Are you like me? Do you find this really cool pattern & want to give it your own color combination but aren’t sure where to begin? Well, allow me to share what has helped me.
Tip #1: It’s okay to try out a combination and see if you like it. If you don’t, it’s OKAY TO TAKE IT APART & START OVER! It’s not a waste of time or money or effort. It’s part of the creative learning process. And, you don’t necessarily have to make the whole project to see if it will suit your taste or not. Just GO FOR IT and change it if you want to!
Tip#2: Maybe you have a peyote stitch or right angle weave chart that was taught in one color and you want to change it to a different color or to more than one. Here are my suggestions:
1. Scan the chart into your computer, and then open it in an art program, like Paint Shop Pro. (Or you can print it out & color it by hand, if you like.)
2. Fill/color in all the beads pictured with white, so you have a blank form with which to start. (If you are coloring it in White-out or Liquid Paper, then you’ll want to let it dry, scan it again and print it out again.)
If the colored pattern is of flowers or some other specific design that you just want to change part of the color, only fill those particular beads with a new color. Don’t white out all of the beads or you could have a doozy of a time recreating the pattern of flowers or whatever was there.
3. Starting with the last/most complete picture of the pattern, color in the beads as desired. This will help you see what it actually turn out like.
When I first tried this on a chart, I had started with the first picture which only showed the first three rows.
By the time I got to the overall pattern picture, it didn’t look anything like what I wanted. So it really helps to work your way from an overall picture like this one backwards.
Tip #3: You don’t have to do the whole project on one thread! It’s OKAY to make individual pieces and then stitch them together later!
Tip #4: It’s OKAY to use glue to make your beads stay put!
The Bottom Line is: do what you want to! There are no hard fast rules in beading. It’s what works for you! So, play. Have fun. Enjoy. Don’t make it be work! Make it yours! Let it go! Breathe! Each piece of artwork has its own beauty–“flaws” and all! And remember, our flaws are what makes us sparkle!
Have a happy, beadingly fun, sparkly day!
#TheHappyBeader
