Beading embroidery and cross stitch: adding bling to your projects

Beading embroidery and cross stitch projects doesn't have to be hard, and it can add a wonderful flash of bling to your pieces. This cross stitch tutorial demonstrates the various kinds of needles you can use, how to stitch your beads on and read the pattern, and how to keep your beads from rolling around. Check out the blog post (linked below) for extra tips such as how to wash and care for your beaded projects.
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[@melbaburwell6264]

I just want to say thank you for doing these videos. I'm a beginner cross stitcher. Your videos have taught me how to cross stitch. and this beading is on my tutorial list so when its time for me to learn to do beading, i'll have it. So thank you very much!!

[@peacockandfig]

You're very welcome Melba! 🙂

[@fitchery9315]

Loved that tip for the vacuum! It's gonna save me future suffering lol.

[@peacockandfig]

Hahah awesome, glad to help! 🙂

[@lynnepersson8046]

Thank you so much for your tutorial! It was so easy to follow!! Looking forward to seeing more!!

[@peacockandfig]

Glad it was helpful Lynne! 😊❤️

[@tracyhunter340]

I bought a Millhouse pattern and have been weary about starting it. This video has been very helpful!

[@peacockandfig]

Glad you enjoyed it Tracy! All the beads I feature in the video are from Mill Hill. 😊

[@LaurieEpps]

I love your videos!!!!

[@peacockandfig]

So glad you enjoy them Laurie! 😊

[@veronicahulse1721]

Thank you. I’m doing one of your patterns and this is so helpful. I also watched the metallic thread video and I loved it. Thanks for sharing your expertise.

[@peacockandfig]

Awesome, I'm glad you found it helpful Veronica! I'd love to see your progress, please feel free to post images to the Peacock & Fig Facebook page, or share them in the Peacock Lounge Fb group. Happy stitching! 🙂

[@cindymccracken9029]

Thank you, Dana, this was very helpful. I love your videos

[@peacockandfig]

Thanks very much Cindy, I'm glad it was helpful for you! 😀

[@emmapurplemermaid5227]

Thanks Dana! Always love watching your tutorials they are good :-)

[@peacockandfig]

Haha you're very welcome, glad it was helpful! I just uploaded another tutorial too for a new pattern. :)

[@lucilledusyk3722]

Thank you so much for your input

[@peacockandfig]

You're very welcome! 😊

[@smiler820]

Thank you , very helpful 😃

[@peacockandfig]

You're very welcome Diana! I forgot to include information about the care of your beaded projects in the video itself, but I did include some information in the blog article that's linked in the video description in case you wanted to know. 🙂

[@stephaniedean5950]

Thanks Dana, Your videos and blogs are always my go to for new techniques. Just a little tip I have picked up is you can use a little bit of E6000 or superglue on the cheap metal needle threaders to give them a little strength

[@peacockandfig]

Haha you're welcome Stephanie, glad the tutorials help! Ironically I tried glueing a cheap needle threader with epoxy once, which should be super strong. It worked so well that the wire broke as it was weaker than the glue bond..... 😂😂

[@ozellahardy847]

Hi, I recently saw bead stitching pictures at a house I visited over the holidays. They are so beautiful. Now I want to try! But I have never done cross stitching. Can you tell me how to get started and everything that I will need?

[@peacockandfig]

Hi Ozella! I've done a big roundup of a lot of my tutorials for beginners on my website, it features a lot of the tutorials on KZbin. Cross stitching is one of the simplest forms of embroidery you can learn, it's basically paint by numbers with thread. If you can count to ten and thread a needle, you can definitely learn cross stitch. Be warned though, it can become very addictive, it's very relaxing once you get the basics down. Here's that page for all the basic tutorials you'll need -- peacockandfig.com/2017/05/cross-stitch-for-beginners/ 🙂

[@christineweber1105]

What would you suggest to use to hold your fabric while attaching the beads? Will a hoop work? I’m kind of worried about crushing the beads as I move the hoop around

[@peacockandfig]

Hi Christine! Yes a hoop will work, the beads are tougher than you think. Just be careful, and if necessary you can put a bit of a towel or fabric over the beads that are directly being touched by the hoop. Just make sure to not tighten the hoop crazily tight, or stitch any excess fabric to your project as you're attaching beads... 😂

[@valeriecardwell9816]

Can you recommend a program that I could use? Sorry for all the questions. Thanks so much.

[@peacockandfig]

I don't understand what you're asking Valerie -- a program can't do the beading for you. You must stitch that yourself. If you mean you want your pattern to be bigger so you can read it better, if you have a printed pattern you'd have to scan it in and then zoom in on the scanned images. If it's a PDF pattern, you can zoom in on any PDF reader. 🙂

[@valeriecardwell9816]

@@peacockandfig That's what Iwas asking. I know I have to do the beading. Was just trying to see if I could put it on the computer and enlarge the pattern, so it's easier to see. Thanks. Sorry to be a bother.

