Beading with Square Stitch

Square stitch comes in very handy if you have a pattern that lines up beads both horizontally and vertically, but you don't have a loom (or, like me, hate warping and dealing with all the warp threads when your finished!) Square stitch also has the advantage that because it runs through each bead several times, it makes a very sturdy piece that rarely comes apart. Make sure you use a thread that will go through your chosen beads at least 5 times. I use Fireline 4lb or 6lb. with Delica 11o beads. So here's a basic tutorial in Square Stitch... have fun and Happy Beading! ~Carolyn Easy patterns to try: Desert Song bracelet Monograms for Loom/Square Stitch

Basic Square Stitch

Click the Play button at right to see how it works.

Step 1:
Start by looping around through a "stop" bead, leaving about 6 inches of thread tail. (The stop bead just holds your beads from falling off as you begin. When you're finished with your piece, you will remove this stop bead and weave the tail into the completed piece.) Then, string on all of the beads that make up the first row of your pattern.

Step 2:
String on the first bead of the next row, loop around, and take your needle back through the next-to-last bead. When you pull your thread through, the new bead will sit on top of the last bead in the prior row. Loop up and go through the last bead you added again.

Step 3:
String on the next bead of the row, loop around, and take your needle back through the "underneath" bead in the prior row. When you pull your thread through, the new bead will sit directly on top of the bead in the row below it. Loop up and go through the last bead you added again.

Step 4:
Repeat Step 3 until you come to the end of the row.

Step 5:
When you come to the end of the row, loop down and pass your thread back through the entire previous row. Loop up, and pass your needle back through the row you just did. This will line up all your beads nicely, hold the rows together, and strengthen your piece.

Step 6:
Repeat from Step 2 until you finish your piece. Weave the remaining thread tails back up into your piece, zig-zaging back and forth to secure the thread. Trim. Enjoy!

Increasing in Square Stitch

Click the Play button at right to see how it works.

To increase a row by one bead:

Step 1:
String on two new beads at the end of the row before starting the next row.

Step 2:
Loop around through both beads. This will seat the second added bead on top of the first added bead, beginning the next row.

Step 3:
Continue beading down the new row as normal.

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