In this Herringbone Stitch beading tutorial, I am going to show you, step-by-step, how to bead the Herringbone Stitch. It is a very easy stitch and not one that you will probably use a lot, but it is good to know how to do it when the pattern requires it. Herringbone Stitch is also called Ndebele Stitch.
Supplies
Step 1 - Ladder Stitch
Before you can begin the Herringbone Stitch portion, you need a "base" to get things started. You usually create a base with ladder stitch. You've probably done this a million times and just didn't know that it actually had a name.
For this tutorial, I am using size 6/0 seed beads.
Pick up 4 size 6/0 Seed beads. Now, go back through the first bead making a loop.
You can go back around to tighten the circle if you want, but since you are going to follow this with Herringbone Stitch, that slanted look is what you need.
Pick up 2 more beads and loop back through the previous 2 beads.
Your thread is coming out through the middle bead, so to continue, loop it back up through the 2 beads you just added.
Pick up 2 more beads and loop back through the 2 beads you just added.
Your thread will be coming out the middle bead, so loop back through the beads you just added.
I’m sure you have the hang of it by now. Add 2 more rows.
Step 2 - Herringbone Stitch
Your thread is now coming out the bottom of the last 2 beads you just added. For each of the next rows you are going to add, the thread will be coming out the bottom of the bead, but we need it to be coming out of the bead above it. You have 3 options:
- Weave the thread around the adjacent beads until it is coming out the top of the end bead.
- Simply go back up through the top bead, leaving the thread exposed as it goes around the outside of the bottom bead .
- Disguise the thread as it goes around the outside of the bottom bead so that it’s not so obvious that you didn’t want to deal with option 1.
Pick up 3 of those size 15 beads and coming around the outside of the bottom bead, go back up through the bead above it.
Looks like you meant to do it that way from the start!
Now for the Herringbone. Pick up 2 size 6/0 and go back down through the bead to the left.
Now come back up through the bead on the left.
The beads will sit in a reverse “V” position. Pick up 2 more beads and repeat across.
Now you have the problem of the thread coming out the bottom of the bead when you need it to come out the top of the bead above it. Pick up 3 size 15’s and go back up through the top bead, going around the bottom bead.
Continue adding rows until it’s the correct length. Wasn't that easy?
For the complete Herringbone Stitch beading tutorial, or if you would like the complete tutorial on how to make this bracelet, then check out my ebook, Beading Basics with Linda.
If you would like to learn a clever way to start Herringbone Stitch without Ladder Stitch first, then check out this video from Jill Wiseman.
