Techniques of Beadweaving

Ladder Stitch

Using two needles, one threaded on each end of the thread, pass one needle through one or more beads from left to right and pass the other needle through the same beads from right to left. Continue adding beads by crisscrossing both needles through one bead at a time. Use this stitch to make strings of beads or as the foundation for brick stitch.

For a single-needle ladder, string 2 beads and pass through them again. String 1 bead. Pass through the last stitched bead and the one just strung. Repeat, adding one bead at a time and working in a figure-eight pattern.

Fringe

Exit from your foundation row of beads or fabric. String a length of beads plus 1 bead. Skipping the last bead, pass back through all the beads just strung to create a fringe leg. Pass back into the foundation row or fabric.

Tubular Herringbone Stitch

Begin with a foundation row of ladder stitch. Join the ends together to form a tube. String 2 beads. Pass down through the next bead and up through the following bead. Repeat around the tube. At the end of the round, pass through the first beads of the previous and current rounds to step up to the new round.

Herringbone Stitch

Begin with a foundation row of even-count ladder stitch. String 2 beads, pass down through the second-to-last bead in the ladder, and up through the next bead. String 2 beads, pass down the next bead and then up through the following. Repeat to the end of the row. To end the row, pass back through the last bead strung. To begin the next row, string 2 beads and pass down through the secondto- last bead of the previous row and up through the following bead. Repeat, stringing 2 beads per stitch and passing down then up through 2 beads of the previous row. The 2-bead stitch will cause the beads to angle-up in each column, like a herringbone fabric.

Brick Stitch

Begin by creating a foundation row in ladder stitch. String 2 beads and pass under the closest exposed loop of the found ation row and back through the second bead. String 1 bead and pass under the next exposed loop and back through the bead just strung; repeat.

To decrease within a row, string 1 bead and skip a loop of thread on the previous row, passing under the second loop and back through the bead.

To increase within a row, work two stitches in the same loop on the previous row. For circular brick stitch, work increases as needed to keep the work flat; at the end of each round, pass through the first and last beads to stitch them together, then string 2 beads to begin the next round.

Picot

To make a picot, string three (A) or five (B) beads and weave into the next high bead. This sequence is woven into the gaps of edge beading to create a lacy effect and is sometimes used to transition to decreasing stitches.

A.B.

Right-Angle Weave (Single Needle)

String 4 beads and pass through them again to form the first unit. For the rest of the row, string 3 beads, pass through the last bead passed through
in the previous unit, and the first 2 just strung; the thread path will resemble a figure-eight, alternating directions with each unit. To begin the next row, pass through the last 3 beads strung to exit the side of the last unit. String 3 beads, pass through the last bead passed through, and the first bead just strung. *String 2 beads, pass through the next edge bead of the previous row, the last bead passed through in the previous unit, and the last 2 beads just strung. Pass through the next edge bead of the previous row, string 2 beads, pass through the last bead of the previous unit, the edge bead just passed through, and the first bead just strung. Repeat from * to complete the row, then begin a new row as before.

Right-Angle Weave (Double Needle)

Using one needle on each end of the thread, string 3 beads to the center of the thread.*Use one needle to string 1 bead, then pass the other needle back through it. String 1 bead on each needle, then repeat from * to form a chain of right-angle units (A).
To turn at the end of the row, use the left needle to string 3 beads, then cross the right needle back through the last bead strung (B). Use the right needle to string 3 beads, then cross the left needle back through the last bead strung (C). To continue the row, use the right needle to string 2 beads; pass the left needle through the next bead on the previous row and back through the last bead strung (D).

Tubular Peyote Stitch

String an even number of beads and make a foundation circle by passing through them two more times, exiting from the first bead strung. String 1
bead and pass through the third bead of the foundation circle. String 1 bead and pass through the fifth bead of the foundation circle. Continue adding 1 bead at a time, skipping over 1 bead of

the first round, until you have added half the number of beads of the first round. Exit from the first bead of the second round. String 1 bead, pass
through the second bead added in the second round, and pull thread tight. String 1 bead and pass through the third bead added in the second round. Continue around, filling in the “spaces” 1 bead at a time. Exit from the first bead added in each round.

Crimping

String a crimp tube and pass through the connection finding. Pass back through the tube, leaving a short tail. Use the back notch of a crimping pliers to pinch the tube into a U, leaving a wire on each side of the bend. Rotate the tube 90° and use the front notch to form the pinched tube into a clean cylinder.

Wireworking

To make a simple loop, grasp one end of the wire with round-nose pliers. Holding on to the wire with one hand, gently turn the pliers until the wire
end and wire body touch. Create a 90° reverse bend where they meet.

For a wire-wrapped loop, cut the desired length of wire and make a 90° bend 2" from one end. Use round-nose pliers to hold the wire near the angle and bend the short end up and around the pliers until it meets itself. Wrap the wire tightly down the neck of the wire to create a couple of coils. Trim the excess to finish.

Flat Peyote Stitch

One-drop peyote stitch begins by stringing an even number of beads to create the first two rows. Begin the third row by stringing 1 bead and passing through the second-tolast bead of the previous rows. String another bead and pass through the fourth-to-last bead of the previous rows. Continue adding 1 bead at a time, passing over every other bead of the previous rows.