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Hi everyone, I'm working on my Henry VIII design tonight and I was just wondering which order you do the beading and backstitch or does it not really matter? I've not attached this many beads before so I was thinking beading first and then the backstitch? Some of the beading has backstitch around it so is that the best way to do it do you think?
Sorry for asking such a silly question! And thank you in advance for any advice

GreekHoneyBee wrote:Some of the beading has backstitch around it so is that the best way to do it do you think?

Hmm.. maybe you are supposed to do the beading at the same time as the backstitch? I've only done one project with beading. I did the backstitching first. Washed and pressed. Then did the beading and the little bits of metalic then pressed again.

MaggieM1750 wrote:

GreekHoneyBee wrote:Some of the beading has backstitch around it so is that the best way to do it do you think?

Hmm.. maybe you are supposed to do the beading at the same time as the backstitch? I've only done one project with beading. I did the backstitching first. Washed and pressed. Then did the beading and the little bits of metalic then pressed again.

Ahh I never thought of doing them together, thanks for that little tip. I'm just pressing on with the rest of the cross stitch at the moment but I won't be far off starting the beading and I was just wondering what the rules were.
I'll definitely wash and press my work before I start it though, never thought of that either - thank you!

The rules are...there are no rules.

That's my input, do it how you feel works best.

i always backstitch first..but again..there aren't any rules !

Thank you Angel and Coffee Freak - much appreciated Its weird how the chart has not even told me which one to do first - hmm, that must mean I can do it as I please then!
I've stitched one section of beads on as I wanted to test it out, it looks lovely and is much easier than I expected, a bit fiddly so I may do it in bursts.

I bet the beads really add something special to this piece. I'm looking forward to seeing it.

I just do it however I feel like at the time. I don't think I do one or other first particularly.

I tend to back stitch then bead, but it really is personal choice I think.

I add beads last for two reasons. First, there's no snagging on the beads. Second, I can sometimes tweak the bead placement to highlight the stitching and backstitching, rather than covering it. I've found that backstitching around beads will make them appear to float or lift, rather than appearing as a natural part of the work.

JMHO,

I haven't done too many patterns with beading but I know the Mirabilia and Lavender and Lace ones and Chatelaine have lots of beading. I am working on "Angel of Love" and it is 80% beading and metallic thread (her entire skirt). I do the beading, backstitching and metallic threads as I go. I don't leave the backstitching or beading until the end because by the time I finish crossstitching it I want to go onto the next thing and if I then had to bead and backstitch, I probably wouldn't finish anything.