Uploaded July 2024 | Updated September 2026, 49 minutes ago
This tutorial will teach you how to embellish your cross stitch finishes with sequins and beads for a fabulously sparkly and textured look.
The how to (after the introduction on types of sequins and what to look for) starts at 7:26 - the overhead mount starts sagging and I am working partially out of frame to start with, but corrected this, please bear with me!
Sequins come in flat (my preference) and cupped shapes, and a variety of finishes: gloss (no applied finish), matte, luster, iridescent/iris, metallic, etc; can be opaque or transparent; and a wide range of sizes. I recommend a mix of sizes between 2-6 mm for best results that are scaled to your stitching. I used 3, 4, and 5 mm transparent red iridescent sequins for this tutorial.
Many of my own sequins are quite old and were purchased in person at a bead store in downtown Los Angeles, or a needlepoint store near me, now closed. So I do not have sources for most of what's seen here (they're not even labeled, that anyone would ever take an interest in my sequins never occurred to me!), but Bedecked and Beadazzled is an online needlepoint source that stocks sequins appropriately scaled to cross stitch. They will not stock everything shown here as it's not where I bought my own, but it's a wonderful place to start: bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/beads/the-collection-sequins
You also need beads to anchor your sequins, I recommend size 15/0 seed beads, and generally use a Miyuki clear transparent (for white or clear gloss, most of what I've done), or transparent ruby (for red, as seen here), which I usually purchase from Caravan Beads or Artbeads.
More details on beads - types, sizes, finishes, etc are found in the intro to my tutorial on spiral rope trim: youtube.com/watch?index=4&list=PLiDWYTP60Tccq-ISmKcqHvrhxcQ76ft5k&t=7s&v=BgQMzVs3wPk
I recommend blocking finishes, as demonstrated in the Simple Harmony tutorial #8: youtube.com/watch?v=NdvdEkuXSls&t=843s
The interfacing used was Pellon P44F, as recommended by the one and only Vonna, the Twisted Stitcher, and I used Soie 100/3 and a #10 milliner's needle to stitch on my sequins and beads.
Previous finishes shown:
Sub Rosa Tomato Girl, conversion in episode 75: youtu.be/OLE3he7z0Ck
Brenda Gervais Merry & Bright, conversion in episode 39: youtube.com/watch?t=42s&v=vUGJmuvFo8g
Heartstring Samplery Baby it's Cold Outside, conversion in episode 63: youtu.be/JoGv0bLZf40
Brenda Gervais Snow Magical, conversion in episode 71: youtu.be/UDlF2iH3gt0
Prairie Schooler Santa - upcoming holiday 2024 kit, all details will be exclusive to the kit
Notforgotten Farm Parson Brown, conversion in episode 66: youtu.be/rsMT8syiTO8
This tutorial will teach you how to embellish your cross stitch finishes with sequins and beads for a fabulously sparkly and textured look.
The how to (after the introduction on types of sequins and what to look for) starts at 7:26 - the overhead mount starts sagging and I am working partially out of frame to start with, but corrected this, please bear with me!
Sequins come in flat (my preference) and cupped shapes, and a variety of finishes: gloss (no applied finish), matte, luster, iridescent/iris, metallic, etc; can be opaque or transparent; and a wide range of sizes. I recommend a mix of sizes between 2-6 mm for best results that are scaled to your stitching. I used 3, 4, and 5 mm transparent red iridescent sequins for this tutorial.
Many of my own sequins are quite old and were purchased in person at a bead store in downtown Los Angeles, or a needlepoint store near me, now closed. So I do not have sources for most of what's seen here (they're not even labeled, that anyone would ever take an interest in my sequins never occurred to me!), but Bedecked and Beadazzled is an online needlepoint source that stocks sequins appropriately scaled to cross stitch. They will not stock everything shown here as it's not where I bought my own, but it's a wonderful place to start: bedeckedandbeadazzled.com/beads/the-collection-sequins
You also need beads to anchor your sequins, I recommend size 15/0 seed beads, and generally use a Miyuki clear transparent (for white or clear gloss, most of what I've done), or transparent ruby (for red, as seen here), which I usually purchase from Caravan Beads or Artbeads.
More details on beads - types, sizes, finishes, etc are found in the intro to my tutorial on spiral rope trim: youtube.com/watch?index=4&list=PLiDWYTP60Tccq-ISmKcqHvrhxcQ76ft5k&t=7s&v=BgQMzVs3wPk
I recommend blocking finishes, as demonstrated in the Simple Harmony tutorial #8: youtube.com/watch?v=NdvdEkuXSls&t=843s
The interfacing used was Pellon P44F, as recommended by the one and only Vonna, the Twisted Stitcher, and I used Soie 100/3 and a #10 milliner's needle to stitch on my sequins and beads.
Previous finishes shown:
Sub Rosa Tomato Girl, conversion in episode 75: youtu.be/OLE3he7z0Ck
Brenda Gervais Merry & Bright, conversion in episode 39: youtube.com/watch?t=42s&v=vUGJmuvFo8g
Heartstring Samplery Baby it's Cold Outside, conversion in episode 63: youtu.be/JoGv0bLZf40
Brenda Gervais Snow Magical, conversion in episode 71: youtu.be/UDlF2iH3gt0
Prairie Schooler Santa - upcoming holiday 2024 kit, all details will be exclusive to the kit
Notforgotten Farm Parson Brown, conversion in episode 66: youtu.be/rsMT8syiTO8
