Hello Beaders and welcome to Flat Netting Stitch Basics.
If you haven’t read the Intro, you may want to start there. I described netting stitch and it’s many variations. And I provided details about the lessons plans for the Netting portion of Bead Weaving 101.
Today we will start by learning about Flat Netting Stitch. As we work through the beginning steps, you will see why Netting is considered a close relative of Peyote Stitch, which we already covered in great detail.
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Tools and Materials in Today's Lesson
The Bead Weaving 101 Series is based in part on my review of the 2019 Bead and Button Bead Stitching Handbook.
You can read my initial Book Review.
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Before we start....
I have to own up to a few mistakes I made while I was filming the video tutorials for the Flat Netting lessons.
Let me start by telling you how I struggle with the initial pick up of beads when I start a netting project. I don’t know why, but it seems that I start wrong almost every time.
But I don’t let it stress me out because it is really easy to fix as you near the end of the second row of stitching. I simply remove the stop bead, correct the count and then replace the stop bead.
Secondly, I referred to Vertical netting several times as Horizontal netting but if you keep watching, I correct my mistake and go on to explain the difference visually for you.
Bead Count Variations
Speaking of the turning techniques, you can vary the turn any number of ways.
In the video I will be demonstrating how to do three and five bead netting. I demonstrate a particular style of the turn that creates and very pretty and ornate edge to the bead work.
As I discussed in the Intro to Netting, you can vary the netting by changing the number of beads used in the stitches.
In 3 bead netting, you will pick up a 3 bead segment for each stitch. And in 5 bead netting the segment has 5 beads.
When you begin to design on your own, you can vary the look of your project by varying the bead counts. The smaller number of beads in the segment, will produce a smaller open space in the netting and make it more fabric like.
But much like Peyote and Square stitch, you begin by picking up the beads for the full length or width of the bead work before you begin stitching. This brings me to my next topic.
Vertical and Horizontal Netting
There is no shortage of videos available to teach netting stitch and there are also varying opinions on what the difference between vertical and horizontal netting really is.
To the best of my knowledge and for the purposes of my tutorials and lessons, I will tell you how I define the two and how they are different.
Structurally, there really is not much difference between the two.
Vertical Netting is stitched upwards and downwards and the bead work grows to the left or right of the base row, depending on whether you are right or left handed.
Horizontal Netting is stitched from side to side that the bead work grows downwards or upwards from the base row.
The Base Row
When you are working from a pattern or a project tutorial, you won’t have to worry about the initial bead count in the base row, because the instructor or designer will give you that info.
But when you are working on your own design ideas, this can be quite the challenge. At least it is for me.
What I have found to work the best is to begin and end the row with a crossover bead.
Having two or more full stitch segments, such as three bead or 5 bead, plus a half segment works out most of the time without having to remove the stop bead to correct the count.
In the example above, I am using the crystals as my crossover beads so I have started and ended the base row with a crystal.
My 5 bead stitch segment is two 11/0s – a crossover bead – two 110/s. I have three full segments loaded onto the thread separated by crossover beads. In this instance I will have to pick up the additional beads needed to make the turn around to begin the next row.
So let’s jump into the video now so you can get a close look at what I am talking about.
Today Lesson
Quick note – I accidentally referred to Vertical netting as Horizontal a few times in this video, but I go on to explain the difference later on. Please look over the faux paz made in this filming.
Now that you have seen the basics of the technique in the video, I want to expand a little on the turnarounds before I sign off.
I said earlier that the turnaround can vary and with the variations you get a completely different look to the edge of your bead work.
In the next lesson, I will be showing you the variation used in the Bead & Button Bead Stitching Handbook plus how to do a Picot turn and a Pointed turn.
So stay tuned for that as well as lessons on Circular Flat Netting, Tubular Netting and Filled Netting.
I hope today’s tutorial gets you interested in Netting Stitch and that you can begin to create your own beautiful Netting designs.