How to Add Seed Beads to a Cross Stitch Pattern

One of the best ways to accentuate a particularly complex cross stitch pattern is to add seed beads to the cross stitch. One of the best things about adding seed beads to your cross stitch pattern is that you can either add them while you are in the middle of creating the cross stitch, or you can wait until you are done to decide if you want to use the beads.

Things You'll Need

• A needle-a beading needle works best but if you don’t have one, a #28 tapestry needle will work.
• A small painting palette
• Seed beads

Instructions

How to Add Seed Beads to a Cross Stitch Pattern

1. Choose a color of seed beads. The best way to make sure that the seed beads you choose will compliment your cross stitch pattern is to make sure that the beads are the same color as the thread you are using for that particular part of the pattern.

2. Organize your beads. There are really two ways you can do this. You can choose to keep the beads in their original package; this works great if you are only using one color of beads. Or, as an alternative, you can use the compartments of a small painter’s palette to keep your seed beads accessible and organized.

3. If you are adding the seed beads to your cross stitch pattern as you stitch, all you need to do is to thread the bead to the piece of floss that you are using and simply continue stitching. Add beads wherever you feel they are appropriate.

4. If, after completing your cross stitch pattern, you decide that the pattern could be punched up with some seed beading, all you have to do is to use a half stitch to attach a seed bead to your cross stitch.

5. If you feel that your half stitch was not tight enough to keep the bead attached to the cross stitch, you can use a second half stitch to tighten it. Knot the thread at the back of the pattern.