Lesson 3.3
Dress Embroidery: Completing the Upper Beaded Motif
In this lesson, you will finish the upper decorative motif of your dress embroidery. You will alternate beaded sections with plain travelling stitches, then fill the outlined spaces with stones. A larger crystal is attached with a regular needle, while colour changes between curves bring continuity to the design.
Materials to Prepare
Embroidery frame with your dress motif in progress
Embroidery hook and thread
Beads for outlining
Stones in complementary colours and varied sizes
Larger crystal stone suitable for sewing
Hand-sewing needle and thread
Soft pads for holding your materials
Scissors
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Follow the directional guides to complete an interlacing beaded outline.
Keep the hook upright while stitching.
Place travelling stitches close to existing beadwork.
Continue from outlining to stone filling without cutting the thread.
Attach a larger crystal with a hand-sewing needle.
Adapt stone placement and colour transitions to the available spaces.
Secure the threads to finish the motif.
Your Practice
Make a starting lock at the indicated point and outline the upper motif with beads. Keep your hook upright and your materials within easy reach. Follow the red guides, returning with plain stitches where shown before working upwards again with beads close to the existing line.
Navigate the crossing carefully and complete the beaded outline. Keep the thread attached and begin filling the spaces with stones.
Travel to the upper curve with plain stitches and attach the larger crystal using a regular needle. Continue filling the remaining curves, choosing stones that fit comfortably and changing colours to suit the overall composition.
Adapt the arrangement to your own materials, checking the balance of the whole motif as you work. Practise on a sample first if needed, then secure all threads when the embroidery is complete.