Crafts : Tools / Equipment : Beaded Quilts : Home & Garden Television

Beading specialist Nancy Eha shares basic beading know-how—a technique sure to add sparkle to any quilt.

Materials:

Japanese glass seed beads*
silamide thread
#12 sharp needle
drawstring coil
*Japanese beads permit the needle to pass through several times because of the larger opening.

Test beads for colorfastness:
- Place one set of beads in a small bowl of water and add a couple drops of dishwashing detergent and let set for two or more hours.
- Strain the beads and allow to dry.
- Compare the soaked beads to a standard set of beads--use beads that do not fade or discolor.

Thread and needle tips:
- Compress the thread fibers together between your fingers and cut at an angle to thread the needle. Stitch with double thread.

Figure A

Figure B

Beaded stop stitch
1. The stop stitch method utilizes two beads at a time (figures A and B).
2. With the threaded needle, push the needle up from beneath the fabric, place the larger bead onto the threaded needle and allow the bead to slide down to the fabric. Place the smaller bead onto the needle and push, if needed, next to the first bead.
3. Pass or thread the needle through the larger bead (or the bead closest to the fabric) only and pull taut from beneath the fabric.
4. Repeat until the desired design is completed.

Figure C

Beaded backstitch (figure C)
1. With the threaded needle, push the needle up from beneath the fabric and add three beads.
2. With the threaded needle, pierce the fabric beneath the beads, bring the needle up between the first and second bead.

Figure D

3. Stitch through the second and third bead (figure D).
4. Repeat until desired effect is completed.

Figure E

Motifs and words (or signing a quilt)
1. Write words or create a design on tissue paper (figure E) and pin to fabric.
2. Employ the beaded backstitch technique.
3. Guide the beads with the needle and thread for desired placement of beads and tear off the tissue paper.

Figure F

Nancy Eha's coil method (figure F)

The detail on this hat was created using the coil beading method.

Figure G

1. Baste stitch the coil onto the fabric (figure G).

Figure H

2. Attach a series of beads to cover the coil (figure H).
3. Continue attaching series of beads till the coil is completely covered.

Resources
Off the Beadin' Path: Discovering Your Own Creative Trail of Bead Embellishment
by Nancy Eha
2nd EditionCreative Visions / Nancy Eha
Website: www.beadcreative.com

Silamide thread and Lacy's Stiff Stuff beading foundation and craft medium
Creative Visions / Nancy Eha
Website: www.beadcreative.com
Guests
Nancy Eha
Author, teacher and owner of Creative Visions
Order copies of Nancy Eha's book directly from her Website
Website: www.beadcreative.com
Also in this Episode

Simply Quilts : Episode QLT-536
•	New England Quilt Museum
•	Beaded Quilts

Crafts

Beaded Quilts

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