WOW! That is a great piece! Well done you! Now just keep going. You'll find that your second piece comes a little easier.

I must agree with latitude40 - what is frog stitch - I've also not heard of it before. [:)]

Love the necklace Diane. you've inspired me to try herringbone.

latitude40 and Carmen, you may not know the name but I bet you know how to do Frog Stitch. Here are some great tips:

http://www.suzannecooper.com/classroom/frogstitch.html
Sandy
Down Under

Thank-you everyone for the nice comments about my necklace. I think I need a lot more practice with this stitch. It still comes out fairly stiff when I do it.

Latitude40- I got the beads from a bead store 2 years ago & the closest I can describe them is a gold lined turquoise.

Thanks Sandy & for posting the page address about the frog stitch. I thought everyone knew what it was. [(-D]

One more question. Where can I find a tutorial for spiral herringbone? I'd love to try it as my son & hubby both said this stitch looked like a snake [xx(]

sandygrace - That was dangerous! I very almost fell off the chair laughing!!!!!!!!! [(-D] I didn't even realise it, but it was the first stitch I mastered - without even trying!!!

beadedrose - I looooove spiral HB!! I only discovered it recently. Somone on the forum tried to explain it to me, but I got hoplessly lost. But, there is hope! I got the book 'The art and Elegance of beadweaving' by Carol Wilcox Wells, and it's on page 113. It is brilliant!!!! I love it so much. You control how much of a twist you want by the size of the beads you use. If you don't already have this book, you must get it. It's more important than food! [swg]

Good luck with the practising though. You'll soon find your ideal tension.

I love that book (Art & Elegance of Beadweaving). I checked it out from my local library and renewed it as many times as I could. I just bought it from Amazon this afternoon!

Endearah has a tutorial for the spiral herringbone that is a little different than the one in the book, but it's easy to follow, too. The link is in her signature.

Kassie

[D)] Frogstitch! Well at least I didn't need to add that tutorial to my homework list!
[#wstupid]

So then, what is the interesting stitch that surrounds the cab?

i do tubular herringbone with single nymo or doubled clear gutermann sewing thread and any kind of bead. it goes SUPER fast and slinky if you use a multi-bead drop. for example, instead of picking up two beads and going down, pick up 4, or 6, or 10! as long as it is an even number, it will fold into the two herringbone stacks when you stitch down. granted, the characteristic fish spine pattern will be a little less obvious, but it still makes a lovely tube in a fraction of the time.

That's really pretty. I like the organic feel of the beading around the cab. It looks nice and adds interest without being over done.

[:D] gwen

FYI, I use fireline on more and more things including the herringbone with delicas and it does loosen up after a little while. I've just about switched to using fireline exclusively but I've read articles, one in Bead & Button I think, and it isn't the same as fishing line. The article in Bead and Button was about threads so I don't use the fishing line.

QUOTE: Originally posted by cat_chloe it goes SUPER fast and slinky if you use a multi-bead drop. for example, instead of picking up two beads and going down, pick up 4, or 6, or 10! as long as it is an even number, it will fold into the two herringbone stacks when you stitch down. granted, the characteristic fish spine pattern will be a little less obvious, but it still makes a lovely tube in a fraction of the time.

Could you explain this speedy herringbone more simply, step by step - or is there an online tutorial illustrating this technique? I'm just about ready to try my hand at herringbone for the first time.

thanks!
Karen

i haven't seen a tutorial...LOL it was just my own invention of laziness. but here goes:

1. form a two-bead ladderstitched ring. (pick up four beads, pass thru the first two to make two stacks of two. pick up two beads, pass back thru the adjacent stack and thru the new stack again. repeat as desired, stopping on an even number of stacks. join them into a ring.)

2. you are now exiting the ring. pick up any even number of beads and pass down thru the adjacent ladder bead.

3. pass back up the next ladder bead, and repeat step 2 around the ring.

4. when all ladder beads have had the new stack laid on them, it's time to step up. pass up thru an entire tall stack and exit the top. pick up the same even number that you have been doing. pass down thru the adjacent bead, but only go down half the new beads and exit. enter the adjacent stack at the same level where you just exited. (for example, if you exited 6 beads from the ladder ring, enter the next stack 6 beads from the ladder ring as well, heading upwards.) Repeat around the ring.

5. keep stepping up and going around the ring until the rope is the length you desire.

6. have fun!
here's a necklace i did this way:

I'm trying this with 6/0 beads. It's making a very floppy sample!
I started out with a ladder of 6 pairs, then adding 6 beads, which makes 2 stacks of 3. So when I got the first set of stacks done it was 5 high, counting the starting ring. So I went down 2 beads and tried a second set of stacks. It was hard to handle and the 3 stacks seemed to spread apart so much.
So then on the third round I cut back to adding 4 beads and it was a little easier to handle. I did 2 more rounds of 4, then I did a round of 2 and went back through it again to bring everything tight together.
I guess working with larger practice beads makes it harder to keep things snug. I also did not care for the larer sized holes that showed in the tube on my rounds of 6. The next sample I'll try 8/0 beads.
Is this a technique where you should use a pencil or something in the middle to keep it under control, or do you just wing it?

you can use a pencil or a chopstick or a rod of any kind, but i dont. i just wing it. i havent used beads that huge, but i bet the big ones made you understand the stitch, huh? try 11's next! ps, the stacks spreading only lasts until you lash them together on your step-up round

I must admit that the largest size I've used is #8 Rocailles. But it shouldn't really make too much of a difference. I have used 11s, but it just took sooooooo long to work up. (I'm not the most patient of people! [;)]) My personal best size for HB is size 9, but it depends on the look you're after. My best ever was one that I did with size 9s and bugle beads:

Have a look at this one:

Or click here: http://s52.photobucket.com/albums/g17/CarmenJeanCrafts/Beaded%20Items/?action=view¤t=SkyBlueLimeGreenHerringbone.jpg

Experiment - if it doesn't work out, you've lost a little but of thread. No problem there. [;)]

As for using something inside the tube whilst beading - I found it more trouble than it was worth. [:)] I was trying to hold the form, as well as the beads, and still trying to bead. No. Once I was past the first three or so rows, then everything was fine. You then having something to hold onto.

Yes, Jean-Marie, it did help me to understand what was going on. But I used the really cheap wonky craft store 6/0s, and I suspect with a stitch like herringbone, which looks so nice and orderly, that consistent bead size is very important. I will try good 8/0s the next time. Thre is something about that size bead which I find very appealing...it creates a nice knobby texture.

Carmen, I LOOOOVE that necklace with the bugles!! It looks so cool to contrast the sleek bugle with the seeds. They make 9/0 seed beads? I have some 10/0s from the craft store and lots of 8/0s but never knew about 9/0s. Do you use the same kind of thread with bugle beads? They make me nervous about cutting through the thread!

thanks, all!
Karen