Bead Crochet is a crocheting technique to incorporate beading into crochet. It combines the fiber and beads to create jewelery, bags, amigurumi, show pieces etc. Bead crochet became popular in the 1800s. The advances in glass science and the availability of fine hooks helped the bead crochet to improve. http://www.beadwrangler.com/samplers/crochet1/crochet_history.htm Crochet Guild of America’s annual conferences offer bead crochet classes

Bead crochet can be used to make interesting items like small animals such as octopus and snakes. It can be used for making bracelets, earrings, pendants and other accessories. Bead crochet can be used to make Christmas decorations like small decorated trees.http://beadcrochet.com/update_news.htm

The beads are strung on the crochet thread before starting crocheting. Bead crochet ropes are made using the foundation chain and single chains. If there is any pattern for the beads to appear in the finished piece, then it must be followed while stringing. It will be difficult to make corrections once you start crocheting. Alternatively, you can stitch the beads on the crocheted item. Doing cross stitch on a single crocheted piece using colored seed beads is another method to embellish the crocheted item. In this method, be sure to use the same thread used to crochet for beading also. http://www.craftstylish.com/item/8065/how-to-cross-stitch-on-single-crochet

String the beads to the crochet thread. While purchasing the beads, make sure the beads can be strung on the crochet thread. You may want to take a piece of Crochet thread which you intend to use to the bead store to check this. Steel crochet hooks are recommended for crocheting with thread. If you need to add more beads after starting the crocheting, then cut the thread and string the beads. Then attach the new thread to the crochet piece and continue. If you are using pony beads, yarn can also be used. If crocheting with beads already strung, then make sure all the beads are coming to the same side of the work.