Beads!!!!

There isn't a limit to what kind of bead you can use while creating a beaded doll. A general rule of thumb is stick with Czech seed beads or Toho seed beads. Delicas are expensive, beautiful, perfect beads but for non-bead emboridery projects since their perfect nature will not be enhanced by embroidery. Bead Embroidery is, by nature, an imperfect art.

There are several on-line resources to buy beads. The following are good resources:

• Fire Mountain Gems
• Shipwreck Beads
• Monsterslayer
• D.J. Whimsey

Technique

Basically, BEAD. There is no such thing as a wrong stitch. When you feel the doll is looking sad, keep going. Beaded dolls tend to bead themselves. The colours may seem off, or the balance may seem wrong, but when you finish the doll will look unique and beg to be held.

If you have a central bead that you would like to sew around, set that bead on first. Frame it with a contrasting colour of seed beads. If the bead is a larger one, you may want to stitch into your first row of beads as a peyote stitch- setting the large bead like a gem. Alternate your stitches to create a texture. Add rows of bugle beads between rows of backstitched beads- this adds shine to the doll. It's also nice to frame an area of bocce stitch with backstitch.

The basic beading stitches are illustrated on the Bead Embroidery page. One other stitch which may be used is the Lazy Stitch.

This is not a highly recommended stitch, as using this stitch with seed beads will result in the beads being able to pull away from the fabric. However, this stitch does come in handy in adding bugle beads onto a doll.

Always use a shallow embroider going through the material, some stuffing, and out again staying close to the surface of the doll. The one point where going through the whole doll is an advantage is if you happen to be in a tight spot where shallow beading is just too difficult. Stitching completely through the doll, when used extensively, can lead to weak and loose stitches.

Don't be afraid of your knots. They will blend in later. To knot the thread, simply finish the row you are working on, stitch into the doll, and come up in a bare area. Knot the thread as close to the body as possible. You will just stitch over the knot later. If the body is filling up, re-stitch down a row of existing beads and tie off the thread at the end of the row. Be sure to cut the tail of the thread as close to the doll as possible. If your thread shows over bare "skin" where you have tied the thread don't worry. Bead right over the thread. It won't be noticed. A good way to keep your thread from showing in mid-stitch is to add more tension. When the beads aren't close together, thread might show. Try using fewer beads per stitch to secure a snug fit.

Doll "skin" showing? No problem. Add more beads. Really. It seems that no matter how they bunch up together and overlap they still look wonderful.