If you’re searching for new and exciting beading patterns, check out this list of the top 5 beading books on Amazon based on customer reviews.
If you’re looking for a source of inspiration when it comes to making new jewelry pieces, look no further than beading books.
They come packed with tons of bead weaving tutorials, great jewelry-making tips and a wealth of information about bead stitching techniques.
There are quite a few bead weaving books on the market and it can be hard to know where to start when you’re ready to purchase one. I love customer reviews for this reason. It really helps to know what others thought about a book before I make a decision.
Of course, you should take the bad reviews with a grain of salt. Just because a few people had a low opinion of a book doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad purchase. However, if there are more bad reviews than good… It might be a sign to stay away.
For full transparency, I only own two of these books. I’ve simply compiled a list of the top 5 bead weaving books on Amazon based on customer reviews. The jewelry-making books that made this list all have 100+ 4-star or higher reviews.
Top 5 Beading Books on Amazon
This post contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, there’s absolutely no extra cost to you. Read my full Disclosure Policy here.
1. Beautiful Beaded Ropes by Jill Wiseman
First up on the list, with 300+ customer reviews and an average of 4.5 stars, is Jill Wiseman’s Beautiful Beaded Ropes: 24 Wearable Jewelry Projects in Multiple Stitches (Beadweaving Masterclass Series).
Jill Wiseman is known for her love of beaded ropes which is probably why she wrote an entire book on the subject. The tutorials range from Herringbone Stitch to Right-Angle Weave ropes and include necklaces, bracelets and more.
I would recommend this book for intermediate to advanced beaders. The term “Master Class” included in the title of the book suggests the skill level needed to follow the instructions right there.
Also, there are a lot of reviews touching on the lack of in-depth instructions. So, if you’re not really comfortable with the basic stitches included in this book, this may not be one for you.
2. Beaded Fantasies by Sabine Lippert
In second place is Beaded Fantasies: 30 Romantic Jewelry Projects (Beadweaving Master Class Series) by Sabine Lippert. She’s a popular European beadwork teacher.
I do own a copy of this book and love the delicate, romantic designs. The author combines seed beads, crystals and other beads and incorporates Peyote Stitch, Right-Angle Weave and Netting Stitch into many pieces.
This book is not for beginners. As the name suggests, the patterns are more suited to intermediate and advanced skill levels.
Unfortunately, there were reports of a few errors and omissions in the tutorials so be aware of those if you decide to purchase the book.
3. Shaped Beadwork by Diane Fitzgerald
Third on the list is Diane Fitzgerald’s Shaped Beadwork: Dimensional Jewelry with Peyote Stitch (Beadweaving Master Class Series).
If you want to learn how to make gorgeous geometric beaded jewelry, this is going to be right up your alley. You’ll use Peyote Stitch to create interesting flat and 3D shapes.
Once again, this is a book for experienced beaders. You should be very comfortable with Peyote Stitch if you want to recreate the designs in this book.
4. Mastering Beadwork by Carol Huber Cypher
One of my favorite bead weaving books have made this list. And, that is Mastering Beadwork: A Comprehensive Guide To Off-Loom Techniques by Carol Huber Cypher.
I frequently used this resource when I first learned bead stitching. It taught me many of the popular stitches and their variations, plus a couple lesser know techniques e.g. African Helix.
I definitely recommend this beading book for beginners who want to build a solid beading foundation.
5. Beaded Allure by Kelly Wiese
The final jewelry-making book to make the list is Kelly Wiese’s Beaded Allure: Beadweaving Patterns for 25 Romantic Projects.
Kelly Wiese is a well-known beader, having written 3 books and taught workshops at shows like Bead and Button.
With 86% of the reviews being 5-stars and no 1- or 2-star reviews, this book stood out. Generally, people who purchased seemed happy with it overall.
According to the book description, Beaded Allure is recommended for all skill levels. However, customers did report that there were no beading diagrams to accompany the written instructions, only photos. So, keep that in mind if you prefer diagrams.
Beading books provide lovely new tutorials for you to add to your collection. Just be sure to pick ones with patterns that suit your style and skill level. And, while reviews do help, it’s always best to make your own decision.
If you struggle with choosing colors for your beadweaving projects, you don’t want to miss this: How To Select Colors For Your Beaded Jewelry Projects.
I do love books, thank you for your recommendations!
Great! I hope it helps you find some good ones.
Mastering Beadwork is the best book ever written. Easy to follow instructions, the right amount of pictures and diagrams, shows multiple ways to use stitches, how to learn the basic stitches and take it to the next level–I could go on forever. Although I am a seasoned beader now and into bead embroidery I still go back to this book for info. Everyone should start with this book.
I completely agree. It’s a very good book for every beader to keep on hand.