After experimenting with all types of cross stitches, I thought, why not give it some extra touch? 🤔 That’s when the beaded cross stitch idea came up. It’s easy and fast, like cross stitching, like any types of stitch.
You just gotta,
To do beaded cross stitch by hand, stitch as usual but slide a bead onto the needle before completing each stitch, securing it with the thread.
It looks stunning, right? Ok, let’s teach you in detail.
Table of Contents
How To Do Beaded Cross Stitch?
You need to follow 4 steps to do Beaded Cross Stitch,
- Prepare Needles & Beads
- Positioning Beads
- Bring The Needle On Top Of The Bead To Move The Left
- Repeat & Secure The Beads
First Of All, Let’s Gather Beaded Cross Stitch Kits
Buy some kits online. But since I have everything, so I just gather the stuff. For example,
- Fabric (usually Aida count 14)
- Embroidery floss
- Glass beads
- Beads
- A beading needle
- Pattern chart
Now let’s start the process.
Prepare Needles & Beads
First, I grab a cross-stitch needle and check if it fits through the bead. If the bead easily slides over the eye of the needle, I’m good to go.
But,
A size 28 needle usually works, but I test it just to be sure. A size 26 is too big and won’t fit through.
I switch to a beading needle if my cross-stitch needle doesn’t work. These are long, thin, and flexible. Plus, they’re sharper, which helps when working with dense fabric.
Now, I need a thread to attach the beads. I have two options:
- I can use regular embroidery floss, which blends in well with the rest of my stitches.
- If I want the beads to look more standalone without visible thread, I go with clear beading filament instead.
Once I have my needle and thread ready, I can add beads. You can even add this to the counted cross stitch.
Positioning Beads Vertically
To get the bead to sit vertically, I start by coming up through the fabric at the bottom left, adding my bead, and going back down at the top right. But now, I need to adjust its position just like another method.
Bring The Needle On Top Of The Bead To Move The Left
I want the top of the bead to move left and the bottom to move right.
So, I bring my needle back up at the top left, go through the bead again, and then take it back down at the bottom right. This extra stitch helps lock the bead into place vertically.
If I were stitching in the opposite direction, I’d just flip the process:
- Up at bottom right, down at top left
- Then, up at the top right, through the bead, and down at the bottom left
Repeat & Secure The Beads
Once I’ve positioned my first bead, I need to repeat the process for the rest while making sure they stay secure.
- I bring my needle up through the fabric, add another bead, and stitch it down like before.
- If a bead isn’t sitting quite right, I gently tug my thread to adjust its position before moving on.
To secure the beads,
I can reinforce them with an extra thread pass for extra security, especially if the beads seem loose. This means returning my needle, threading through the bead again, and going down in the same spot.
This double stitch keeps the bead from shifting over time, especially on pieces that will get a lot of handling.
Once all my beads are stitched, I give everything a final look. And that’s it! My beads are secure and perfectly placed.
Beaded Cross Stitch Patterns Free
If that’s exciting to you, here are a few patterns to practice.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ’s)
Can I Add Beads On Top Of Cross Stitches?
Yes! Just stitch the bead directly over an existing cross stitch. Remember that this adds a little bulk, but the bead will mostly cover it up.
Will Beads Stay Secure Over Time?
If you’re worried about beads coming loose, reinforce them with a second pass of thread. Also, be mindful of how you store or wash your finished piece—gentle handling helps maintain the beadwork.
Can I Mix Different Bead Sizes In One Project?
Absolutely! Remember that larger beads will stand out more while smaller ones blend in subtly. Test different sizes to see what works best for your design.
Now It’s Your Turn To Do Beaded Cross Stitch
See how easy it is to do a Beaded cross stitch?
So what are you waiting for?
Just give it a try and share your project with us.
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