Just a couple of questions

[stitchingmae]

Okay first off. I am going to work on a pattern for my MIL it says granma's my name and spoiling's my game I am going to tweak it to say Maw-Maw's my name...etc...but the pattern calls for some beading I understand that I use a beading needle...but how do you attach them it is just a straight line through...what thread do you use?

Also..have you seen any of the curved needles? what are the purpose of these?

[Midge]

I attach the beads with a half cross stitch and leave the bead in the middle if you know what I mean.
I come up, thread a bead and go back down. Does that make sense?

As for curved needles, I thought they were for suturing skin.

[stitchingmae]

haha well that is what we use them for in the ER.
but i noticed some on the sewing aisle at walmart the other day...and then I think i remember seeing one in my encylopedia of needlework but it was just a pic not really an explanation.

[Kute Kitty]

If they're the needles I'm thinking of, kind of a half-moon shape, my mum once told me they were for sewing mattresses, she had some in her sewing box. I later worked out that you can only really use a straight needle if you can have your hands both above and below the fabric, if you can't get below it then a curved needle will find its own way out if you see what I mean

[SusanF]

No idea about the curved needle - don't think I've ever seen one. For attaching beads, I use a full cross stitch. The first half attaches the bead, then the second half railroads around it.

[vanessanjf]

I use the half cross stitch method for beads like Midge. I have done quite a few Mirabilia charts this way and the beads are all still attached so far!
Not sure about the curved needle?!!

[Granny]

The curved needles are also known as upholstery needles. Sewing mattresses would fall under upholstery type sewing.

[Rose]

I have always used a half stitch for ataching beads but they sometimes are a bit wobbly and so the next one I do I am going to use the technique that Susan suggested.

As for the thread to use I use a color of thread that is the same color as the bead. There are sites that convert floss color to beads or vise versa and soI use those sites to match up the colors.

[nikecam]

i have yet to try beads. my xs store said the bead would slant if i only do the 1/2 stitch or stand vertical if i do the full xs. i have yet to get a needle for my beads though to even try it.