Review: Fabulous Fabric Beads

As promised, here’s another interesting fiber-jewelry book. Fabulous Fabric Beads by Kristal Wick is one of those high-value craft books that teaches you lots of different craft techniques within a simple project framework.

The first section of the book is about making designs on a fabric surface. Each technique has clear step-by-step photos, and whether you make the beads or not, these techniques have application to all kinds of crafts. The book covers everything from sponging to salting to bleaching to stamping, foiling, stenciling, splattering, and more. Lots of ways to alter fabrics!

From there, the book offers a whole slew of ways to make beads from these altered fabrics. Most of these beads are made in this cylindrical form, but within that simple shape, we have a nice variety of looks.

. . . Like, here’s a variation on that theme in leather.

And I think these quilted beads are very, very cool. The book also shows you how to make this tubular bead using materials like wire, cross-stitch, copper, Angelina Fiber, eyelash yarn, and beaded fringe.

There are also some pretty non-tube beads here. I love these Victorian-looking ribbon pendant beads! The book also has a square variation on these, and a nice project where the fabric is set into a resin-filled frame.

. . . And in the back, a gallery of projects to make with all these fabric beads.

I’m excited to play around with all these ideas!