Huge collection of FREE graph seed bead patterns! Free charts can be used for flat brick stitch, peyote stitch, gourd stitch, seed bead earring patterns, charms, pendants, and bead bracelet patterns--hundreds of free beading patterns by pattern design artist Jen Tennille.
Single Needle Ladder Stitch 2 Drop Bead Technique
Base Row Technique For Brick Stitch Beading
Brick stitch must have a foundation to build from. There are several ways to create a base row, also known as a foundation row, with beads. In this tutorial, you will see how to create a Single Needle Ladder Stitch with a 2 Drop bead technique to create the first row of your bead pattern. This is a very easy beading stitch to learn and use. It is created by sewing beads together so they align side by side with the holes of the beads on the outside rather than facing each other (like they would when simply strung together). The Single Needle Ladder Stitch is the most commonly used beading technique to create a base row for brick stitch beading, as well as for the herringbone stitch and several other popular beading stitches. The Single Needle Ladder Stitch is also the most common stitch used to increase rows in brick stitch at the beginning and ending of rows. This stitch can be used to bead bracelet and necklace chains as well, rather than just stringing the beads. There is more thread support in the ladder stitch than there is in strung beads. This beading technique can be done with just about any type and size of bead. However, disk beads, beads with multiple holes, and triangular beads are very challenging bead shapes to ladder stitch. Tube shaped beads, annular shaped beads (like Miyuki Delicas), barrel beads, cylinder shaped beads, crow beads, and cube beads work well with the ladder stitch.
You can watch the following video or scroll down to see the individual slides of how to create a single needle ladder stitch base row for brick stitch beading with the single bead technique.
The Single Needle Ladder Stitch Single Bead technique tutorial is part of an educational video series on brick stitch beading techniques. Scroll down to view each step. Click on the images to view them larger.
Step 1: String the first two bead stacks (four beads) of your base row.
Single Needle Ladder Stitch 2 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 1
Step 2: Slide the beads to the end of your thread. Leaving a tail of thread about 6 inches long, tie a square knot and pull it tight enough so the bead stacks line up side-by-side.
Single Needle Ladder Stitch 2 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 2
Step 3: Thread the needle up through the first stack of beads.
Single Needle Ladder Stitch 2 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 3
Step 4: Thread the needle down through the second stack of beads.
Single Needle Ladder Stitch 2 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 4
Step 5: String the next two bead stack in the base row.
Single Needle Ladder Stitch 2 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 5
Step 6: Thread the needle down through the previous two bead stack and pull the thread taught.
Single Needle Ladder Stitch 2 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 6
Step 7: Thread the needle up through the two bead stack just added and pull the thread taught.
Single Needle Ladder Stitch 2 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 7
Step 8: String the next two bead stack of the base row.
Single Needle Ladder Stitch 2 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 8
Step 9: Thread the needle up through the previous two bead stack and pull the thread taught.
Single Needle Ladder Stitch 2 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 9
Step 10: Thread the needle down through the two bead stack just added and pull the thread taught.
Single Needle Ladder Stitch 2 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 10
Step 11: String the next two bead stack of the base row.
Single Needle Ladder Stitch 2 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 11
Step 12: Thread the needle down through the previous two bead stack and pull the thread taught.
Single Needle Ladder Stitch 2 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 12
Step 13: Thread the needle up through the two bead stack just added and pull the thread taught.
Single Needle Ladder Stitch 2 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 13
Step 14: If you have more two bead stacks to add to your base row, repeat from step 8.
Single Needle Ladder Stitch 2 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 14
Ladder Stitch Beading Tips:
-If you feel the beads are too loose and wish to further reinforce the ladder stitch, simply pass the needle and thread back through the row, down one bead, up the next bead until you are back at the beginning of the row. After doing this, the beads will be closer together and more straight; the threading will be much tighter and stronger.
-You can create small beaded beads and beaded links with the ladder stitch by joining the ends of your row together as a component to a larger beaded piece, like a necklace or bracelet. Starting with step 12, thread the needle down through the first bead of the ladder stitch row. Then, thread the needle up through the last bead of the to join the ends. Repeat this again to reinforce the join. Now you have made a ladder stitch loop that can be used as a bead or a chain link.
-The ladder stitch is used to make the popular beaded wrap bracelets that are sold in most trendy mall stores.
