Crochet beads instruction
On this page I show with photos how I crochet beads in a simple way, with as few counts as possible. It's not very difficult. Quite a fiddly job, which may take some getting used to.
But how nice is it when you make your own beads?
Please note: I am left-handed, so I crochet exactly the other way around. Sorry about that!
Basic crochet stitches, and even videos on how to crochet beads, can also be easily found on YouTube.
To get started you will need:
Wooden beads of 18 mm, crochet cotton , a crochet hook of 2 mm and a beading needle.
You also need to know how to crochet 'singles'.
That's the only crochet stitch you need for this bead.
Note: In the photos below you can see the process if you crochet with your left hand (completely self-evident to me ;-) ) I will adjust the photos for right-handed crocheting!
Step 1:
Make a large loop on your hook, and crochet 3 single crochets on the edge of the loop. Pull the loop slightly, but not too tight. Otherwise you will lose the hole in the bead. (For the crocheters among you: that's why I choose not to start with a magic ring).
Step 2:
Work 2 single crochets in each single crochet. This way you 'increase' to 6 single crochets. You crochet twice in the round. Count to 6 the first time, and count to 12 the second time.
Step 3:
Work 1 single crochet in the first single crochet, 2 single crochets in the second single crochet, and alternate until you have completed the round (Count to 18). If necessary, cut the thread end from the beginning to about 1.5-2 centimeters. This simply stays on the inside of your crochet work.
Step 4:
Keep crocheting rounds. You are, as it were, making a hat for your wooden bead.
Try to put your bead in the hat every now and then to see how far you still have to crochet around. Stop crocheting when you get to the point where the bead becomes clearly narrower again, and the hat is therefore too wide.
Step 5:
You are now going to 'decrease'. You insert your crochet hook through the first 2 stitches of the previous round and crochet 1 single crochet in them. This way you ensure that the circle becomes smaller and smaller. You actually work in the opposite order of the 'outward journey'. So you start by crocheting two stitches together, followed by 1 normal single crochet, and alternate. The decrease may depend on how loose your crochet is around the bead. Loose? Gather stitches together more often. Tight? Slightly more regular stitches in between. Try to alternate a bit in a certain rhythm, so that the crochet work is well distributed around the bead.
Step 6:
Continue decreasing until you can go no further and the bead is closed. Cut your thread (leaving about 4 inches), and pull the thread through the last loop to tie off. With the beading needle you can neatly 'thread' the end thread along the wooden bead and then cut it short.
