An easy method of attaching beads to embroidery

The following method of attaching beads to your cross stitch project is simple but secure. Cross stitch and beading are often used together, but whole designs can be created using just bead embroidery.

Glass Seed Beads can be used as an embellishment or as replacements for french knots.

The most common size used in cross stitch, blackwork etc. is a size 11.0. You will need a thin beading needle and 1 strand of cotton to attach them. (Please note, to make the photography below easier to share with you, I have used a tapestry needle and a large bead.)

Other equipment you might find useful would include either a...

beading mat

or beading board

These prevent the beads rolling around and getting lost. If you do not have either of these then you could use a piece of corrugated cardboard with the "ribs" exposed.

For storing your beads you could use old photographic film containers (if you still have any) or a specialised storage container, such as the ones illustrated on the right hand side of this page which are available from Amazon. IF using the opaque film cannisters I like to tape a sample bead to the top of the pot, so that I can see at a glance what is in it.

Attaching beads with cross stitches

Bring the threaded needle up through the hole which will become the bottom left of the cross stitch. Pass the needle through the bead and take it through the fabric again at the top right as shown in photograph 1.

attaching-beads-step2 (38K)

Bring the needle up again in the bottom right as shown in photograph 2.

attaching-beads-step3 (37K)

Twist the bead slightly so that you can push the needle through the centre hole again. Take the needle back down in the top right hole of the fabric. Photograph 3 shows the work at this stage.

attaching-beads-step4 (27K)

The last photograph in the sequence shows the finished result, which is a firmly attached bead.

Even if a cross stitch design doesn't include beads on the chart there is no reason why you cannot adapt the pattern to include them. Perhaps use them in place of french knots. They make great little eyes for small designs, or how about a teddy bears nose. Oh and of course they are perfect for the centre of flowers. Why not decorate a little Christmas tree with metallic beads.

The following photographs show beading on some of my blackwork designs. On Pearl the beads are sewn in a group to represent her earring. Whereas on the Japanese lady they are used for the centres of the cherry blossom flowers.