WARNING - please read the HEALTH AND SAFETY NOTICE in Part 1 before proceeding
Part 2 - How to take the Tyvek beads just a little further with metallic threads
BEAD 1
Two strips of painted Tyvek laid on top of each other - the top strip is tapered to a point
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrUanDusl7vVwHQN7OC8YbLHLaH45nPmEGdFIiUgRiX8Xa7uUgqnOHvEDJcdXDd39yYjEIeo3X7-forQXpbwVpehufE0Sbf_BJNCrdG1UEA1ywOmgjRDqXKXMzuNyqLjATEBVKFsJ1bTd/s320/first+bead+strips.jpg)
Roll the Tyvek strips on the wooden stick and pin in place
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCXpkcjcv9NwSZNfHMzRejnLew6gPj_57Ic6mkElTsL06OeopVhRaacqE2jTftcs8SGlMAyyByr8Wzm2mLPYpJbsS6335axf4KsVoVTJ5ohbsSmoJF7Aa38iA8Y3aEOJgqgw1JPiGavjb/s320/rolled+ready+for+heating.jpg)
Leave the pin in to hold the Tyvek
Wrap the bead with metallic thread and secure with a dab of glue stick
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZMT1xwDPKJcqmuw_0NLLBD21f6ifI_V9WlOWXZrIYXoFCn1OIoDMrmcNA4XuyCNhcK8uzjCXuDTJ0LivIlszbSsFJrv0Nq017eFkWeL8zzpDB5l8yhLOf92bvtk6FklxVuKfmtM5vUM9/s320/rolled+wrapped+with+blue.jpg)
Wrap the bead with metallic thread in a second colour
Secure the end of the thread with a dab of glue stick
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBQn1YXkHDYpGCxqlleEQn42tKOUQcyAjeMOaOofkjDAskIt5XyC1Lfsv8SAKdy1XMFBEDeJ4T3OJHFVHhSgW03F6FZHwCu4vrkHsRG4H0mTnfTNHlGWANtUlqQrmKoFWVlA3b669xrBp/s320/rolled+wrapped+with+red.jpg)
Heat the bead with a heat gun
The Tyvek will distort between the threads
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhuBmU9ogG0RyhmezTenfc0imNXBt7Og6hKOM6BDwcwXzSN8D-sBd0ljcUm3LPYw714Doirh-nq0IzaLlArmgU84R2QTGSafoCqpz1ULAEoHRGDeaUTrYmKh7qwMeStIcNkk5bw-8ijpQ/s320/really+distressed+bead.jpg)
The result is a very distressed looking textured bead which will add interest to lots of different textile art, embroidery or jewellery projects
BEAD 2
The only difference between bead 1 and bead 2 is that after heating the bead I then wrapped a second layer of Tyvek and threads over the first layer and heated again
Two strips of painted Tyvek laid on top of each other - the top strip is tapered to a point
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliIz7szH7pIs_Ps8nV6NCNwobPyi00Qui8vNHeRvloz6-q03qBWti59l0Emw4fD6TLBFgy7YeXxLrh3C-5wkbYVavGmDR7lNmQbKR9XzINEb-zsXKc_pTaQmXIqSW2s1C0wPOWKxnQa7W/s320/tapered+strip.jpg)
Roll the Tyvek strips on the wooden stick and pin in place
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHXyMpSMLVmXyqq_ThceNHTsr2lQcdkCvXlsl76g7Us7HMCthDGQ4yzl6lVEH7tGCtck57XID-4VHuar4VNsQ_RpmCmCakdPKxWKuyvUJfxnPqn1qGx_exrTWj0sQ_Wnq6yyKpaq4CQG8/s320/rolled+tapered+strip.jpg)
Wrap the bead with metallic threads and secure with a dab of glue stick and heat the bead with the heat gun
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-q3BgjIRuJOsWefiC1qRSvmuzDwgWmcKK-j5FplHskkocxqyypzJOfFl65Qg5h6cRl7AgVxWeC1ZrZfT1ddyKITjJ-sDQDlMAh92417zKFyOQkl0cWzn1kH5yatjhQt1BDptb5uQQm5_/s320/wrapped+bead.jpg)
Take another painted Tyvek strip and wrap around the bead and pin in place
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDcq5bOQVFJ-clg7Kd1oSzWUXJefoXEohiZr1y1zB3VQyUt9rWZPSBZaItwjUfNAx9dgbKztkNtWhwUi2DQoGBREC5GgBtSdSwXd94FJzVbD2MojJmMUECrysUw6lWFV-P6uWmnUVOLdC/s320/more+wrapping.jpg)
