Jewelry-Making Techniques

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Beaded Backstitch

Instructions by Sherry Serafini, Bead Embroidery Artist,
Exclusively for Fire Mountain Gems and Beads®
F521

A stitch that is used often in bead embroidery is the backstitch. This stitch is used to frame the components adhered to the beading medium.

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STEP 1
Stringing on Two Seed Beads Pass the needle up through the Lacy's Stiff Stuff™, string on two seed beads (you can use more if you would like). Lay the beads along the edge of the cabochon then pass the needle back down through the Lacy's Stiff Stuff right at the end of the last bead strung.
STEP 2
Passing the Needle Back Up Pass the needle back up from the underside of the beadwork where your first bead was strung.
STEP 3
Passing Needle Back Through Beads Pass your needle through the beads already strung, exiting the last bead.
STEP 4
Stringing on Two More Beads String on two new beads, lay them against the cabochon and tight up against the first two beads stitched into place. Pass the needle down through the foundation against the last bead just strung.
STEP 5
Stringing Two More Beads Come back up between the 1st and 2nd beads originally strung, pass through the 2nd, 3rd and 4th beads again, and string on two more beads.
Continue on in this manner until you have stitched a complete row around the cabochon. Adjust the amount of beads used in the last backstitch so the beads lie in a row; if you string too many they will "pop" up or out of the row.

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