Class Fee: $290/Members (with code) or $315/Non-Members

Class Description: Here’s your chance to put those beautiful, one-of-a-kind fabrics you’ve been saving to great use.  Spend two-days learning a variety of approaches to cutting, piecing, appliqueing, and in other ways combining these ‘stashed’ fabrics with hand stitching and a variety of thread types.  We’ll address design and composition issues as well as approaches to stitching on and embellishing the cherished fabrics that may be different than ways in which you’ve approached other types of fabrics.

This two-day workshop begins by introducing all the stitches that make up the backbone of bead embroidery—those stitches most commonly used in contemporary beadwork on fabric. After initially exploring the basic stitches of bead embroidery, students advance to learn ways to beautifully and securely incorporate larger beads, buttons, and cabochons into their fiber work. They also explore a variety of edge stitches and fringe techniques while continuing to work on a sampler for future reference and inspiration. The class culminates with students beginning to develop their own bead embroidery style while exploring designs that range from sparsely-stitched individual beads to densely beaded focal areas. Students have opportunities to explore known variations on introduced stitches as well as develop their own visual vocabulary of bead embroidery.