Wrap with more metallic threads in a different colour
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiem3vrqSP-anLVECl4mG59o55IOA7tQNeIrwGlfCO7WM5H8yJsBcdzrLp1j_xaq2vw-bQ-OhAvYxvDJ-yDowPKVEVYY2RfkPF31lOopxTIKk9vaeGxxlpkgjeUs1cVt-EtvGRwsppA0brq/s320/bead+wrapped+ready+for+heat.jpg)
Heat the bead with a heat gun
The Tyvek will distort between the threads
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzHIrBVZ04ADDWm4o5kjgF1ez4p0XBtIvphzwHoj2JyLGcTwXpeGOX7jxzu6J_Ef_Xj3lN3PUvaDaKHmNG23qHuKHfLKEK5fJ-cPF1GRflrYNpRXS9DiYJKZ8iiRiedwNi65tOnEgN5CU/s320/distressed+bead.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3seYzBu9BFfv76-8uIdcLZgXrF388OehmFoSqQGmDnBZ-SQe2MAHHjrrYtuu_0lkd7QI2cjEFLRit4-gfDdeVANKwtOk0QA_yOYqxGPGvG4ZsLFGbkKkd0LPNs74B5fgAPPLwK4xnA3Q4/s320/global+warming+beads+for+next+post.jpg)
Two beads - I chose these colours to go with my next project on global warming. The global warming project is coming to an end for the time being, as I have other projects to show you, but it is a theme I will come back to as I feel it is a topical subject that must be pursued and I have many more ideas still to come out - but a change is as good as a rest (so they say)!!
13 comments:
Oooh I love this - layering strips, melting, then layering again and melting again. What a great idea - and the texture that is achieved is amazing. Gonna try this right away. Thanks!
Beautiful beads, Carolyn. And a great tute again.
Dear Carolyn,
Thank you for your great tutorials - it really looks fascinating! I have some Tyvek at home and bought some shrinking plastic too in Sweden - maybe there'll be a fantastic plastic session to come this summer ...!
Some time ago, I saw some experiments with ironing motifs from plastic bags on sweatshirts (Outy Pyy, FIN - link on my blog sidebar) - have you tried that?
Thank you, That's really good, more to put on my list of things to buy.........yea! when I go back to England in Sept.
these are brilliant ~ jx
Thanks to all my blog buddies - Cathie, Julie, Anneli, Jude and Judy xx
Thanks for doing part two. Next time I visit my daughter in California I will go to the craft store and get me a new heat gun. Then I will have some fun!
hello,
I discovered your blog through Flickr Fibrefantaisie and it is fantastic! then I make a note on your blog and your work? my email is :pussikat@neuf.fr
Thank you Christine @ Marie Claire Idees
i am wondering if using other non-flammable threads or yarns would look interesting. i will have to try that. i tried to use some fusible angelina film to wrap around, but it sort of just burned and looked like nothing. hmmm.
Hi Natasha, I will have to give the angelina fibres a go. I think I would wrap them between the two pieces of Tyvek before heating, rather than around the outside - I will definitely try this and let you know!
yES, YES, YES!
I have lots of metallic thread as I do lots of machine embroidery!
I am on a roll here!
Thank you again for an excellent tutorial.
Many thanks for the tutorials. I've played with Tyvek before, but never thought about beads....
This will be fun!
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