Beads Gone Wild Skill Levels Explained

Our skill levels are designed to help you choose projects that feel enjoyable, not frustrating.
They’re based on how much guidance is provided and how much the beader is expected to already know.

If you’re ever unsure, choosing the easier level usually leads to a better experience.

True Beginner

Starting from the very beginning.

True Beginner kits start with Peyote stitch.
No prior beading experience is assumed.

The stitch is taught step-by-step from the very first bead, using bead sizes and materials chosen specifically to make learning easier and more forgiving.

What to expect:

  • Peyote stitch taught from scratch
  • Clear, fully guided instructions
  • How to start, turn, read the pattern, and finish
  • Information on needles, thread, and bead types
  • Beads selected to support beginner success

Best for:
First-time beaders or anyone returning after a long break.

Comfortable Beginner

Expanding your skills with guidance.

Comfortable Beginner projects continue your peyote foundation—adding odd-count, simple pattern reading, and basic shaping—while gently introducing beginner-friendly stitches such as brick, herringbone, and netting. You’ll work with a wider variety of bead sizes and make a few more thread changes, but instructions remain fully guided and supportive.

What to expect:

  • Continued development of peyote skills

  • Introduction to brick stitch, herringbone, netting

  • Odd-count peyote and simple graph reading

  • More bead size variety

  • Additional thread changes

  • Clear, step-by-step diagrams and instructions

Best for:
Beaders who have completed a simple peyote project or feel ready to try new stitches with guidance.

Confident Beginner

Using familiar stitches in more interesting ways.

Confident Beginner projects continue building on Peyote and second-level versions of stitches you’ve already learned, while also introducing some more complex stitches.

You’re expected to be comfortable with tools, thread, and following directions, but instructions still guide you through each step.

What to expect:

  • Peyote and expanded stitch variations
  • Introduction to more complex stitches
  • Multiple bead sizes (such as 8/0, 11/0, and 15/0)
  • More construction awareness
  • Step-by-step diagrams and written instructions

Best for:
Beaders who enjoy learning new techniques while still having clear guidance.

Intermediate

More responsibility, more understanding.

Intermediate projects assume you already know the basic stitches and can follow written and diagrammed instructions without review.

Projects are still shown step-by-step, but you’re expected to understand what’s happening in the beadwork and handle problem-solving along the way.

What to expect:

  • Familiar stitches combined in more involved projects
  • Reading and understanding the work as you go
  • Attention to tension and alignment
  • Less explanation of basic techniques

Best for:
Beaders who enjoy focus, structure, and building confidence through experience.

Experienced

Advanced and architectural beadwork.

Experienced projects assume strong technical skills and confidence in reading beadwork.

Instructions focus on the project itself, not on teaching stitches.
Beaders are expected to recognize where they are in the work, correct mistakes, and manage complex thread paths.

What to expect:

  • Advanced stitch combinations
  • Complex construction and structure
  • Precision tension and alignment
  • Minimal instructional explanation

Best for:
Highly experienced beaders looking for challenging, immersive designs.

One Final Note

Skill level is not about how beautiful a project looks —
it’s about how much the beader is expected to already know and manage while working.

If you’re between levels, choosing the lower one usually leads to a more enjoyable experience.