Marjorie J McDonald for What Is Beading
Bead embroidery can be one of the most expressive, most satisfying methods of bead work you will do.
You can use any fabric that you can get a needle through. Bead embroidery has been around for generations and is highly valued in the haute couture fashion world. Amongst the most re-known wedding dress featuring beading on fabric is of course Princess Diana’s wedding dress. Beads on fabrics look great not only on dresses, gowns and in fashion but also add that ‘something extra’ on bags, hats, shoes, and belts.
Basic Beading requires only a needle, thread and beads. There are just two stitches to learn: a stop stitch and a running stitch.
Materials:
(1) Beads you can sew most beads to fabric. You can use seed beads because they are small and sit well on fabric. There are many choices to select your beads from so be creative. Here are a few choices. Delicas, Czech seed beads, Japanese seed beads, larger beads.
(2) Beading Needle these are longer and thinner than regular needles so they can go through small beads like seed beads. However, they are weaker than most needles so they can bend and break more easily.
(3) Beading thread you can buy special beading thread (usually nylon) that is coated and specially protects the thread from fraying, knotting and tangling. I prefer regular sewing thread in the same color for the entire project so it does not distract from the design.
(4) Fabric you want to bead.
Things to remember about beading fabric:
Stitches should be secure but not pulled overly tight or left too loose. Maintain an even tension.
Placing project in an embroidery hoop helps you keep the tension (how tight you pull the stitches) more even preventing puckering or wavy work.
Mark placement of design with chalk pencil or a water soluble marker.
Take a back-stitch every one or two inches to secure. When you do this if any thing happens to break a bead or the thread, only a few stitches between the back-stitches will come out, rather that the entire line of beads.