Bead Spinner
How to Use a Bead Spinner
A bead spinner is not required, but if you tatt, couch, knit, crochet, or embroider with beads, or string many seed bead strands for making bead jewelry you may find this simple spindle tool a reason to celebrate!
Feeding many beads on a thread is something bead artists learn to do well; deft hands minimizing bead flip or
bead spills
by
nabbing beads with the tip of the
beading needle
using a fingertip to slide beads from the needle to the thread.
So where does the bead spinner come in? Hmmmm..is your short time to bead exhausted and you are still just stringing? Would you be willing to practice just a little to make those beads leap onto the line? With its round bowl and spindle, bent tip needle and a delicate touch, welcome The Bead Spinner!
(1) Bead Spinners are in two parts: the stand and the bowl, which spins on the spindle (right).
(2) Or, they may be one piece, that spins on its apex, like a top (left). Spoon beads to well cover the bottom of the bowl and decide on a needle. This could be a bit of wire, a thin beading needle, or just the end of a length of
beading cable.
Most important: bend a slight curve to the tip of your choice of beading needle as it is this curve that helps draw up the beads.
Hold your needle ready with curved tip toward the inside of the bowl. Give the spindle a whirl turning so the beads are spinning toward the needle. While the bowl is turning, dip the tip of the needle inside the bowl near the edge of the beads in motion. This is where it takes practice: holding the needle at an angle that facilitates the beads feeding onto the line. I assure you, the minor struggle in mastering this little trick is well worth your time. Once they begin,
the beads feed very fast!
Where can you find a Bead Spinner?
Knitting and crochet websites, bead sellers or you could make your own!
Artist Kimberly Chapman very kindly shares directions on how to
Make your own Bead Spinner
on her website http://www.kimberlychapman.com
The Beadspinner Lady
offers beadspinners and other wonderful beading tools including Mirrix looms; be sure to check the show schedule and click through the wearable art gallery.
7Echoes,
the sister site of the excellently informative http://www.beadwrangler.com/ has bead spinners in two sizes.
Another resource could be to search on eBay.
Type Bead Spinner in the search box.
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