Taking a Step Back
Before I head into Tubular Herringbone variations, I want to share one more flat work technique with you.
I have always started my flat herringbone with a Ladder Stitch base of beads.
Imagine my surprise, when I discovered there is a traditional way to start the bead work.
If you take a close look at the photo above, you will notice that the bottom row of the bead work is identical to the top row.
There are no thread bridges connecting the beads of each stack or column.
I found the directions for this technique in the 2019 Bead and Button Bead Stitching Handbook.
But I will warn you up front, it is a fussy and fidgety little technique but once you get the hang of it, it is pretty unique.
The Bead Weaving 101 is a series based on my review of the Bead & Button 2019 Bead Stitching Handbook.
Read my book review here.
Read the Intro post to this series, here.
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I decided to delay this post, until we covered Odd Count Herringbone.
Because, as you will soon see, the technique for working the two end columns are the same as you work the odd columns in Odd Count.
In this technique, you begin by picking up all the beads the first two rows.
Before we start, let’s look at the beads.
Tools and Materials
Since this is a practice lesson, you really need very few beads and supplies.
If you use the recommended two colors of beads, it may make it easier for you to see the thread path in the beginning.
- 2 Colors – 11/0 or 8/0 Seed Beads
- Size 10 Beading Needle
- 2-3 feet of Beading Thread
- Stop Bead
- Scissors/Thread Burner
The Process
Here is a diagram, that demonstrates the process of this start.
As you can see, we start by adding a Stop Bead to the thread.
Next we pick up an even number of beads in multiples of four, shown here in the paler color.
In the first sample:
With a Stop Bead in place, I pick up four Color A – eight Color B and four Color A.
Leave yourself at least 3-4 inches of tail thread.
As you work the third row, the thread pulls up from the tail end of the bead work.
Due to the fussy nature of this technique, I found it somewhat easier to lay the beads on my bead mat as I begin to work the third row.
As you add the Row 3 beads, the beads initial beads will form into the V shape of the first 2 rows.
Pick up a color A bead and pass the needle back through the last bead on the row – skip over two beads and pass through the fourth bead on the base.
Try to be patient with the bead work. It will have a tendency to flip around and pull out of shape.
When you tighten the beads into the V shape, pull on the working thread instead of the tail thread.
From here, we pick up two beads.
Pick up the color you are exiting first, followed by the color you are entering.
Sew through the next bead, skip over two and into the next bead.
Repeat the steps to the end of the row.
In the next stitch you will pick up 2 color B.
In the last stitch, pick up a Color B and then Color A.
Sew through the last bead of the row and not the stop bead.
The Last Column and Turn Around
Pick up two Color A beads and drop them to the bead work.
Skip the last bead and sew back through the first one. This will be the one closest to the bead work.
Pull the beads into tight position.
In the next steps, we will further tighten the base beads into the familiar herringbone v shape.
Notice in the picture below, that the beads of rows 1 and 2 sit at the bottom of the v, and that thread bridge sits in the center of the v.
Step up through the top bead of the next column.
Pick up two beads, the color you are exiting and the color you are entering.
Sew down through the top bead of the next column.
Step up through the top bead of the next column.
Repeat the steps above to the end of the row.
Repeat the steps above for the last column and the turn around.
As you add more rows, the v- shaped columns become for uniform and properly shaped.
Below is a short video of the process, I just changed up the beads on the initial pick up.
Please excuse the fumbling and fussing, but I did warn you from the start that this process is quite the stickler. Haha.
Hopefully between the video and the photos/instructions above.. you will get the hang of it in no time.
In the next post, we will be headed back to Tubular Herringbone.
We have taken a close look at this technique before in the Twisted Orchard Bangle Series
In the next few posts, we will get back to the basics and add a few new advanced options to our bead stitching repertoire.