Candy Garden Necklace

I scored some pretty little glass flower beads from Shipwreck Beads in WA.  I decided a seed bead embroidery would be the perfect background.  This technique is quite simple.  Of course, smaller pieces like pendants could be made more quickly. 

Step 1:

Basic beading supplies are needed.  I use 00 nymo, doubled, and size 12 beading needles.  Size 10 would work, too.  I stitch on heavy weight non woven interfacing.  Water erasable pens work well for drawing your design. 

Cut a 36" length of nymo.  Gently stretch it for a few seconds.  This relaxes it and keeps it from stretching after it  is sewn.  Then draw the thread through some conditioner a couple times.  I use thread heaven.  It really reduces tangling.

Work 3 or 4 backstitches to anchor the thread, come up at your starting point, and pick up 4 seed beads.  I have photo step by steps showing how the beads are stitched down.  Stitch down the 4 beads along the design line.  Stitch back up through the interfacing, coming up between the middle two beads.  Run needle through last two beads, snug up the stitch and pick up 4 more beads.  When you are through with a line or area, run a double thread through all lines of beads.  Begin and end all threads with 3 or 4 back stitches.

Comments

[love4pds]

I learned from you instructable and this is what I came up with. My biggest problem was the edging. I could not get the beads to sit consistently one direction partly because I used spare cotton sheet fabric that wasn't as thick as your fabric? I think also the darn beads were different sizes. They are glass beads. If you see anything that I need correcting on please answer. I made it into a pendant and painted the back and mod podged it. Turned out pretty anyway and not too long to do in small bites. I can NOT imagine doing something so large though, WOW!! Yours is beautiful and thanks for sharing.

[debdegraeve]

You can get special material for bead embroidery. It is called Lacy's Stiff Stuff. I use the heavy weight pellon interfacing because I use a lot of it in the sewing I do and have a lot around, and think the other stuff is too expensive. I back it with felt to give the edge the thickness and stability to keep the beads lined up.

I really pick through the seed beads. There are always beads a little bigger or a little smaller than most in the box. I use these in situations where I need less or more than a bead to fill a space.

Even though I did not paint the back of this piece, I usually do. It is good stability for the piece. I think the mod podge is a good idea. It looks to me like you got the beads on the edge lined up pretty well. If I space the beads too closely, they do not lay flat. I broke a bead out of the Candy Garden Necklace because I had too many in the line and it was all buckled up.

I really like what you did. Thank you for sharing. Deb

[love4pds]

Do you use the felt after doing the bead work just for the edging or do you use it for the whole project?

Thanks again.
Conny

[debdegraeve]

I use heavy weight non woven interfacing for the main part of the bead work. It is sturdy and you can easily draw your design on. And I have a lot of it laying around. The felt is used to cover the threads that will inevitably show from the embroidery, and is only stitched on around the edge. I think the felt would be too thick for seed beads. It gives a good bulk around the edge for the bead edging. A tightly woven cotton fabric would work well, too. There is a product called Lacy" Stiff Stuff that is made for bead work. I have not used it. Honestly, I think it is expensive and prefer to use what I already have.

I hope this helps. I enjoy seeing pictures of your work. Deb

[love4pds]

oops
dont know how that happened!!

[emilyvanleemput]

great great great great great great great great great great project

[susanchen2011]

It needs patience. admire you.

[love4pds]

Amazing Necklace! Love the colors and design. I voted :)

[debdegraeve]

Thank you for your vote! I know the pastel colors are not always popular, but I seem to gravitate toward them. I am glad to hear others like them, too. Deb

[scoochmaroo]

This is insane! What a lot of work. Gorgeous!

[debdegraeve]

I am a little neurotic about tiny beads. The colors and textures lure me in. What can I say? Deb