Uploaded December 2021 | Updated September 2026, 58 minutes ago
Written instructions with clear photographs for spiral rope stitch can be found here, although please note that I am using different sizes. I recommend 11/0, 15/0, and a 3-4mm center bead, whereas this link uses larger seed beads: goldenagebeads.com/blog/beadweaving-tutorial-how-to-do-spiral-rope-stitch.html
It will give you clear shots of some of the steps the camera struggled to focus on, namely picking up your core beads as you stitch each loop.
Instructions for spiral rope stitch start at 21:40
This tutorial covers all the details on making spiral rope stitch to use for a trim: bead selection, starting spiral rope stitch, changing your thread, trim variations, and attaching to a finished piece.
For this trim you will need:
Nylon beading thread, I recommend Nymo size B
Size 10 and 12 beading needles, as you prefer
11/0 seed beads
15/0 seed beads
3-4 mm center beads - crystal, pearl, a size 8/0 seed bead, or another bead as you prefer
For the red trims I used (Preciosa 3 mm round used on Merry Mouse):
Toho 11/0 Transparent Ruby
Miyuki 15/0 Transparent Ruby (15-141). Some sellers use color name and others use numbers so I have included both where I have them
Swarovski 3mm Light Siam bicones: etsy.com/listing/609462556/light-siam-53015328-bright-red-swarovski
Preciosa 3 mm Light Siam rounds: etsy.com/listing/226598669/600-light-siam-red-3mm-preciosa-czech?ref=yr_purchases
For the Crystal Moonlight trim seen on Jolly Happy Soul and Peppermint & Holly:
Toho 11/0 Transparent Crystal
Miyuki 15/0 Crystal (15-131)
3 mm (Jolly Happy Soul) or 4 mm (Peppermint & Holly) Crystal Moonlight bicones, which you can buy in bulk from JBC Beads on Etsy: etsy.com/listing/653352129/crystal-moonlight-53015328-clear-rainbow
For the peppermint trim:
Miyuki 11/0 Opaque White Pearl Luster
Miyuki 15/0 Crystal Ceylon (15-511)
Preciosa 3mm Light Siam rounds: etsy.com/listing/226598669/600-light-siam-red-3mm-preciosa-czech
To attach your trim: a #10 milliner's needle and fine silk thread, I like the Kinkame brand, available from Britex Fabrics. You want the 50 weight, which is available in a large number of colors: britexfabrics.com/notions/thread/japanese-50-weight-silk-thread.html
Quantity notes: a 10 gram tube should be sufficient for your seed beads. I used up a 10 gram tube of the transparent crystal, which made over 48 inches of trim.
For crystals:
A 600 bead lot of Preciosa 3mm rounds made 35.5 inches of trim
72 3mm Swarovski bicones made 4 3/8 inches of trim
72 4mm Swarovski bicones made 4 3/4 inches of trim
To trim Peppermint and Holly, for example, I used 379 4mm Crystal Moonlight bicones. NB: I have mostly used bicones over rounds for Swarovski because they were easier to find at reasonable prices.
General sources for materials:
Caravan Beads has the best selection of seed beads, and also sells a different brand of nylon beading thread (C-Lon, which is fine) and beading needles. They do have an order minimum, so if you just need a couple of things Artbeads or Fire Mountain Gems might be better: caravanbeads.com
JCB Beads on Etsy, linked above, carries a large selection of crystal bicones at better prices than you will generally find elsewhere. A larger selection of colors and styles can be found from the authorized retailers Fire Mountain Gems (Crystal Passions) and Artbeads (Prestige European Crystal)
Fire Mountain Gems and Artbeads have a wide selection of beads and also carry Nymo beading thread, beading needles, and many other types of beads:
firemountaingems.com
artbeads.com
Shipwreck Beads carries a full selection of charlotte beads: shipwreckbeads.com/Beads/seed-beads/charlotte-and-true-cut-seed-beads
As does Garden of Beadin: gardenofbeadin.com/catalog/13-0-charlotte-cut-seed-beads
Other mentioned colors:
Miyuki gilt lined opal, color #551
Miyuki 24K lined crystal, color #234
Written instructions with clear photographs for spiral rope stitch can be found here, although please note that I am using different sizes. I recommend 11/0, 15/0, and a 3-4mm center bead, whereas this link uses larger seed beads: goldenagebeads.com/blog/beadweaving-tutorial-how-to-do-spiral-rope-stitch.html
It will give you clear shots of some of the steps the camera struggled to focus on, namely picking up your core beads as you stitch each loop.
