Cross Stitch Beading Instructions

After you've mastered the basics of counted cross stitch, it can be difficult to come up with new ways to improve on the look of your piece. Beading is a simple way to add color, texture and even a bit of sparkle to a cross-stitch project. Even better, you don't need to learn any fancy new stitches or techniques--if you can make a cross stitch, you can bead your work.

Things You'll Need

• Finished cross-stitch piece
• Seed beads
• Embroidery floss
• Tapestry needle (be sure the size is small enough to fit through the beads you've chosen)

Instructions

1. 

   Seed beads are about the same size as a square on Aida cloth, and are easiest to incorporate into a design.

   Decide on the placement of the beads in your design. Beads should be placed over squares on the Aida cloth, not over holes. You can, however, either place them over squares which have been filled in with a cross stitch, or over blank squares.

2. 

   You can match leftover embroidery floss from your project with the beads, rather than buying new ones.

   Select your embroidery floss. If you're attaching a bead to an embroidered square, choose a floss of the same or similar color to the embroidery. If you're attaching a bead to an unembroidered square, select a floss which matches the color of the bead.

3. Attach the bead to the square with a half-stitch. Use a single strand of embroidery floss. Pull the needle and thread up through the fabric, then thread the bead onto the needle and thread and push it back down into the hole diagonal from the entry point. To strengthen the bead, repeat the stitch once or twice, pushing the needle and thread back through the bead each time.

4. Add the rest of the beads to your project. When you've finished beading, tie off the floss.

Tips & Warnings

• Seed beads are the easiest type of bead to use for cross-stitch projects, due to their size and shape. Check your local craft or needlework retailer for seed beads designed specifically for use in embroidery projects.

References

• Better Homes and Gardens: Cross Stitch with Beads
• Cross-Stitching: Stitching with Beads

Resources

• Herrschners: Cross Stitching with Mill Hill Beads (Video)