Now take the tip of the needle and in a horizontal direction catch one strand of tulle right in the corner of a diamond so that you are intersecting where the tulle creates an X. This is crucial, you need to catch the strands where they cross and meet. If you sew the crystal to a single strand it will stretch and hang funny as the single strand cannot support the weight of the bead. Let me know if you can't see it in the picture and I'll post another close up.
Now that the needle is through the tulle, drop a single crystal or bead onto the needle and let it fall down to the tulle. Find the cut long end of the thread and giving yourself about 2 to 3 inches, tie a knot. Make sure that you are tying the knot snugly, but not too tight. You're going to need to be able to shimmy the knot down towards the hole in the bead to conceal it.
See the double knot?
Now take both loose ends of the thread and slide the knot up towards the hole in the bead. Take the short end of the thread (without the needle) and pull it back through the hole in the bead first.
Now slide the needle back through the hole too so that both ends of the thread are coming out the opposite end of the bead through the hole.
Knot is Enlarged for Clarity
With two hands, and while on the same side of the hole as the knot, gently grasp the loose ends of the thread together in one hand and gently pull them which will cause the knot to shimmy along allowing you to ease the knot towards the hole running through the bead.
When it gets to the edge of the hole, use the ends of the thread coming out of the oppposite side of the bead like in the photo above and give the two loose ends a gentle tug so that the knot pops into the center of the bead and is hidden from view. You only want the knot to go halfway into the bead so don't pull too hard.
Tip: Also don't pull too hard doing this as it can strech out the tulle and the sharp edge on the hole of the bead can cut the thread. It takes a very gentle touch.
Now use a small pair of craft or manicure scissors (manicure scissors are best) to trim the loose ends of thread away. Make sure the knot is not too close to the end you are trimming or the knot may release and the bead will fall off.
Voila! You have just hand sewn a crystal bead to a piece of tulle! Notice how clean it looks with no visible knot or cut ends of thread. Below are tips and tricks that may help you complete your hand beaded veil project.
Removing a Bead
If you need to remove a bead because you weren't able to tie it on properly (too loose or too tight or don't care for where you positioned it) the best method that worked for me was to use the tip of an x-acto knife blade and very carefully slide it between the bead and the thread, facing upwards and as close to the hole of the bead, not the tulle as possible so that you don't cut the tulle by accident. It's imperative to hold the bead and tulle in place and only slice through the thread. If you allow any tension to develop it will stretch the tulle and will leave a visible mark to the tulle once the bead is removed.
Beading Pattern • Good
As far as where to sew the beads onto your veil, it works best to randomly scatter the beads around like the sample above. It will look prettier than if you measure their placement exactly.
Beading Pattern • Bad
If you use equal spacing the finished beading will appear as if it is in rows. Like above ↑
Beading a Blusher
If you are beading a blusher make sure you don't place the beads across the face. It's better to bead the second layer and keep the blusher free of beads as this will look odd in photos, especially if a bead is place directly over an eye or near the nose or mouth.
Beading Options for Floor Length Veils Beads are spaced approximately 6" to 7" apart.
Floor only
From Waist Down
Top to Bottom
When Not to Bead
There are two instances when beading a veil may not really be worth the effort. They are:
When the wedding is during the daytime and outdoors. The crystals will be visible but will not "sparkle." Crystals need there to be low light and a light source to sparkle. When there is too much bright light hitting the crystal from all sides, you won't see it twinkle the same as you would at night time or in a darkened room.
Also, when your bridal gown is heavily beaded. The beading on your gown will sparkle and show through a single layer of tulle so if you are using a single layered short veil or floor length veil, and your gown is already heavily beaded, adding more beads to the veil won't enhance your gown and may even detract from it if the spacing and placement of your beads somehow conflicts with the design already incorporated into your gown.
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Comments (17)
Becky• 2011-03-09 20:16:06
This is the BEST instructions I've found! Thank you!
Hand beading in this fashion is more tedious and time consuming than difficult once you get the technique down. If you decide to bead a project please let me know and send in photos of your finished project if you'd like to see it featured here on The Flirty Guide!
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sue• 2011-04-18 15:38:10
brilliant instructions. Will give this a go. Love the idea of shimmying the knot about!
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beverly• 2011-05-27 22:39:05
Hello,
Perhaps you could help me with a few additional instructions.
1) what is the purpose of double knot at the needle head?