Instructions for spiral rope stitch start at 21:40
This tutorial covers all the details on making spiral rope stitch to use for a trim: bead selection, starting spiral rope stitch, changing your thread, trim variations, and attaching to a finished piece.
For this trim you will need:
Nylon beading thread, I recommend Nymo size B
Size 10 and 12 beading needles, as you prefer
11/0 seed beads
15/0 seed beads
3-4 mm center beads - crystal, pearl, a size 8/0 seed bead, or another bead as you prefer
For the red trims I used (Preciosa 3 mm round used on Merry Mouse):
Toho 11/0 Transparent Ruby
Miyuki 15/0 Transparent Ruby (15-141). Some sellers use color name and others use numbers so I have included both where I have them
Swarovski 3mm Light Siam bicones: etsy.com/listing/609462556/light-siam-53015328-bright-red-swarovski
Preciosa 3 mm Light Siam rounds: etsy.com/listing/226598669/600-light-siam-red-3mm-preciosa-czech?ref=yr_purchases
For the Crystal Moonlight trim seen on Jolly Happy Soul and Peppermint & Holly:
Toho 11/0 Transparent Crystal
Miyuki 15/0 Crystal (15-131)
3 mm (Jolly Happy Soul) or 4 mm (Peppermint & Holly) Crystal Moonlight bicones, which you can buy in bulk from JBC Beads on Etsy: etsy.com/listing/653352129/crystal-moonlight-53015328-clear-rainbow
For the peppermint trim:
Miyuki 11/0 Opaque White Pearl Luster
Miyuki 15/0 Crystal Ceylon (15-511)
Preciosa 3mm Light Siam rounds: etsy.com/listing/226598669/600-light-siam-red-3mm-preciosa-czech
To attach your trim: a #10 milliner's needle and fine silk thread, I like the Kinkame brand, available from Britex Fabrics. You want the 50 weight, which is available in a large number of colors: britexfabrics.com/notions/thread/japanese-50-weight-silk-thread.html
Quantity notes: a 10 gram tube should be sufficient for your seed beads. I used up a 10 gram tube of the transparent crystal, which made over 48 inches of trim.
For crystals:
A 600 bead lot of Preciosa 3mm rounds made 35.5 inches of trim
72 3mm Swarovski bicones made 4 3/8 inches of trim
72 4mm Swarovski bicones made 4 3/4 inches of trim
To trim Peppermint and Holly, for example, I used 379 4mm Crystal Moonlight bicones. NB: I have mostly used bicones over rounds for Swarovski because they were easier to find at reasonable prices.
General sources for materials:
Caravan Beads has the best selection of seed beads, and also sells a different brand of nylon beading thread (C-Lon, which is fine) and beading needles. They do have an order minimum, so if you just need a couple of things Artbeads or Fire Mountain Gems might be better: caravanbeads.com
JCB Beads on Etsy, linked above, carries a large selection of crystal bicones at better prices than you will generally find elsewhere. A larger selection of colors and styles can be found from the authorized retailers Fire Mountain Gems (Crystal Passions) and Artbeads (Prestige European Crystal)
Fire Mountain Gems and Artbeads have a wide selection of beads and also carry Nymo beading thread, beading needles, and many other types of beads:
firemountaingems.com
artbeads.com
Shipwreck Beads carries a full selection of charlotte beads: shipwreckbeads.com/Beads/seed-beads/charlotte-and-true-cut-seed-beads
As does Garden of Beadin: gardenofbeadin.com/catalog/13-0-charlotte-cut-seed-beads
Other mentioned colors:
Miyuki gilt lined opal, color #551
Miyuki 24K lined crystal, color #234
