Can you give me a few hints for stitching with beads?

Beads can be a lot of fun – they add a marvelous texture to any cross-stitch piece. (I even know a few people who will use beads in lieu of French knots.)

To attach the beads, unless otherwise noted, use a thread color of the fabric. A regular sewing thread us better than embroidery floss – it is stronger – and waxing your thread will make it even stronger. A very fine needle will be needed – a #26 tapestry needle, a #10 crewel needle or a beading needle.

Use a half-cross stitch to attach each bead – if you work that stitch in the direction of the bottom half of your cross-stitches, the bead will lay smoothly in the direction of the top half of your stitches. Anchor the thread well and keep a fairly firm tension on the thread as you work. Where a bead is isolated – away from any other beads – you may want to go through it twice, both times in the same direction. Where you have a row or column of two or more beads, lay each bead in place, and then come up at the middle of the block at one end, run your thread through the entire row of beads and then sink it at the other end. This will assure that all the beads nestle in together and stay in a nice neat row.

Do note in the very beginning that you are using the right fabric for your beads and/or the right beads for your fabric. Mill Hill beads and other glass beads made especially for needlework, are each approximately 1/14” in size, so they work beautifully on 14-, 26-, and 28-count fabrics. Just be aware that if you choose to work on another count of fabric, your beads will be out of proportion.

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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