3 Bead Embroidery Hacks You Need to Know

Introducing guest blogger Cassie Steele who edits a stitching and sewing website, stitchandsew.net. She noticed the connection between embroidery and bead embroidery, and has shared this article with me. If you're new to sewing in general, check out her site -- it has great information especially for beginners.

Kim's bead embroidered felted bag

3 Bead Embroidery Hacks That You Need To Know
Embroidery is a big fashion trend nowadays as it’s in everything from blouses, jackets, jeans, bags, and even high-end sneakers. The trend is an homage to the 70’s as it can be seen in colorful florals to insect motifs on both couture and high street offerings. Celebrities have been spotted sporting the trend - model of the moment Bella Hadid has been seen in full bohemian mode wearing embroidered jeans.

​Oscar-winner Brie Larson has also been photographed wearing an embroidered floral bomber jacket, proving that this trend can work as part of casual wear. If you’re handy with a needle and thread and looking to add some spice to your outfits, elevate the trend by doing bead embroidery. It’s a great way to add some color and sparkle to your clothes and accessories, and you’re sure to love how decadent your piece looks. Here are a few bead embroidery hacks that you need to know.

Bead embroidered jeans

Gather the right supplies
If you’re just beginning to sew or embroider, the first thing that you have to do before adding detail to your jeans is to gather your supplies. You will need beads, thread, needles, a backing material, and a foundation material. You will have to stitch the beads onto a fabric foundation which can be anything from leather, suede, or faux leather before you can put the finished design on your clothes or accessories. The backing protects the back of your design by covering the embroidery stitches and protecting the beadwork. Moreover, using backing material is important as it protects your skin from getting scratched by the bead and makes your clothes more comfortable to wear.

A little advance planning goes a long way

Don’t stitch at an angle
How you stitch makes a big difference in how your design will turn out. If you don’t keep the needle straight when you insert it in your foundation material, the beads may bunch up or crowd against each other or will be spaced too far apart. It may be difficult to do this at first, but try and keep your needle straight to get a clean and even bead design. If you’re a beginner, you may want to practice doing a few hand sewing projects first to train yourself not to stitch at an angle.

Keep you stitches even

Don’t stitch too tight or too loose
Stitching too tightly can cause your fabric to bunch up. On the other hand, stitching too loose can cause your beads to go in different directions and make your design look messy and unfinished. Adjust the way you stitch and make sure to check your design regularly to ensure that the beads are where they’re supposed to be.
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Doing bead embroidery is a great hobby and a unique way to make your outfits stand out. Practice before doing your final design and have patience as you complete your project. Before you know it, you’ll have a sparkly, colorful piece that you’ll be proud to wear.

Create your own sparkle!