Question:
I'm interested in making a bead curtain for my
bathroom window, which is tall and narrow (about 30" X 16"). My dream is to
weave images into the curtain, but I'm afraid that the small seed beads that
would make an image most lovely don't have the 'heft' required to make a swingy
bead curtain.
Has anyone ever tried this? I've searched the web to no avail, and all I've
seen have been the 60's style 'love beads' curatins, which don't have much of a
pattern.
Answer:
Your statement sort of contradicts itself. The 60's style curtains were
mostly long strings of beads - more like a very long, very wide fringe.
It is certainly possible
to do this with seed beads, I still remember a piece that was exhibited
at the
Torpedo Factory in conjunction with the 1995 International Bead
Symposium in DC.
It was at least 48 inch wide by about 8-10 feet tall.
Before we get too far, YES I do sell the products I am mentioning, but
like all
the products I routinely sell it is because I USE them myself all the
time
and find them to be the best for my style of work include woven pieces
such as
you seem to describe.
Your biggest challenge (and it was, on close inspection a problem in
this one) is the
weight is going to cause stretching of just about any stringing medium
except perhaps
SoftFlex(tm).
You also refereneced weaving. For a bead weaving of this size, you will
have several challenges. First will be adequate tension during the
weaving , second will be how to keep the finished work from stretching
out of shape when done.
Lack of "Heft" is *not* going to be your problem. Beads are heavy, you
will have a as much weight at you want and likely a good bit more.
This particular construction challenge may or may not be important. But
keep in mind
that a woven piece is solid so no your cat wont be able to walk thru it
as it could
with the "tradtional" bead curtains.
If a woven work is your goal, then you will need a loom which can
provide strong
even tension across a piece of this size.
It might be possible to weave two narrower panels on most looms without
serious
tension problems, but if you preferr one, 16 inch wide piece, then you
will probably
want to buy/rent/borrow at least a "22 inch" Mirrix. It has a 19.5 inch
weaving
width and can handle lengths up to 40 inches.
I know some will suggest square stitch and making the piece "off-loom"
but the
final weight of this piece is going to be your SECOND greatest
challenge. Over
time its weight is going to stretch just about any thread appropriate to
square
stitch. But some advance design planning, integrating SoftFlex(tm) into
the
pieces will help support it.
Your FIRST challenge is not readily apparent. You are planning to
expose this
piece to the worst possible environment - so it is very important how
you
choose your beads and your threads. Placing the curtain in the window,
in a bathroom
is almost guarnateeing that all your work will be for naught if you use
dyed or coated beads other than some of the better AB's. First, the
inside of a bathroom has constant, WIDE changes in humidity and
temperature.
Next, a curtain is in a window, windows in most places let in sun light,
sunlight contains UV and fades beads that are dyed. So undyed
transparents & opaques will help to protect your investment.
Next UV will effect most stringing materials, certain NYMO or silks or
Kevlar
(there is a reason by new vests are periodically issued to law
enforcement
in communities that really read the research)
UV will be the reason you might walk in some day and see a huge pile of
beads on the
window sill some day. But if you plan, there is a way to be able to
restring such a piece fairly easily, and I would suggest that you plan
to do so about every 2 years.
Your project is doable, but will need a good bit of planing and I would
suggest that you
begin by putting some beads in small dishes on the window sill for a few
months to see
if they will be effected by the environment.
Or, deal with a bead seller who can/will tell you if the beads are
subject to fading.