2)I don't understand where to tie this note. between the tulle and the bead? After the bead?......"Find the cut long end of the thread and giving yourself about 2 to 3 inches, tie a knot."
The double knot at the eye of the needle is because the thread will untie itself as you work with it so double knotting gives you a chance to tighten or re-tie without having to rethread the needle if the first knot falls out.
Yes, tie the knot between the tulle and the bead closer to the bead than the tulle. You need the 2 to three inches to make it easier to pull the cut ends back through the hole in the bead so that you can hide the knot inside the hole of the bead.
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Theresa• 2011-07-25 02:36:19
Does the last picture/instructions on page 1 simply mean to tie the string by the eye of the needle rather than the end of the string?
and yes, these are by far and away the best instructions I have found! :) Thanks so much!
Yes, the final step on page one is to tie the knot directly to the eye of the needle once running the thread through it (the eye). It will help to keep the thread from falling out of the needle and keeps the knot small enough to pull through any fabric when using the monofilament because the knot will still be more narrow than the head of the needle.
I'm glad the instructions are helpful. I used this technique many times over the years when I was making veils and hand beading gowns so the method is well tested :)
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Fairy Tale Mama• 2011-08-06 20:47:30
What an excellent tutorial! I'm making my sister's veil for her wedding in October and I so appreciate the tips!
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Cathy • 2011-10-09 13:07:23
Great instructions, easy for a beginner like me to make a beautiful veil for my daughter - Thank you!
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Dominique• 2012-01-20 02:45:17
great tip. a way to further secure a knot- add a tiny drop of hard jewelry glue, like UHU, using the head of a pin as an applicator, to the knot. allow the knot to dry inside the bead, then it wont come back out
True the glue is a back up method but I always refrained from using glue of any kind because it will look fine at first but over time it will yellow and become brittle, this can reduce the integrity of the thread and cause a discolored area that could show through the clear crystal bead. Since veils are often saved and handed down being aware that the glue may change over time is something to give consideration to. Done the way described in this tutorial the knots won't come through the hole in the bead even without glue.
But for a veil that will only be used once and for a bride who wants the extra security, a tiny bit of glue is a good solution.
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Helena• 2012-01-21 18:15:33
Hi this has been so helpful. I am also seeking advice on how to attach teardrop crystals to hem of veil. Wondered if you could help? Many Thanks
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Julie• 2012-02-08 13:50:21
Any suggestions on just adding crystal to the edge of a fingertip length veil? Spacing? how to finish the edge of the veil? or not? Thanks
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The Flirty Guide• 2012-02-08 14:44:42
There are two ways to do this:
1. To simply add a row of beads to the edge you would need to use fairly small and light beads so they don't weight the edge down too much. How closely you decide to sew them to each other and whether or not you add them individually or as a continuing strand would be something I would experiment with on a sample piece of tulle. Either way I would only use clear, monofilament thread to make the beads appear to be floating on the tulle and not use cotton thread.
2. To add dropped (dangling) beads to the edge of a veil I would add a finished edge to the veil first. Either a seamed edge or a satin ribbon edge. but something that would proved a secure base to attach the beads to. The tulle is so delicate I wouldn't advise simply sewing the beads to the tulle because they could catch on something and tear off too easily.
I will try to create a new tutorial about the ways to do this asap.
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Grace• 2012-04-01 04:55:34
This is the BEST tutorial I have found. Most suggest sticking stones on with glue!
Thanks so much. I'll be back! :)
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Liz• 2012-05-11 18:56:54
Hi, I am having a lot of trouble maybe because I am not experienced with crystals and beads.
When you say to tie a double know with the loose end, am I supposed to pull one end through the crystal or both ends when dropping it to the tulle in the first step? Then, does the double know use both ends and surround the crystal? Somewhere I am doing the wrong thing and appreciate some tutoring.
Also, how long should the thread be when I first thread the crystal?
Thank-you,
Liz
Q: When you say to tie a double know with the loose end, am I supposed to pull one end through the crystal or both ends when dropping it to the tulle in the first step?
A: Only one end. You need one thread through the bead, looping through a single strand of tulle and the other end to tie into a knot connecting them together.
Q: does the double know use both ends and surround the crystal?
A: Yes. Tie them together as if you're about to tie your shoe but instead of a bow tie a knot. Then tie another know.
Q: how long should the thread be when I first thread the crystal?
A: I start with a piece of thread around 18 inches long and will sew a several crystals to the tulle from it. Cutting the thread after each bead.
