How to Make a Beaded Long or Short Stitch

Some of the most beautiful embroidery contains the long and short stitch. Used mainly as a filler, these simple stitches used in combination can make any project better. Using these stitches with beaded embroidery allows for more detailed shading and for more interesting free form designs. Whether on embroidery fabric or on regular cloth, once mastered, these stitches (sometimes called the satin stitch) will quickly become one of your favorites.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Size 11 seed beads or smaller or delicas
• Fabric (14 aida count)
• Needle
• Thread
• Embroidery hoop

1. 
   Fig 1

   For whatever reason, most patterns will refer to the long stitch first and the short stitch second, even if a row starts with the short first. The stitch itself is simple.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, note that the fabric is patterned with small holes. These can be used to assist you in counting and creating your stitches.In my sample, each long stitch will have eight beads while each short stitch will have four. This can be changed depending on the project you are working on. Pass your needle up through the cloth (A), allowing about a two-inch tail that will be anchored by subsequent stitches. String eight beads onto your thread, laying them flat on your fabric, then pass the needle back down (B).

2. 
   Fig 2

   The short stitch is on the first row only for the purpose of this sampler. To create this stitch, bring your needle up through the fabric(C) , string four beads on your thread, lay the beads flat and bring your needle back down through the fabric (D). The placement should be about 1/2 the length of your first stitch.Continue interchanging the long and short stitches until you have come to the end of your row. At this point, on the back of your fabric, weave your thread under the last stitch's thread and make a small knot. This will prevent your beads from slipping or unraveling.

3. 
   Fig 3

   For the second row, you will be working backwards to the first stitch in your sampler, and only using the long stitch. Bring your needle up through the fabric in the same place you finished your last stitch (A). String eight beads, lay them flat and pass the needle back down through your thread (B). Continue with the long stitch until you reach the end of the row. Knot it on the back as mentioned above.

4. 
   Fig 4

   Continue using the long stitch until you have completed the size of stitches you wish.

5. 
   Fig 5

   If you are creating a square, as for this sampler, you will need to finish it with the short stitches. Skipping each long stitch, use the short stitches to fill in the shortened rows, creating a straight lined, finished edge to your sampler. This combination of stitches can be used to create many different patterns. Experimentation is the key!

Tips & Warnings

• To make the leaf pattern as seen above, start with an slightly curved line of beads (long stitches placed end to end). Working horizontally, attach first short stitches to each side of the line of beads, increasing and decreasing the number of beads you use for each. The center three rows should be long stitches. Then backtrack using short and long stitches, again increasing and decreasing accordingly, to make the leaf shape.