How to work Beaded Herringbone Stitch

Herringbone stitch, also known as Ndebele is named after the African tribe from whom it is believed to originate. Patterns within the stitch are endless by rearranging colors or combining bead sizes.  The stitch is easy to work in spite of it's complex appearance. I'm using two different colors in the illustration for clarity. Ndebele can be worked in all one color or, as the picture shows, in several different colors.

Cut a comfortable length of beading thread. I like to use a length about the span of both my arms, but if that's too long for you don't worry. You can tie in more thread when you need it.

Thread the needle, tie on a stop bead, and pick up two beads.

Pass the thread through both beads from the same direction as the first pass.

Arrange the two beads side by side with the holes facing up and pull the slack out of    the thread.

Pick up one bead, pass the thread through the second bead in the same direction you passed through it before. Next pass the thread back through the bead you just picked up. Situate this bead side by side like the first two beads and tighten the thread.

Continue adding one bead at a time until you have a ladder as long as the desired width of your project. Stabilize the ladder by weaving the thread back through it to the                                           other end.

With your thread coming out the top of the first bead in your ladder, *pick up two beads, pass the needle down through the next bead and up through the next one. Tighten thread.*

Repeat from * to * to the end of this row.

When you get to the end of the row you can make a turn in one of two ways.

Method 1. Pick up the last two beads for the row, pass the thread under the "bridge thread" between the two beads in the previous row, then back up through the second bead you just picked up.

Method 2.  Pick up the last two beads for the row, pass the thread down through the end bead in  the previous row and up through the next bead, then up through the                                                   second bead you just picked up.

Continue working until your project is the length you desire. You'll notice that in the last row the stacks aren't connected.

In order to stabilize your last row and connect the stacks, weave your thread back through the beads as you did in row one.

Tips:

Remember you always work in twos. Each set of two beads is called a stack.

Try working with larger beads like size 8 until you get familiar with the stitch.

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