Brick stitch is another great basic beading stitch.

Brick stitch is also known as Comanche Weave. It’s usually used in combination with ladder stitch and it can be made with bugle beads or seed beads. Any peyote stitch pattern can be converted to brick stitch by turning it on its side.

Most brick stitch 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 brick 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.

There are several different ways to work brick stitch, but most of them start with a ladder-stitched row of beads. String a bead and pass through the first exposed loop on the ladder. Pass back through the same bead, pick up another bead, and pass through the second exposed loop on the ladder. Continue adding beads one bead at a time across the top of the ladder. Work back and forth to add rows.

Click here for downloadable stitch illustration from Bead&Button® Magazine
http://www.beadandbutton.com/bnb/default.aspz?c=ss&id=32

For more ideas and inspiration visit www.katiehacker.com