Make-it-yourself "Contemporary Beaded Throw"

Contemporary beaded throw

Hands-on time: Approximately 9 to 12 hours (I recommend doing this project in a few sittings).
Skill: Easy.

Materials & Tools:

• A throw with a long fringe, (cotton, chenille, microfibre, etc.
• Muffin tray or ice-cube tray
• Wire cutters
• Regular florist wire to make a threading device and assorted colored soft wire in 24-gauge for decorative accents
• Assorted beads in various colors: wood, glass, plastic, polymer or ceramic, preferably with a large opening. Smaller beads like seed beads can be used to ornament the strands.
• Other items, such as decorative flat disks (optional)

Keep warm and cozy for this project while getting hooked on beading. Turn a casual throw into a stylish contemporary decorative show-piece in just a few sittings. Use beads to co-ordinate, complement and enhance your throw.

First, decide on your design for the fringes, and try to repeat a pattern throughout the throw for a balanced composition. Calculate the number of beads you will need, depending on how many lengths of fringe your throw has. Some throws have a knot at the top of the fringe, and you can untie the knots if desired.

Placing the beads in muffin or ice cube trays keeps the beads organized and easier to manage while you work.

Cut a florist wire strand about 6 inches long and bend it in half. This makeshift device will serve as a threader to thread the fringes through the bead openings. This technique works for all types of fringe strands from one to several strands at a time. Place a fringe strand in the center of the threader and close the wires together, then pass it through the beads like a needle.

Experiment with variations and combinations of the following techniques. This is a learn-as-you-go project; discover what new designs you can come up with. Add several beads to a fringe, alternating the colors, or join several fringes through larger beads, or put smaller beads on one or more strands. You can even braid some of the fringes, and add a bead and tie a knot at the end.