This stitch is often referred to as the "ladder" stitch and is an integral part of many seed bead designs. Though most experienced seed beaders already know how to do this, I thought it best to include these instructions in case newbie seed beaders haven’t attempted this stitch yet. It can be used with bugle beads or seed beads. These instructions include seed beads, but you just need to replace the three seed beads with one bugle bead if you prefer using those instead.

1. Pick up 6 beads onto your needle, and push them down to approximately 6 inches from the end of your thread. You want to leave a 6 in tail.

2. Bring the needle back up through the first 3 beads you had strung, and pull your thread so that you have 3 beads next to 3 beads.

3. Bring the needle down through the next 3 beads.

4. Pick up 3 more beads, and go down through the 3 beads you went through in step 5.

5. Come up through the 3 beads you added in step 5.

6. Continue steps 4 and 5 to continue your ladder. When finished, weave your tail into the ladder so they disappear.

While making ladders, it is important to keep a good hold of your ladder as you progress. This will keep gaps to a minimum. If you still have large gaps after finishing your ladder, and you have used beads with good sized holes (like Japanese beads), then you can thread back through all the rungs. This will help straighten out your ladder a little.

Also, if you decided to use bugle beads (using one bugle instead of the three seed beads as described above), try to use ones that are regular in size and aren’t jagged on the edge. Otherwise, they will tend to cut your thread.

This stitch is used in all kinds of seed bead projects from earrings to Christmas ornaments, so if you haven’t mastered it yet, you might want to give it a try.

Comments? Questions? Ideas? Share them on the jewelry making forum.