Techniques L

Ladder Stitch

Using two needles, one threaded on each end of the thread, pass one needle through one or more beads from left to right and pass the other needle through the same beads from right to left. Continue adding beads by crisscrossing both needles through one bead at a time. Use this stitch to make strings of beads or as the foundation for brick stitch. For a single-needle ladder, string 2 beads and pass through them again. String 1 bead. Pass through the last stitched bead and the one just strung. Repeat, adding one bead at a time and working in a figure-eight pattern.

Loomwork

Follow the manufacturer's instructions for warping your bead loom. Note that you will need one more warp thread than you have number of beads in a row.

To weave the beads, tie a thread to an outside warp (tie onto the left warp if you are right-handed, the right warp if you are left-handed). Use a needle to string the first row of beads and slide them down to the knot. Bring the beaded weft thread under the warp threads and push the beads up with your fingers so that there is one bead between each two warp threads. Hold the beads in place and pass back through all the beads, making sure that the weft thread passes over the warp threads. End your threads by weaving back through the beadwork, tying knots between beads.