some sparkle) in it. Using
drops or matagama beads on the ends of a plain fringe is also nice. The
idea is not to detract from the design of the bag.

If the bag is relatively plain, i.e., a subtle design or smooth texture,
you can go nuts with the fringe. I like "coral" or branching fringe,
which can also be worked with little loops or leaf shapes instead of
plain spikes. You can add crystals or Czech pressed beads.

I'm sure one (or several) of these ladies has a "how-to" page for fringe
on their websites. :-)

Arondelle
--
================================================== =========
To email me, empty the pond with a net

LOL (((((((hugs))))))))

--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net
"Beadbimbo" wrote in message
...
Ok, I should have said, "What was I thinking?"

--
Jerri
www.beadbimbo.com
To subscribe to my mailing list, send an e-mail to:
with
"Subscribe" in the subject line.


"Kandice Seeber" wrote in message
...
/lecture on

Don't ever say "stupid me" out loud where the universe can hear you.
The universe believes what you say - and we all know how incredibly NOT
stupid you are!!! Words have power. /lecture off

That being said - I personally view this as a garment - turn it inside
out,
sew it through the beads, then turn it right side out. No seams.

--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net

Oooooooooo. I hadn't thought of the branch fringe. I like that idea, too.

I'm going through my stuff, trying to find what I think goes with what I
have, so I'll be limited there.

Of course, it's making the decision that's going to kill me.

--
Jerri
www.beadbimbo.com
To subscribe to my mailing list, send an e-mail to: with
"Subscribe" in the subject line.


"Arondelle" wrote in message
news:BjnVd.51786$uc.7693@trnddc08...
Beadbimbo wrote:
Oh, and Arondelle, I was going to try that "trial and error" fringe, too!
Lol. I read that and thought, "Yep, that's my method!"

One thing I do look at when trying to figure out a fringe is how elaborate
the bag itself is.

If the bag very fancy, i.e., wild design, heavy texture or embellishment,
you might want to go with a simple straight, looped (like the fringe I did
on your bag) or double fringe, maybe with some shaped beads (I like Toho
triangles, which add some sparkle) in it. Using drops or matagama beads
on the ends of a plain fringe is also nice. The idea is not to detract
from the design of the bag.

If the bag is relatively plain, i.e., a subtle design or smooth texture,
you can go nuts with the fringe. I like "coral" or branching fringe,
which can also be worked with little loops or leaf shapes instead of plain
spikes. You can add crystals or Czech pressed beads.

I'm sure one (or several) of these ladies has a "how-to" page for fringe
on their websites. :-)

Arondelle
--
================================================== =========
To email me, empty the pond with a net