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Bead embroidery kits are artist canvas with the full-colour pattern already printed on it, Czech Preciosa beads in the quantities needed, a needle and illustrated instructions. There is no chart to follow on a screen: each bead sits on the patch of its own colour. This section holds 2,231 kits, with stitched areas from 100×150 to 480×300 mm and difficulty from easy to advanced. Abris Art has been developing bead embroidery since 2007 and manufactures the kits in Mukachevo, Ukraine.
What is in a kit
- Natural artist canvas with the full-colour pattern printed on it.
- Czech Preciosa beads, sorted by colour, supplied with a small surplus.
- A beading needle.
- Step-by-step illustrated instructions.
- Some kits also include microbeads, decorative stones or findings for assembly.
For most pieces you do not need to buy thread or a hoop separately. A hoop becomes useful from about 300 mm upwards, to keep the canvas from gathering.
Partial and full coverage
This is the main distinction to check before buying.
| Type | What is beaded | How it looks |
|---|---|---|
| Partial coverage | The main subject; the background stays as print on the canvas | Beads contrast with a matt ground, and the work goes faster |
| Full coverage | The entire surface, background included | A continuous shimmering texture, and more beads to lay |
Most Abris Art kits use partial coverage. The type is stated in the specifications of every kit.
Choosing the size
Judge by the number of beads rather than by centimetres: that is what sets the working time. The count is listed in the specifications of every kit.
| Format | Beads | Time for a beginner | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100×150 mm | up to 2,000 | 4–10 hours | A first piece, a gift |
| 150×150 and 200×200 mm | 2,000–10,000 | 15–40 hours | The most popular format |
| 230×300 and 300×300 mm | 10,000–20,000 | 40–90 hours | A picture for the wall |
| 400 mm and up | over 20,000 | 100 hours and more | Several pieces of experience |
The arithmetic is simple: a beginner lays 200–250 beads an hour, and 300–400 with experience. More on this in how long bead embroidery takes.
Subjects
The largest groups in this section are religious subjects and icons (510 kits), decorative designs (277), animals and birds (220), flowers (205), winter and Christmas (188), landscapes (164), still life (151) and children's designs (86).
Subsections
- Big size bead embroidery kits — 923 designs
- Bead embroidery patterns — 509, printed canvas without materials
- Icons and amulets — 300
- Small size kits — 257
- Medium size kits — 146
Questions and answers
Do I need to know how to embroider before I start?
No. The pattern is printed on the canvas in colour, so there are no squares to count. There is one main stitch, the monastery stitch, and it takes about half an hour to get used to. It is explained step by step in how to do bead embroidery on art canvas.
Do I need a hoop and thread?
Thread and needle are included. A hoop is optional: up to about 200×200 mm the canvas holds its shape on its own. On larger pieces a hoop or a frame is more comfortable.
Why artist canvas rather than Aida?
On Aida the beads follow counted squares and the chart has to be read. On artist canvas the design is printed in colour, the fabric is denser and does not distort under full coverage, and the finished piece can be stretched on bars without a frame.
What if I run out of beads?
Beads are supplied with a surplus, but if a colour does run short, the Preciosa number is given in the instructions so you can buy more. The full procedure is in what to do if you run out of beads.
How do I finish the piece?
Two approaches work: stretching it on bars, or framing it under glass. Both are covered in stretching on bars and framing a bead embroidery picture.