Thread: Tips for making a diagonal bead edge even?

Shushanna Designs: Beading

I'm still working slowly on my burgundy costume and keep ripping out my edging. I can't seem to keep the diagonal stitch even. I keep messing up the angle of it and it's really frustrating me! I would like to have one sequin, two hex cut beads and one bugle then another sequin.....

Any tips on keeping it even and nice...I have a feeling that it's just practice practice practice LOL! I LOVED Shushanna's idea of a beading doodle pad and have been working with that to figure out my spacing.

Thanks for any help or commiseration.

I have that same problem every time! Lol! I try to start my edging in a place harder to see so that three inches down the line when I've gotten into the groove no one will see the uneven parts.

But how do you get into the groove... There are a couple of tricks.

One is to aim for the stitches to start in the same relative location to the stitch before it. Fortunately your stitches begin and end with sequins, so look only at the sequins. Start and end each stitch right against the egde of the previous sequin, in line with the hole of the previous sequin. It's easier to have even stitches when they are closer together, believe it or not.

Another thing you can try is using masking tape laid down 1/4 to 1/2 inch from the edge of your fabric to give you another reference point to look at. Masking or painters tape won't leave residue.

Let me know if these help you.

your doodle pad was genius- I learned a lot even in the 30 minutes I spend on it- I won't post the results- they are kind of embarrassing- but thanks for the tips- that is something I was working on and knew it was going to be an issue!

glad I'm not the only one!

I don't have any tips but i wanted to thank you for the "doodle pad" idea!

Maybe it would help to mark where you want your sequin centers with a ruler and a fabric pen?

Thank you for all the suggestions. I made a little guide so I can check my angle. I'm using a beading photo of a bella (listed on swap a while back) as an educational tool and angle guide

wow- how delightfully tedious!!!

I would have just drawn lines LOL- very creative of you!! :) can't wait to see the end result!

Lines or dots. On the skirt where I did looped over the edge beading, I simply did dots on the back. It kept them equal distance apart and on an even line. And you can use something which washes out easily or is close enough in colour that if it doesn't it will appear to be a shadow.

{{{{HUGS}}}

Originally Posted by Basha

wow- how delightfully tedious!!!

I would have just drawn lines LOL- very creative of you!! :) can't wait to see the end result!

How charmlessly rude and patronising!

Originally Posted by Basha

wow- how delightfully tedious!!!

I would have just drawn lines LOL- very creative of you!! :) can't wait to see the end result!

I don't consider throwing a piece of cardboard down every inch or so to check the beading alignment any more "tedious" than the act of beading itself.

Originally Posted by beafarhana

How charmlessly rude and patronising!

.... well you misinturpret my delightfully tedious comment.... I have a pension for doing things that are really really tedious and monotonous- I find them calming. I would have never thought to do that- again- I would have done it a different way- but what she did IS a good idea.... and it IS tedious- and it would be something I would enjoy in a weird ****ed up way.

Don't assume I'm being patronizing because you don't understand how my brain works. when I meant delightfully tedious- I meant that exactly how it sounds- w/o your negativity thrown in there.

It IS a good idea- cause drawing on your exposed fabric is OBVIOUSLY a less desirable option. If I was truly being patronizing- I would have said "well- that's one way to do it" and nothing else.

chill the hell out sunshine

Absolutely no skin off my nose... I'm perfectly chilled, thank you.

I don't know you. I don't know your whacky, quirky, self-deprecating sense of humour. Therefore, I can only interpret what you wrote. It came off as rude and patronising. I'm not the only one who read it that way. If your special, unique way of expressing yourself creates such a misinterpretation of your intention, then maybe you should reconsider your writing style.

Originally Posted by lylagus

Thank you for all the suggestions. I made a little guide so I can check my angle. I'm using a beading photo of a bella (listed on swap a while back) as an educational tool and angle guide

I think it's a brilliant solution. ;-)

And by the way, I know Basha in person, and I'm sure she didn't mean to be patronizing. Although I agree that she should be more careful with the way she words things online, because there was no way for people who don't know her to guess the typical intonation of her voice.

Originally Posted by beafarhana

Absolutely no skin off my nose... I'm perfectly chilled, thank you.

I don't know you. I don't know your whacky, quirky, self-deprecating sense of humour. Therefore, I can only interpret what you wrote. It came off as rude and patronising. I'm not the only one who read it that way. If your special, unique way of expressing yourself creates such a misinterpretation of your intention, then maybe you should reconsider your writing style.

meh- I've been on forum's for years- I'm not AS active on this one nor have I been on this one as long- and I do realize its a community and you have to find your niche and people grow to understand who you are and how you express yourself. That being said- I'm not reconsidering my personality... who I am on line- is who I am in person.

I am sure there was room for misinturpetting (obviously) but- as pointed out- the card board is about as tedious as beading... and its something many of us actually enjoy.

So- I see nothing wrong with pointing out a tedious subject is indeed tedious- no matter how enjoyable it is.

1. causing fatigue or tedium; monotonous
2. obsolete progressing very slowly

so yeah- its tedious- but we like it- maybe a little too much sometimes. :)

I realize I am cut from different cloth than most women here- and I"m okay with that- I do what I can to mitigate misinturpretting with smilies - which is what they are there for- too add panche to what's being said. I (obviously wrongly assumed) that it would balence the potentially negative comment but you whipped right past them to assume the worst. but meh- I'm not bent about it and if you aren't then we are all fine.

Originally Posted by shushanna

I think it's a brilliant solution. ;-)

And by the way, I know Basha in person, and I'm sure she didn't mean to be patronizing. Although I agree that she should be more careful with the way she words things online, because there was no way for people who don't know her to guess the typical intonation of her voice.

I actually agree- it is a great solution- cause as noted- mine is not nearly as good. I'm glad someone thought of it!
(and thank you luv)

back to the op... I still would like to see the final beading results! I heart pictures of beading very much!

Basha - Thank you for clarifying your intention.

Update picture!

yes em :)

WOOT WOOT- that looks awesome- I'm stuck in limbo with tons of swag- I want to get it done before I get onto the bra beading part- but I'm itching to get started on it.

your picture is my beading fix for the moment! :D thanks!!