How to Sew Wedding Beads

Beads can be added to your veil for a touch of flair.

Wedding gowns and veils can be embellished with beading to add a handmade touch. You can add pearls, rhinestones or glass or crystal beads to any area on a dress, veil, accessories or wedding decorations once you've mastered the sewing technique. You should have a basic understanding of sewing before attempting to sew beads, so practice on scrap fabric before attempting to embellish wedding items.

Things You'll Need

• Wedding fabric
• Tissue paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Needle
• Thread
• Assorted beads
• Washcloth

Instructions

1. Lay tissue paper over the fabric you'd like to bead. Pin the tissue paper onto the fabric -- you will be creating a pattern using the tissue paper, which is easiest to do when the pattern paper is attached to the fabric.

2. Sketch the beading design you'd like onto your tissue paper. Use bridal magazines, photographs or wedding supply stores for inspiration. You can mark where you'd like each bead to be using an "X."

3. Thread your needle with about 2 feet of thread. Pull the thread through so you have an equal length on either side of the needle. Tie a knot in the ends of the thread.

4. Feed the needle through the backside of the fabric and tissue pattern at your first "X." Pull the thread all the way through until the knot catches at the back of the fabric.

5. Thread the needle through your first bead and pull the bead down the fabric. Push the needle back through the front side of the fabric and pattern right next to your entry hole.

6. Repeat this process of coming up through the fabric, threading the beading and going back down through the fabric once more to anchor the bead in place.

7. Add your next bead in the same manner as Steps 4 to 6. Continue adding beads in sequence until you have completed the design.

8. Tear the tissue pattern away from the fabric gently. To make the process easier, moisten a washcloth with water and then dab the damp cloth on the tissue paper. This will soften the paper and make removal easier.

Tips & Warnings

• For adding individual beads, loop the thread twice through your bead (Steps 5 and 6) and then tie the thread in a knot at the back of the fabric. Snip the loose ends. Be sure to use a thread that matches the fabric.

References

• Do It Yourself Weddings: Instructions for Making a Bridal Veil
• Sew for Dough: Beads on a Gown -- Removing and Reattaching