Beaded Shell Chain Stitch Tutorial

Beaded Shell Chain Stitch is a fun and interesting stitch if you bead it you can have even more fun! If you need a reminder on how to work Shell Chain you will find my tutorial here.

To work this stitch use a size 26 tapestry needle. Since the eye of a tapestry needle is long you can thread cotton perle #8 and cotton Perle #5 through the long eye. However, the needle itself is thin, which means you can add a bead to your working thread as you stitch. The Beading is NOT done afterwards but during the stitching process.

You commence the beaded version of this stitch the same way you start to regular version with a small chain stitch.

Thread a bead on your working thread. As with regular shell chain insert your needle to the right of the first chain stitch. Bring the needle up through the fabric to the left side of the line, as illustrated. Wrap the thread under the needle point and pull the needle through the fabric.

This forms the first beaded shell chain stitch.

To continue down the line, adding beads as you go.

You can vary the number of beads and create patterns in the beading by skipping beads.

Thread Twisties!

Experimenting with different threads can be expensive. You would normally have to buy a whole skein of each type of thread. My thread twisties are a combination of different threads to use in creative hand embroidery. These enable you to try out stitching with something other than stranded cotton. For the price of just a few skeins, you can experiment with a bundle of threads of luscious colours and many different textures.

These are creative embroiders threads. With them, I hope to encourage you to experiment. Each Twistie is a thread bundle containing silk, cotton, rayon and wool. Threads range from extra fine (the same thickness as 1 strand of embroidery floss) to chunky couchable textured yarns. All threads have a soft and manageable drape. Twisting them around a needle makes experimental hand embroidery an interesting journey rather than a battle.  Many are hand dyed by me. All are threads I use. You may find a similar thread twist but no two are identical.

You will find my thread twisties in the Pintangle shop here.