How to Make a Beaded Chain Stitch

Just as embroidery has been around throughout history, so too has beaded embroidery. While there is not much instruction on this old form of art, it is quickly becoming popular again. While the new pioneers are struggling to comprehend how the ancient Romans, Greeks and Native Americans proceeded, the new generation of artisans are making life simple by converting the regular embroidery stitches to beaded stitches. Here's just one to add to your bead embroidery sampler.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Size 11 seed beads or smaller or delicas
• Fabric (14 aida count)
• needle
• thread
• embroidery hoop
• For beaded chain 2-include bugle beads

Beaded Chain 1

1. There are two ways of performing this stitch. For this one, you will be using 15 beads. Each chain is worked into the next and the first is anchored by the second. To start, thread your needle and place the fabric in the embroidery hoop, keeping it tight, but not stretched out. If you are using Aida or embroidery fabric, please note that the fabric is patterned with small holes. These can be used to assist you in counting and creating your stitches

2. 
    
   Fig 1

   Bring your needle up through the back of the fabric (A), leaving about 2" for a tail. String 15 beads and bring your needle back through your fabric very close to where you brought it up (B). If you are using Aida, use the small holes as a guide. Bring your needle up through one, and back down through the one just to the right. This will make a loop of beads on your fabric.

3. 
    
   Fig 2

   Laying the beads flat on your fabric, bring your needle up from just behind the looped beads(C), string 15 beads and take back down just next to the place where you brought your needle up (D). This will begin to anchor the first chain, and create your second loop.

4. 
    
   Fig 3

   Continue in this fashion, until your chain is complete. When the last chain is made, bring your needle up behind the middle bead in the loop and back down directly across from it, on the other side of the bead/thread. This will put one small stitch over the thread of the last chain and anchor it to the fabric.

5. 
    
   sampler pattern

   Put one stitch between rows if working a sampler.

Beaded Chain 2

6. 
    
   Fig 4

   This variation is done very similar to the first, with the difference being the addition of bugle beads, and the way each chain stitch is anchored.Begin the stitch as above, stringing 7 seed beeds, 1 bugle, 7 seed beeds. Bring your needle back up (C) just inside of the bugle bead on the left and back down just outside (D). Then bring your needle back up on the opposite side of the bugle (E) and again, back down (F).

7. 
    
   Fig 5

   To make the next chain, bring your needle up near the last stitches, on the inside of the bugle bead (G). String your beads and bring your needle back down (H), again on the inside of the bugle bead. Continue with your chain.

8. Another variation in stringing would be to string 2 seed beeds, 1 bugle, 2 seed beads, 1 bugle, 2 seed beads ,1 bugle and finally 2 seed beads. This will give a more square look to your chain stitch. Continue anchoring as described above.

Tips & Warnings

• Your loop/chain stitch size will depend on the size of the beads you use and the number. This is a great stitch as it is easy to enlarge or make smaller.