Beads

Lauren Mills·October 04, 2020

It is common for designs to require beads. Beading should be done after the cross stitching and backstitching.

The thread may be beading thread, floss that matches the colour of the bead, floss that matches the colour of the background fabric, quilting thread, or any kind of transparent thread. Each will produce a different effect, with a light-coloured thread brightening the bead's colour and a dark coloured thread deadening the colour.

The needle may be a beading needle or a #28 tapestry needle.

The simplest method to attach a bead is with a half stitch or quarter stitch.

One method to keep the beads from drooping or sliding requires two strands of thread. Attach the bead using a half stitch, coming up through the first hole, through the bead, and down through the second (diagonal) hole. Then, come back up through the first hole, split the two strands of thread around the bead so one goes on each side, and go back down through the second hole.

Another technique, which is said to work well for a row, starts with the beads attached along the row with half stitches. At the end of the row, the thread is run back to the beginning by going through the beads, above the fabric.

Yet another method uses a full cross stitch. Attach the bead using a half stitch, then complete the cross stitch while going through the bead again. The order and direction of the two half stitches determines whether the hole in the bead points side-to-side or top-to-bottom.

October 04, 2020

Signing and Dating

October 04, 2020

Beads

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