Hanging Beaded Projects

Embellish your craft and home décor projects with colorful strands of hanging beads. Whether you make a custom beaded curtain to hang in the window or add beaded fringe to a lampshade, beads create a dramatic impact on decorative projects. Select from crystal, metal, shell, ceramic or wood beads to accentuate light, color and design.

Create hanging beaded curtains for windows or doorways using the same bead stringing techniques. Soft monofilament line is one choice for stringing material; it knot’s easily and is clear so as not to interfere with the colors of the beads. A stationary curtain rod is the best choice for hanging beaded curtains; anchor it in place before measuring the length of the beaded strands. Cut a length of monofilament line twice as long as the beaded curtain strand, plus 10 inches for knotting. Slide one bead to the middle of the line, hold the ends together and then continue to slide beads over both strands. Fill the doubled line with beads up to 5 inches of the end. Separate the ends and tie the beaded strand around the curtain rod. For added security, cover the knots that connect each beaded strand with clear glue.

Add color and pizzazz to home décor accessories, personal accessories and clothing with hanging beaded fringe. Beaded fringe is available in craft, fabric and discount stores in a wide variety of colors, lengths and styles. The beads are attached to a thin strip of ribbon, which you can attach to fabric, plastic, glass and metal with hot glue or viscous craft glue. Add beaded fringe to the top and bottom perimeter of lampshades or along the bottom of a window shade to add shimmer to home décor projects. Stitch or glue beaded fringe along the bottom seam of a jacket, top, or handbag to create a designer original.

Make wind chimes with glass or crystal beaded strands hanging from a metal craft ring, a wood block or a stained glass header to add rainbows of color to your patio or garden. Create beaded strands using fishing line or soft monofilament line. Cut lines twice as long as the desired wind chime length, plus 6 inches for knotting. Slide a crystal prism, a top drilled bead or a craft bell to the center of the line. Double the line and hold the ends together evenly. Slide beads over both lines, up to 3 inches of the end. Tie the line onto the wind chime header.

Hanging beaded strands onto mobiles is similar to making beaded wind chimes, but with special attention to the weight of each strand. Mobiles are balanced, so each of the beaded strands that are opposite each other must be the exact same length and use the exact same configuration of beads. Make beaded strands for mobiles using wire, yarn, twine, fishing line or soft monofilament line. Mobiles are not designed to move with the wind, so stringing materials heavier than monofilament line work.