The Retro Rope Photo Gallery presents you with visual examples of how the "retro stitch" can be applied with various combinations of beads and fiber.  Some of the combinations of beads and thread offered in the Retro Rope Kits are unusual and difficult to imagine.  Examples of all these combinations are shown here in necklaces, earrings, bracelets and short ropelet examples of my latest thread offerings - the Colours and Argh! lines of thread.  These are both variegated thread collections that make it possible to create bead crochet ropes that are unusual, unique and gorgeous!  The number of bead and thread combinations is a little overwhelming so take your time browsing through the gallery.  Also visit Inside Retro Ropes and Compare & Contrast for more information about the Retro Rope Collection.  Retro Rope kits are offered in all of the popular seed beads sizes - 15/0, 11/0, 8/0 & 6/0.  If you are not familiar with seed bead sizes, visit the Seed Bead Information Page which includes a photo of a ruler with the different seed beads lined up along the ruler.  I can also answer your questions and offer suggestions on color combinations through my email address at lydfibers@earthlink.net

The main idea is to have fun!  Select a kit and create a beautiful bead crochet rope necklace for yourself or a friend.

The Retro Prime Series are ropes made with one color of seed bead and a matching thread.  Kits are available in seed bead sizes 15/0, 11/0, 8/0 and 6/0.  The matching thread will be Elite, Jean Stitch or Pearl Cotton depending on the bead size.  There are over 660 choices available.

Size 8/0 seed beads in color #403
with Jean Stitch thread.

The Retro Rainbow Series are ropes made with one of the many Beadwrangler Seed Bead mixes and a matching thread.  Kits are available in seed bead sizes 11/0, 8/0 and 6/0.  The matching thread is Jean Stitch for size 11/0 beads and Pearl Cotton for sizes 8/0 and 6/0.  There are over 130 different kits available in the Retro Rainbow Series.

Size 6/0 seed beads in Yellow Ribbons - a Beadwrangler Seed Bead Mix.  The thread is a matching Pearl Cotton 5 thread.  The two ropes shown here are examples of Retro Ropes crocheted with 3 beads around and with 5 beads around.  Notice how the texture of the necklace changes depending on the number of beads in each round.

The Retro Glitter Series are ropes made with metallic thread and clear crystal beads.  A combination of Fine Metallic and Elite thread is used when creating this rope with size 15/0 seed beads.  Retro Glitter ropes in all of the other bead sizes of 11/0, 8/0 and 6/0 are created with New Metallics thread and clear crystal beads.

The Retro Mirage Series is the crown jewel in the Retro Rope Collection!  The use of clear crystal beads with variegated thread allows you to create bead crochet ropes with a mysterious and ethereal look that is totally different than any other bead crochet rope. 

Clear crystal size 6/0 seed beads crocheted with the retro stitch using Pearl Cotton thread.  The thread color in this example is #9770.