How to Make a Beaded Napkin

Vials of seed beads

Beaded napkins help to create an elegant table setting and make beautiful personalized gifts. You can easily make your own beaded napkins for a fraction of the price that you would pay in retail stores. Customize your beaded napkins to fit the theme of your party or to match a particular table setting. You can stitch a monogram or any type of design pattern you like with seed beads, a beading needle and waxed beading thread.

Things You'll Need

• Graphite pencil
• Pattern
• Seed beads, bugle beads
• Waxed beading thread
• Beading needle

Instructions

1. Trace your pattern onto your napkin with a graphite pencil. The pencil marks will wash away with mild soap and water, making this an excellent choice for marking your napkins.

2. Thread your beading needle with up to 2 feet of waxed beading thread. Do not double the threads as you would if you were sewing fabric, but leave a very long tail that you will adjust as you make your napkin. Tie a knot at the longest end of your beading thread. You can find all of the supplies you need to make beaded napkins at craft stores or from online retailers.

3. Insert your needle up through the napkin at the beginning of your pattern. Thread two seed beads or one bugle bead--whichever you prefer--to create your design. Seed beads are very small and can be round, square or rectangular. Bugle beads are shaped like tubes and combine beautifully with seed beads when you are stitching any type of pattern. Both beads appear delicate and are the best choice for making beaded napkins. You can use one style alone or mix the beads together, depending on the shape of your pattern's design.

4. Hold the bead, or beads, against the fabric of the napkin, pulling your thread taut. Insert your needle back down into the fabric immediately beside the bead, following the lines in your pattern. Come back up through the fabric next to the first bead with your needle, and pass through the beads again with the needle and thread. Do not insert the needle back down into the fabric.

5. Thread your next bead, or two beads, onto the needle and insert the needle down into the fabric, following the lines of your pattern. Insert the needle back up through the fabric and the bead or two beads you just stitched.

6. Continue to stitch beads onto the outline of your pattern. End with the needle facing down into the fabric. Tie a secure double knot, and clip any excess thread.

Tips & Warnings

• Soak the beaded napkin in warm soapy water to remove the pencil marks.

• Work with these tiny beads in a well-lit area.

References

• Sewing Seed Beads

Resources

• Beading Supplies