Thread: beading onto fabric???

So I just finished my coin costume and I want to start another, and this might sound like a dumb question, but I am not quite sure where to start! I am making a seashell costume and want to add pearls to it and not sure how to 'bead' them onto the fabric? Do I start w/ the needle and come up through the fabric, put on like 2 pearls, go back down through, then come back up do 2 more, ect? I have never done this and I am not sure exactly what to do. LOL

any advice is appreciated

Yup, you pretty much have it. How many pearls you can string at one time will largely depend on what size they are. I usually only string one at a time.

Knot your thread. Pull the needle through the fabric and back down through with no beads. This will help anchor the thread in your fabric. Then start adding beads one at a time (usually).

make sure you are using beading thread, or other nice, strong, sturdy stuff (some people use floss)

if you are beading stretch fabric & you want to maintain the stretch, bead little patches rather than vast areas without stopping.

if your fabric is thin or slinky *at all* you may need to use some stabilizer on the back as well-

There are tons of beading tutorials on the web, but those are the BD costume specific tips that come to mind!

Tie off frequently. You don't have to knot, cut, and start a new thread each time you tie off, but knot every few beads/sequins/pearls/whatever so that if the thread breaks, you don't lose hours of work.

Hey lady. Pearls have small holes. I found that I had to use a beading needle. They're very slim, so you can't go through too many layers of thick fabric with them. So you may need to use a thicker needle to get through the base and then switch to a thin beading needle as you add the pearls. (It really depends on how thick everything is. Also, regular thread is a b!tch to get through the eyes of beading needles.

When I was working on my pearl costume, I used a super fine thread and looped every two bead. Now, I am regretting it. I should've used thicker thread and looped every pearl. You can see from my photo that it doesn't look as good the way I did it. Oh well....LOL.

when I bead with pearls (usually it's for wedding stuff)...

I initially come up through the fabric, put on 3 beads, and back down through fabric. Then I come up "behind" the last bead. go through it again, add 2 more pearls, and go back down. Repeat, repeat, repeat. That way you create a string that won't wobble out of place and it's locked in place by every second bead with a double stitch.

Caasi

I use carpet or button thread. Coat the thread with beezwax before I put it through the needle. I have yellow for the lighter threads and black for the darker threads. It helps keep things from tangling to much and it's easier for me to thread the needle. I also 2nd the "tie off often" I make a knot every inch or so.

Originally Posted by lylagus

I use carpet or button thread. Coat the thread with beezwax before I put it through the needle. I have yellow for the lighter threads and black for the darker threads. It helps keep things from tangling to much and it's easier for me to thread the needle. I also 2nd the "tie off often" I make a knot every inch or so.

You can get button/carpet thread through a pearl hole? But how?

I'm not really a pearl person, but from what I've seen, I think glass pearl beads have larger holes than plastic ones because of the way the coating is applied. All bets are off if you are talking about pearlized ceylon beads, though.

BTW, if your bead holes can support it, one way you can correct the look of beading that isn't exactly straight after you've sewn it is to come up through the base, run a top line through the beads (above the fabric, like you are stringing them for a necklace), and then back down again to tie off. This will help pull everything back into place.

I looking up "couching' on youtube and also a friend told me to use that technique. I have a heavy button/carpet thread. My regular needle seems to go through the pearls fine (they are glass).

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

You can get button/carpet thread through a pearl hole? But how?

Hmm, I've only used glass pearls and have had no trouble threading an embroidery needle loaded with heavy thread through them. I usually buy my pearls from Firemountain Gems.

Originally Posted by shimmygoddess

I looking up "couching' on youtube and also a friend told me to use that technique. I have a heavy button/carpet thread. My regular needle seems to go through the pearls fine (they are glass).

a "friend"?

Originally Posted by auraevans

a "friend"?

LOL.....I was typing fast.....trying to update my post...