Continue from Part 2: Border Beading
After you have finished your border beading, you can go ahead to fill up your shoes face with your chosen pattern. The photo below shows you an example of my design on a thong style sandal which I have not completed when I took the photo.
I used black color thread for this tutorial so that you can see the thread clearly. I normally use white color thread for the actual beading.
Make a big knot at the end of the doubled thread and you are ready to start your beading journey.
Beading is basically the same as sewing 1/2 stitch in cross- stitch. If you have the basic of cross-stitch, you are almost done with this tutorial.
Thread-out, pick a Japanese Round Seed Bead on the needle, according to the color on the pattern chat, thread-in upward diagonally to the top right corner of the square. Working from left to right.
The bead is secured on the canvas.
Tips: Upon the first thread out, leave a 1.5 inch length dangling on the wrong side of you canvas for anchoring. When you progress on the stitches, catch the 1.5 inch length under the stitches on the back of your project.
Again, thread out straight below the hole of your last thread in to begin the next bead-stitching.
Thread in diagonally, and you get 2 beads secured on the canvas.
Continue doing this in a row and refer to your pattern chat for changing beads color accordingly.
Go down to the next row when you have reached the end of the current row. Again, pick-up a bead….
Thread-in downward diagonally to the bottom left corner of the square, working from right to left.
Make sure you always stitch the beads in one direction so that they will align in the correct way for every row. I am using ////// direction, you can use \\\\\ direction, but all the up-down-left-right instruction will be in reverse form. It is best to follow my tutorial to avoid any confusion 😉
Thread-out vertically from the last hole you threaded-in for your next bead.
You are done with 2 rows and get ready for the 3rd row.
Repeat the instruction of 1st row…. thread-in upward diagonally to the top right corner of the square…..
Easy peasy, completed 3 rows.
This is the wrong side of the canvas. The horizontal thread on the top row is the 1.5″ thread anchoring I mentioned above. You can do with or without a knot, but I prefer to knot it since it is more secure for beading work.
I drew a chat showing you the direction of the beading for easy reference. If you prefer to print it, right click on the chart, save it in your computer, and you can print it out later.
In summary:
*When you are working from left to right, always thread-in upward diagonally to the top right corner of the square.
*When you are working from right to left, always thread-in downward diagonally to the bottom left corner of the square.
This one shows the beading when you need increment and decrament for the pattern.
So far so good? Great!!!!
Now, you have 2 options on how to run your pattern in the shoes face. You can either do it by pattern (aka by color) or by row.
When you do it by color, you just refer to the pattern chart and sew all the squares that indicate that particular color. This the same as sewing a cross-stitch.
Pros of going by color:
*Handle only one bead color at a time, there would be no mess up in multi color beads.
*If you made a mistake in the pattern, it is easy to take out the beads by color and redo it.
Cons of going by color:
*Higher rate in making mistake since you may miscount 1 or 2 squares for some instants. Human make mistake, right?
*It is going to be messy at the wrong side of the canvas as the thread is running all over the place as you jump the stitching from one corner to the other.
If you choose to sew by row, just refer to the chart and pick up the correct bead color accordingly, row by row.
Pros of going by row:
*Lesser chance of making mistake as you can see the result instantly when comparing to the chart.
*Neater finishing at the wrong side of the canvas since you are beading row by row.
Cons of going by row:
*Have to handle various bead-color.
*It is going to drive you crazy if you find out you have made a mistake a few row above. You need to take out all the beading until you get to the one you need to correct.
There is no absolute answer if you were to choose to bead by color or by row, you need to experience it yourself to find out which suits you best.
Happy BEADING!!!
To be continue: Part 4 – How to take measurement on your foot ………
There is no photo of the finished shoes. Would you please post one? I love your beading design!
Hi Joanne,
Lovely beading works. Looking for some templates and patterns to try.
Any suggestion where to get them?
Btw I am based in Penang.
