How to Bead Letters

You will need a stencil slightly larger than the letter size you want to bead.

You can add style to any outfit or home accessory by lettering the item. Adding one letter, a word or even a phrase can set the mood of any atmosphere. You can bead these letters making them sparkle and giving them a touch of class. Beading letters simply brings a bit of homemade charm into your life. You will easily bead letters from A to Z in just a short time of practicing this art.

Things You'll Need

• Letter stencil
• Pencil or fabric marker
• Embroidery hoop
• Quilting thread
• Quilting needle
• Seed beads
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Mark a straight line across your fabric piece or clothing item for the letter placement. Mark the center point of the item on this line. If beading more than one letter, count the amount of letters and spaces and divide by two to find the center of the lettering.

2. Place the stencil of the central letter in the center of your marks on the fabric, lining the bottom of the letter with the straight line going across. If the number of letters is an even amount, place each of the two center letters on their appropriate side of the center mark.

3. Trace around the letter stencil, marking the item. Place the stencil for the appropriate letter next to the center letter(s). Trace around the letter stencil, marking the item. Work outwardly from the center letter(s), making sure to space the letters evenly across the item, until all letters have been marked.

4. Thread the needle with the thread and tie the two ends together into a knot. Place the item to bead into an embroidery hoop.

5. Place the needle through the left-hand bottom edge of the letter, coming up from underneath. Pull the needle and thread up to the front side of the work. Thread enough seed beads onto the needle to fill in the letter straight across. Place the needle down through the right-hand side of the letter. Pull needle and thread through to the underneath of the work.

6. Place the needle up through the left-hand side of the letter just a beads width above the first row of beads. Pull the needle and thread up to the front side of the work. Place the appropriate amount of seed beads onto the needle. Place the needle down through the right-hand side of the letter. Pull needle and thread through to the underneath side of the work. If the letter has two sides to fill-in with beads, such as an "H," fill in the left half and then the right half of the row from underneath.

7. Work the beading from left to right and from bottom to top for a uniform look. Continue working until the letter is completely filled in. Finish the beading by placing the needle down through the right-hand side of the letter. Pull the needle and thread through to the underneath side.

8. Turn the work over to the underneath side. Place the needle through a small portion of fabric just under the beading and pull until you have a small loop of thread. Place the needle through the loop and pull to make a tight knot. Knot the work at least two or three times to secure the work. Cut the thread leaving 1/2 inch on the work.

9. Continue only if the letter(s) are very large scale. Re-thread the needle and tie both ends together. Place the needle up through the top left corner of the letter. Pull the needle and thread through to the top of the work. Bring the thread straight down over the bead work and place needle into the bottom of the letter. Pull through to the underneath side. Work this thread down between the beads on the letter to hide it.

10. Place the needle up through the top portion of the letter about 1/2 inch away from the first stabilizing thread. Work the same as the first stabilizing thread. Continue working all the way across the letter until complete. Pull the thread to the underneath of the work and knot the thread as before. Cut the thread off leaving 1/2 inch of thread on the work.