Bead weaving involves using a beading needle to interlace thread back and forth through beads to create a beaded “fabric” that sometimes contains intricate designs. Most bead-woven pieces use seed beads, though other beads can be added as accents. You can bead weave either with or without a bead loom. This guide covers how to weave beads without a loom.
Table of Contents
Creating a Workspace for Bead Weaving
To weave beads, you’ll need the following supplies:
- Thread (Nymo or Silamide is best)
- Beading needles
- Scissors
- Beads
In bead weaving, you’ll often thread the needle through the hole of each bead more than once. Make sure your needle is thin enough to fit through your beads multiple times.
You may also want to consider buying a beading mat, a felt or fleece mat that keeps beads from rolling away and scattering as you work with them.
The Stop Bead
A stop bead uses a standard seed bead to keep other beads from slipping off the thread when you start a bead-weaving project. To make a stop bead:
- String one seed bead using a threading needle.
- Insert the needle back through the bead. Leave a 6″ tail.
- Once the weaving work feels secure, pull the stop bead off the thread.
Daisy Stitch
The daisy stitch creates what looks like a flower with six bead “petals” surrounding a center bead. It usually looks best to use one color for all the “petals” and another for the center bead.
1. With a threaded needle, string four petal beads, then one center bead. Create a loop with the beads on the thread by inserting your needle back through the first petal bead in the opposite direction from which you first threaded it.
2. String two petal beads, then insert your needle through the petal bead that sits on the far side of the center bead. Insert it in the opposite direction from that which you first pulled your thread.
3. Continue stringing “flowers” until your piece reaches the length you desire.
Variations on the Daisy Stitch
You can create variations on the daisy stitch in a few ways. Two of the most popular are:
- Separating the “flowers” of the daisy stitch by stringing a number of beads on the thread between each daisy
- Using beads of different sizes for the petal beads and center bead
Ladder Stitch
The ladder stitch is composed of a series of “rungs,” each of which is made of a stack of seed beads or a single bugle bead (a long, narrow tube bead). The instructions below explain how to make the ladder stitch with seed beads.
1. With a threaded beading needle, string six seed beads, leaving a 6″ tail. Reinsert the needle through the first three beads.
2. Pull the thread. The two short stacks of beads will pull together tightly.
3. Thread the needle through the second stack of beads.
4. String 3 more beads and move the stack to the end of the thread. Then thread the needle around and through the second stack.
5. Thread the needle through the third stack of beads. The thread creates a figure 8 as the needle is threaded up and down through the stacks of beads.
6. Repeat steps 4–5 until the beaded piece reaches the desired length.
Ladder Rung Variations
- Vary width: You can vary the width of your “rungs” by using more than three beads to form each rung.
- Create stripes and patterns: You can make stripes and patterns by choosing different colors for specific beads. For instance, if you made all middle beads blue and outside beads green, you’d make a blue stripe down the center of the stitch.
- Use bugle beads: To make the ladder stitch using bugle beads, just use one bugle bead for every three seed beads mentioned in the previous instructions.
Brick Stitch
The brick stitch, also known as the Comanche stitch, creates a fabric strong enough to stand without support.
1. Form a row of one-bead “rungs” using the ladder stitch. The example shown here uses bugle beads.
2. Add one seed bead to the thread. Insert the needle beneath the thread that links the rungs of the ladder closest to the bead.
3. Thread the needle back through the seed bead. There will now be a loop of thread around the bead. Pull the loop tight and move the bead so it sits above and between the first two rungs of the ladder.
4. Repeat steps 2–3 across the width of the ladder.
5. Turn the beadwork so the part that was facing away is now facing you. To make the triangle shown here, follow steps 2–4 for each row, with one fewer bead for each row.
The triangle example above shows the brick stitch decreasing from one row to another. You can also increase the stitch, making a row that’s wider than the previous one. To increase a row of brick stitch on either end, string two beads (rather than one) at the beginning or end (or both) of the row.
Peyote Stitch
Fabric made from peyote stitch, also called gourd stitch, looks similar to brick stitch fabric but is more flexible. There are many varieties of peyote stitch. The simplest is flat peyote stitch, which has an even number of beads in each row. Make this version of the Peyote stitch by following these steps:
1. String a stop bead, then string an even number of beads. Begin the second row by stringing one bead.
2. Skip the first bead in the previously strung row and insert the needle through the second bead.
3. Continue to add a bead, skip a bead, then insert the needle through the next one until you reach the end of the row. By now three rows will have been created: the beads you just added will be on top, the beads through which you restrung will be in the second row, and the beads you skipped will be in the bottom row.
4. Turn the beaded piece so the side that was facing away from you is now facing toward you.
5. Work across the row, adding a bead and threading through the beads in the top row. Add rows as desired.
Peyote Variations
You can create all sorts of designs using the peyote stitch by varying the color of the beads you use.
Adding Thread While Bead Weaving
The amount of thread necessary to complete most bead-weaving projects is too long to thread on a beading needle; the thread would likely tangle and knot. Working with shorter lengths of thread (about 3 feet) makes weaving easier. However, this means you’ll need to add more strands of thread to the beaded item as you progress. When you come within a few inches of the end of your current strand:
1. Thread your needle with a new length of thread. Leaving a 6″ tail on the new strand, insert the needle through a bead that’s near the tail of the old strand.
2. Weave the new thread through a few beads. Insert the needle beneath the loop of thread that links two beads and pull it through to form a knot.
3. Tug the thread so the nearest bead hides the knot.
4. Continue weaving the new thread toward the tail of the old strand. When the new strand meets the old one, continue the beadwork with the new strand. After several rows of beadwork have been completed (or at the end of the project), rethread the old tail onto a needle and weave it in through other beads to hide it.
Finishing a Bead-Woven Piece
To finish a bead-woven piece, knot and glue the thread, or knot it and then thread it through several beads to secure it. If you’re using findings, finish the piece as required.