The pattern of d slippers is so nice. Is it possible to send me the pattern. Tkq
Hi, Joanne, I am new to Beading (Manek). Please advise me as to where I can purchase beads for this type of beadwork and also what type of beads should I use.
I would like to confirm that the canvas is a 16-count cross-stitch cloth.
Your kind advise, please.
Regards,
Patricia
Hi Patricia,
I guessed that you are from Singapore but sorry that I am not familiar where to get beading materials in Singapore. I have been to People’s Park and saw a few craft shops there, perhaps you can find them there.
Determine the size of the beads before you select the correct size of the canvas. Place a few beads diagonally and align them horizontally (as the way I sewed them on the canvas in the tutorial), count the total quantity of the beads that made up 1″ of length, this will be the size of your canvas count. For example, your counted 17 beads in 1″, then choose a canvas size close to this number or slightly smaller in count, ie. 16 count for this case.
Hope this explanation helps.
Hi Joanne,
I love your work. I do have a question and hope you can help me. I am using beading in my cross stitch and have noticed that the beads are all loose. I’m afraid if I tighten my thread anymore, it will rip my aida cloth. Is there a way to make the beads tighter. I’m using the tent stitch. Do you think the half stitch is more secure?
Thank you
Lucia
May I know how do you sew the patterns on? Do you just draw out the pattern on the cloth itself? How can I do the floral patterned ones? Thank You!
Hi Gladys, I traced the pattern on the cross-stitch canvas as explained in part 1. You can adapt a suitable floral pattern from other source, as long as it fits in the shoe face. Hope this help.
Hi! I really like your tutorial on beaded shoes. How did you start and end off the thread if I were to sew clusters of white and red beads on shoe edge. Do I need to thread and loop the needle over several past stitch to secure the end tail thread? Thanks.
I just knot the thread at the wrong side, the knots will be hidden away when you have your shoe done by the cobbler.
I am looking for the pattern for the covered beaded shoes. Could you please sent me some?
I have been looking for it but is unable to find it. Thank you.
Mi pregunta es: Como tener informacion de esta pagina en español?
Gracias.
Atentamente,Corina
Translation (by Google):
My question is: How to get information of this page in Spanish?
Thank you.
Sincerely, Corina
hi, am interested to learn beading…do you have any classes?..cheers.:)
I don’t conduct any classes at this moment. May be 1 day I should ….
I am not anyway near KL, I am in Penang.
I heard there are some manek shoe maker around KL, may be you can go to some craft stores in Petaling Street and ask them. They might know.
thanks ,u mean craft stores is made shoe or teach manek shoe/
can u share pattern and teach me . fabric is same cross stitch ?
sad i went to malacca anuty dont want teach me…..why?
i just interest handicraft only !
after finish bean , then how do the shoe ?
did u teach ?
i am interest to do own bean shoe , i hope i can finish all myself .
did u have any pattern , and teach me full set .tq
I don’t know how to make up the shoes… only shoes maker can do it.
First, you have to get a shoes maker, ask for the shoe face design, bead it then send it back to him to complete the rest.
can u share the pattern?
where can buy material?
where got shoes maker?
where your location , any class u have?
Where are you staying?
I M STAY AT KL.
So cute and beautiful, I like them very much. Hope to see more new products
Thanks. I like your hair pins too 🙂
Still can’t find evenly cut beads. Can you please let us know who is your supplier?
Hi I love the design of your kasut manek. Would you be kind to share the pattern. Thank you very much.
Hi bebe, I will do that in near future 🙂
Wow Joanne! This is simply gorgeous! I wish I can learn from you more! Tks for the steps!
We can learn from each other…. I love your cooking 🙂
So tedious and require lots of patience! Now I understand why they are sold at such a high price. Great tutorial!
Thanks. you are right, they are labor intensive craft that requires not only time but patience and determination to get it done. Hope you will make one for yourself one day 🙂