Bead work

[Forty Rod]

I'd like to ask how the beads are sewn on around the edges of holsters and bags, etc.

I see a lot of stuff with three or four beads and a gap, then repeated all along the seams, or sometimes a continuous row of beads full length around an item.  I can't tell, but it looks like a lazy stitch of two or more beads at a time. 

I guess what I want to know is how they are attached so they don't get knocked all to pieces when they're worn

[Ranch 13]

It is called lazy stitch. The thread is just stuck into and back out of the leather, not pushed all the way thru. The number of beads per stitch varies quite a bit, mostly to suit the design and the designor.
The bead patterns will last for quite awhile, but after time and enough rubbing up against stuff the bead thread will break or pull out of the stitch and there'll be gapping holes in the once pretty piece of art.

[ChuckBurrows]

Do you mean a single line stitch like these:
skipped -

this is just a running stitch - pickup 2-4 beads (dependent on size) go through the stitching hole, come up to the front pickup more beads, etc.

full line -

This can be done with either the return stitch or the spot or applique stitch - see howto - here just go all the way through the leather http://www.nativetech.org/glasbead/glasapli.html

or an edge wrap like this -

use the rolled stitch here - http://www.nativetech.org/glasbead/glasedge.html

[Forty Rod]

WOW!!!

Thanks.  Now I get to find out just how many ways I can screw it up before I can show you anything of my own.

Thanks.

[ChuckBurrows]

Ranch 13 - I just noticed you email address - are you by chance related to Kendall?

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks for those examples, Chuck. That helps me understand a lot more about it.

[GunClick Rick]

I know it's been asked before,but how in the beejeebers do you antique them beads???I found a pretty good site the other day that has beads that match the colors of the olden days.They went to museums and matched the colors.But waht do you darken them with like that.You have to be the best in the world,that's all there is to it.

http://www.beadmatch.com/index.html

[Ranch 13]

Ranch 13 - I just noticed you email address - are you by chance related to Kendall?

Not that we could ever figure out.