How to Stitch Beads Around a Stone
Stitching beads around a stone creates an embellishment that can make a stone more attractive and useful. Using a basic peyote stitch to create a ring of beads around your stone requires just a few tools, basic sewing skills and patience. Within no time at all, you will have a stone that you can use to create a piece of jewelry or just admire.
Things You'll Need
- 12-millimeter stone
- Size 11 seed beads
- Size 15 seed Beads
- Size 12 beading needle
- Beading thread
Instructions
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The Foundation
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1
Thread a needle with 6 feet of beading thread.
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2
Start stringing the size 11 beads onto the thread by picking them up with the point of the needle and allowing them to fall within 6 to 8 inches of the bottom of the thread.
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3
Stop when you have enough of the size 11 seed beads on the thread so that the delicas will fit around the largest diameter of the stone.
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4
Run the needle and thread back through the first bead that you put on the thread so that you form a circle.
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5
Once you are sure the circle you have formed fits around the outside of the stone, pass the needle back through all of the beads to reinforce the circle.
Peyote Stitch
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6
After placing the tips of your finger inside the circle to hold the stitching steady, pick up one delica bead with the tip of the needle. Run the needle through one bead of the circle.
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7
Pick up another size 11 bead, skipping over the second bead in the circle. Pass the needle through the third bead.
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8
Proceed around the circle in the same fashion, being sure to skip running the needle through every other bead until you have reached the end of the ring.
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9
Start stringing the size 15 beads to go around the circle in the same manner, being sure to skip every other bead. Once you have completed this row of bead around the circle, repeat the process to form another row.
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10
Place the stone inside of the bezel of beads that you have formed and tighten the bezel around the stone by gently pulling the string.
Finishing
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11
Turn the stone over and repeat the process for the peyote stitch to finish encasing the stone with beads.
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12
Once you have finished, run the thread through several beads in different directions to secure the thread.
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13
Use small scissors to cut the thread so that it doesn't stick out.
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1
Tips & Warnings
After creating the bezel, try adding beads around the edge for embellishment.
A 14-millimeter stone requires about 36 delicas for the starting circle; a 16-millimeter stone needs about 40, and a 18-millimeter stone needs about 46.
Experiment with other small beads to create different looks for your stones.
Using multiple threads can create a weak structure around the stone. Avoid the need to use multiple pieces of thread by starting with a longer piece of thread for a larger stone.
References
- Photo Credit multi-coloured beads, background from beads image by 26kot from Fotolia.com