[@cltherrien]

That sticky pad you put the beads onto - what makes it tacky and will that get on your bead and thus your cross stitch?

[@peacockandfig]

No it's just the texture of the plastic they use for the mat, there's nothing to come off. 😊

[@cltherrien]

@@peacockandfig Thank you!

[@valeriecardwell9816]

What program do you use for your cross stitching on your computer? Beading seems easier now.

[@peacockandfig]

That would be MacStitch in the video (the PC version is called WinStitch). And glad the tutorial was helpful Valerie! 🙂

[@lucilledusyk3722]

Thank you. I have cross stitched a big picture which took me a very long time and I have some dirty areas. The picture has metallic thread as well and I have a lot of beading to do yet. But I am wondering how to clean my picture and if I should wait to clean it before I finish the bead work. Can you help me? I have googled and googled but no clarification on what to do.

[@peacockandfig]

It depends - if your beads and metallics and floss are colorfast, you can wash it after you're done. You can test some samples to see. Just keep the iron away from the the metallics and beads if you can if you iron it while it's still damp. ☺️

[@lesliereinhardt4908]

I was taught to do a single half stitch to apply the beads when multiple are needed in an area. Although when it was one single bead with no other beads beside it then i should use a complete stitch to anchor the bead. Is that right?

[@peacockandfig]

Hi Leslie! I find a half stitch is plenty secure for the beads, but if you're doing them on something that will be used and touched (like a purse or wallet), I'd do a full stitch to anchor them. 🙂

[@prossi1971]

Thank you for your videos, I have considered using beads lately and you helped with my fears:). May I ask what software you are using please?

[@peacockandfig]

Hi Penny, glad the video helped! I'm using MacStitch and WinStitch (I use two computers when designing, it's the same software for different operating systems). I have some basic tutorials in one of my playlists, they're for a slightly older version but you'll get the idea. :)

[@valeriecardwell9816]

I have a Mirabilia I want to do. Can I up load it to that program?

[@peacockandfig]

No you cannot Valerie -- the program is for designing patterns, you can't load in pre-existing PDFs. The program would do absolutely nothing to help you bead your project, that's all up to you. 🙂

[@FlameGarnet]

Hmmm, I have a question. Usually I do cross stitching in a hoop. However, I want to do a Mirabilia which I haven't done before. But I'm worried about the beading. Can I bead a mirabilia in a hoop? Is there a way to bead big projects using a hoop without crushing the beads I just worked on as I move the fabric to work on a new area?

[@peacockandfig]

Hi Kimberley! I wouldn't worry too much about the hoop crushing the beads, they're more durable than you think. If you're worried though, just get a strip of felt or something soft and put it in between your fabric and the outer hoop, that will cushion the stitching so the beads don't touch the hoop, but still provide enough tension for your fabric to stay taut. 🙂

[@FlameGarnet]

I see, okay I shall do that and not worry tooo much about haha Thanks!

[@peacockandfig]

Welcome! 🙂

[@lucilledusyk3722]

I have never washed any of my cross stitch pictures and I’m afraid that some threads could come loose. Any thoughts on spot Washing?

[@peacockandfig]

Personally I wouldn't, the dirt could just settle into the edges that haven't been wet. I do have a video on hand washing your projects, you definitely don't scrub the stitching so it should be ok. 😊

[@kierraontario197]

Where do u get your beads ?

[@peacockandfig]

Hi Kierra! If you're near a bead shop, they have soooo much selection, your eyes will boggle. :) If not, there are tons of shops online that sell beads. The ones I'm using in the video are size 11/0 Mill Hill seed beads, you can get them from chartingcreations.com, 123stitch.com, etc. You can also get them on Amazon. There are two main sizes of seed beads in their line, the 11/0 and 15/0 (also called petites). The petites aren't recommended unless you're more experienced with beads, they're smaller and will be a little trickier to handle. 🙂 The patterns I'm designing with them all use the 11/0. I hope that helps!

[@janinemurphy345]

I put my tacky stuff in a CD case

[@peacockandfig]

Yeah if you've got one hanging around, it's a great storage solution. 😀

[@lucilledusyk3722]

Why don’t you show how to anchor the thread ?

[@peacockandfig]

It's simply a knot Lucille, you can anchor your thread however you normally anchor your thread (whether it's a knot or using the loop method). 🙂

[@rebeccatreeseed410]

I like Dandelion but don't want to make all those French knots... beads are much better.

[@peacockandfig]

Whatever works best for you, it's great to have options eh! 🙂