Beading Basic Stitches  

Beading can be really fun and it is not at all difficult if you get your basics right. Beading basic stitches basically requires the knowledge of a few of the basic rules as well as the basic stitches. After you have learnt this, you could go on and learn the more intricate designs or even form the complex designs on your own. Here are a few of techniques with the help of which you can not only make the basic rows, but also learn how to make increasing and decreasing rows, with the help of basic beading stitches.

One of the most important aspects of beading stitches is the thread tension. The thread tension basically refers to how tight the beading stitches are. If the stitches are too tight the thread can break, or they could buckle. However, if your stitches are just right, that is, they are not too tight or too loose, the cloth will lie flat and your beading stitches would enhance the design pattern.

Getting Your Supplies Right: To start practicing the beading basic stitches, you would require thread, beading needles of various sizes, beeswax or thread conditioner and beads.

When buying beads, it is best to choose seed beads of size 10. Since there are a whole lot of sizes of seed beads available in the market, it is best to go in for size 10 as these are not too big or too small; in fact, these are just perfect for beginners as they allow you to understand the accuracy and intricacy that is involved in the stitches.

Starting Beading Basic Stitches: After you have threaded the needle, you could run the thread through beeswax or thread conditioner. The thread that you choose should be preferably 20 inches long. Running the thread through beeswax or the thread conditioner will only ensure that your thread is smooth enough and will also add strength to the thread.

Start Beading: It is recommended that you do not tie a knot at the end of the thread. You would first have to needle one bead. Now, because there is no knot at the end of the thread the bead will fall off the other end, to avoid this, you will need to pass the needle again through the same end of the bead, and thus form a loop over the bead. Thus, your bead would not fall off the thread now. After you have done this, you would have to repeat it once again on the same bead, so as to ensure that the bead is firmly secured.

The second step of the bead placement is very important. When you have threaded the second bead, it will not stay aligned with the position of the first bead. Therefore, you would have to run through the thread back through the first bead and the second bead. Do this for all the beads that you add.

The only difference for making the second row, decreasing beading stitches is that you would have to pass the thread through the interior of the first rows.

It might sound complex, but when you start beading stitches, you would know how simple it is. All you need to do is “practice”.

To help design projects you may want to invest in some beading software.