Midnight Garden - Jacket - Part XXXII

How To Make the Beaded Trim

Thank you for the compliments on the jacket - I appreciate them greatly!

I've shown the beaded trim, and I've certainly stitched plenty of it (finishing tonight or tomorrow!) so I thought I'd show you how it is done. The sample shown below is from the blouse.

Materials:

• Beads. I used seed beads in size 11. A combination of sizes could be used, too for a slightly different effect. The beads can match or contrast with the project or be several different colors. I used both dark metallic blue iris finish beads and silver lined crystal beads for the skirt and jacket, but all silver line crystal for the blouse.
  
• Thread. (This is also an answer for Suzy who wanted to know about the thread I used!) I am currently using Nymo D for this project, but I also use Silamide. For the most part I can find thread that matches my projects, but if I can't I will use good old Coats & Clark, because it comes in so many colors. The only thing with the C&C is that you should run it through beeswax and iron it first to strengthen the thread.
• Needle. I prefer to use what are known as "straw needles" for beading in a size 10 or 11. They are extremely thin, and as you'll see in the photos below, get bent after a lot of stitching. I buy mine from Jean S. Lyle. Those who do a lot of hand appliqué tend to like them, and I find them easier to use for beading than some beading needles. Actually I use them for both beading and appliqué.

Instructions:

• Insert needle into the edge of the fabric, pull thread through and pick up three beads.

• Place needle back into fabric one bead's width away.

• Bring needle up again 1/4" or so away, and pull thread through. The first and last beads should sit next to each other and the middle bead should sit on top. The little group should look like a triangle. The 1/4" distance can be varied so that the bead groups are closer or further away from each other. This is the distance that I used for this project. Pick up 3 more beads and repeat steps to bead across edge.

That's it. It is very repetitive, and can even be sort of boring, but it isn't too hard and looks really nice. All of my edge beading on the jacket and skirt is done, and I'm hoping to finish up the beading on the blouse tonight!

Parting Shot: Snow! Can you believe this snow? Our front yard starts at the bottom of the shovel. There's 3 to 4 feet of snow accumulated in my front yard. One of our poor little young apple trees only has about 2 feet of tree showing and it is taller than I am. I can't even see out of some of my basement level windows, either.