Herringbone stitch is a popular beading stitch that’s easy to learn.

Herringbone stitch is an off-loom weaving technique that uses pairs of beads to create a chevron pattern. Since it is often found in the beadwork of the South African Ndebele tribe, it is also commonly called the Ndebele stitch.

Most herringbone patterns call for Nymo thread and a hard beading needle. Nymo comes in a variety of colors that coordinate with beads. Size D Nymo is very common for herringbone stitch and it works well with size 12 needles.

You’ll also need beading scissors for cutting and thread conditioner or beeswax to prevent the thread from tangling and to strengthen the beadwork. If you’re making a pattern from scratch, choose the Nymo or Dandyline size based on the holes in your beads keeping in mind that you may have to pass through some beads more than once.

To get started, stitch an even number of beads into a ladder. Turn the ladder so the thread exits upward from the last bead. Pass the needle through two beads and down through the next bead on the ladder. Pass the needle upward through the third bead on the ladder. Pass the needle through two beads and place it downward through the fourth bead on the ladder. Repeat this pattern to add bead pairs across the top of the ladder. To add the next row, pass the needle back up through the second-to-last bead, and continue through the last bead added in the previous row. Pass the needle through two beads, place it downward through the next bead in that row, and upward through the next bead. The herringbone pattern becomes apparent as more rows are added.

Click here for downloadable stitch illustration from Bead&Button® Magazine
http://www.beadandbutton.com/bnb/default.aspx?c=ss&id=123

For more ideas and inspiration visit www.katiehacker.com