Bead Work

This post will give you the basic knowledge on different varieties of beads and how to stitch it.

There are different varieties of beads in the market like the sugar beads, cut beads, long tube beads and bunch beads. All these beads are available in different colors and sizes.

Sample pictures of sugar beads, small cut beads (tube beads) and long tube beads are attached below.

Apart from these there are also other beads like rice beads, half beads and more.

For bead work you can use the machine thread of the same color as of the bead color you are using.

Start wit the chain stitch and a small lock chain and a back chain and then start loading the beads. The lock chain and the back chain makes the starting edge stronger, so that the thread does not come out easily.

Use the middle finger to load the beads inside the needle.

Continue to hold the beads with the middle finger.

And then hold the needle straight to 90° so that the beads passes through the thread easily.

Again use the middle finger to push the beads till the edge of the thread and then tight the remaining thread (pull the thread down below the frame) till the beads and then put a chain and start loading the next set of beads and continue the same process of pushing back the beads till it touches the previous beads and then put the next chain. Make sure you load only three beads (sugar beads) at one time. Do not load more beads as the finishing will not be good. The beads will look lose and shape of the design will not be proper. Also make sure there is no gap between three beads as you load three beads for a set. Continue the stitch and complete it as usual with a long chain and put a knot.

Same process to be followed for all the type of beads. Bunch beads are similar to the sugar beads. While using the cut beads either small tube beads or long tube beads make sure you load only one bead at a time.

For video explanation in Tamil check the below video

For video explanation in English check the below video

Activity

Once you learn the beads stitch practise well and try in curves and in different shapes as we have done for the chain stitch.