How to Work Beaded Square Stitch

Beaded square stitch is an off loom stitch that gives the look of loomed beading. If you've seen a beautiful loomed design you'd love to work, but don't have a loom, or aren't up to dealing with those warp threads, square stitch may be something you'll want to consider learning.

Square stitch can be worked with the donut shaped Czech seed beads or with the cylindrical Japanese seed bead like Tohos or Delicas. You'll get a different texture with each type of bead and the size will be slightly different.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• seed beads
• beading needle
• beading thread
• scissors

1. 
   Czech seed beads and delica beads

   Select your beads. As I mentioned you can use either Czech or Japanese seed beads, but the holes in them must be large enough to accommodate at least four passes of the thread. All beads will have three passes and some will have four. Trying to force the needle through too small a hole in the bead can result in a broken bead

2. 
   square stitch step 2

   There are two ways to start square stitch. The first one I find suitable for a narrow project. Thread a comfortable length of thread into a needle and tie on a stop bead. Pick up the number of beads in the width of your project.

3. 
   square stitch step 3

   Pick up two beads, pass through the last two beads in row one, then back through the two beads you just picked up. *Pull the slack out of your thread after each addition, but don't tighten it up so much that you can't get the needle between the beads when you work the next row.

4. 
   square stitch step 4

   Pick up one bead and slide it into position. Pass backward through the bead directly below it and the next bead in the previous row, then pass forward through the last two beads in the row you're working. This is called a set and although you only add one bead, four beads are involved in each set. This prevents gaps in your work.
   Continue in this fashion, adding one bead at a time until you've finished the row.

5. 
   square stitch step 5

   Repeat from step 3, adding two beads at the beginning of each row. You can turn your work if you want to, but I find it easier to hold my work vertically and just work up and down on the same side.

6. 
   square stitch alternate start step 1

   The second method of starting is easier for a wide project because you don't have to wrestle with that long string of beads on the first row.
   Start as usual with a stop bead. Pick up four beads and pass back through the first two added making two 2-bead stacks . At this point you can see that your working thread is coming out of the bottom row, and you want it to come out of the top row.

7. 
   square stitch alt. start step 2

   Pass back through one top bead as shown, through one bottom bead as shown and then through both top beads. Now your thread is positioned correctly. This is the only time you'll have to do this figure eight.

8. 
   square stitch alt. start step 3

   Pick up two beads, pass backward through one bottom bead, one top bead and the first bead you added in this step. Repeat this step until you have as many beads as the width of your project calls for.
   
   You now have a stable 2-row start to work with.

9. 
   square stitch alt. start step 4

   Repeat from step 3 adding one bead at a time except at the beginning of each row when you will add 2 beads.

Tips & Warnings

• To add thread weave your working thread into the work in a zig zag pattern for 2 or three rows down and trim off the tail. Rethread the needle, tie on a stop bead and weave new thread up two or three rows and exit the last bead you added and continue with your pattern. Work a row or two before you remove the stop bead and trim the tail.

Resources

• Hand Made Bead Woven Jewelry
• Accessorizing with Beads

[lordjeffrey]

on 7/9/2009 This is extremely well done. I'm bookmarking it. Thanks.