How can I keep my beads from flopping over?

Beads are round, at least most of the beads used in cross-stitch are round and by their very nature, will not sit up straight on a flat surface. I know that is what beads do, so it doesn’t bother me, but I recognize that it does bother other stitchers.

If the bead are all in a row, they are less likely to flop over – they tend to nestle together. To make sure they do stay together in nice neat rows, you can do the following. Working from left to right, attach each bead with a single half cross-stitch. At the end of each row from right to left, and go down at the end of the row. Then go on to the next row.

For single, isolated beads, many stitchers are now using a complete cross-stitch to hold them in place. Beads attached in this manner appear to be less prone to flopping over.

One final tip – make sure that the beads you are using are the right size for the fabric you are using (or visa versa). If you change the count of the fabric from that which is recommended, you may need to change the size of the beads. Unfortunately, all colors of beads do not come in all sizes, so forewarned is forearmed.

Information from Cross Country Stitching Magazine columns "Ask Judie" - Judie Solomon, Thistle Needleworks & "Carol’s Crafty Corner" - Carol Rice, The Craft Menagerie

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