How I learned this stitch:
I found it online during one of those sessions every crafter has where they idly search for beading patterns.
What I found difficult about this stitch:
getting started! The first couple of stitches set the pattern for the rest of the project. If you get them wrong you just have to rip it all out and start again.
What kind of projects I do with this stitch:
At the moment I make bracelets. I began with simple St Petersburg chain bracelets, then tried different colour combinations and am now experimenting with adding charms.
My Favorite Beading Stitch:
St Petersburg Chain
Why it's my favorite stitch:
I love its simplicity. It is an effective way of producing delicate items for those friends and family that don't like to wear big chunky or showy jewellery. It also makes very charming bracelets for children.
It is also a stitch that lends itself easily to using different colours. With a couple of packs of size 8 seed beads in different colours you can make projects that stand out in different ways.
Adding charms also allows you to customise any item you are making so it reflects the personality of the wearer. For instance, I made a bracelet with hearts and seahorses for a friend that collects things with hearts or sea creatures on them.
Tips and Tricks
- leave a long tail at the start. That way you can finish off your project without adding a new length.
- try out different colour combinations and keep short lengths of beading to inspire your next choice.
- once this stitch gets started it grows quickly. keep measuring it until you get the length needed.
- keep a finished example of each item so that next time you make a similar one you have a good idea how many pattern repeats you need.
