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 3 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.
Watch the tutorial video:
You can view this video tutorial on YouTube here:
View the individual steps:
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| Single Needle Ladder Stitch 3 Drop Bead Tutorial |
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 three-bead-stacks (6 beads) of your base row.
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| Single Needle Ladder Stitch 3 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 1 |
Step 2: Tie a square knot and pull tight enough that the bead stacks align side by side.
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| Single Needle Ladder Stitch 3 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 2 |
Step 3: Thread the needle up through the first three bead stack and pull the thread taught.
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| Single Needle Ladder Stitch 3 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 3 |
Step 4: Thread the needle down through the second three bead stack and pull the thread taught.
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| Single Needle Ladder Stitch 3 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 4 |
Step 5: String the next three bead stack of your base row.
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| Single Needle Ladder Stitch 3 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 5 |
Step 6: Thread the needle down through the last three bead stack and pull the thread taught.
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| Single Needle Ladder Stitch 3 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 6 |
Step 7: Thread the needle up through the three bead stack just added and pull the thread taught.
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| Single Needle Ladder Stitch 3 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 7 |
Step 8: String the next three bead stack.
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| Single Needle Ladder Stitch 3 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 8 |
Step 9: Thread the needle up through the bead stack before and pull the thread taught.
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| Single Needle Ladder Stitch 3 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 9 |
Step 10: Thread the needle down through the three bead stack just added and pull the thread taught.
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| Single Needle Ladder Stitch 3 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 10 |
Step 11: String the next three bead stack of your base row.
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| Single Needle Ladder Stitch 3 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 11 |
Step 12: Thread the needle down through the previous three bead stack and pull the thread taught.
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| Single Needle Ladder Stitch 3 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 12 |
Step 13: Thread the needle up through the three bead stack you just added and pull the thread taught.
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| Single Needle Ladder Stitch 3 Drop Bead Tutorial Step 13 |
Step 14: If you have more bead stacks to add to your row, repeat from step #8.
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| Single Needle Ladder Stitch 3 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.
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