Herringbone Weave

Flat Herringbone

Materials:

Seed beads
Thread
Needle

You May Also Need:

Scissors
Bead Cups
Ruler

Note: These directions are intended for right-handed weaving.  You many wish to reverse the direction of the stitching if you find it more comfortable to work from left to right.

1) Create a bead ladder with an even number of beads, at least four beads across.
2) With the working thread exiting the last bead on the right, pick up two beads.  Stitch down through the next bead to the left.
3) Stitch up through the next bead to the left and pull snug.  Make sure that the last two beads added are side-by-side and there is no excess thread.
4) Pick up two beads and stitch down into the next bead in the ladder.  Stitch up into the following bead.  Continue adding two beads until the second row is complete.
5) When the last two beads have been added, stitch up through the ladder bead to the right of the working thread and pull snug.  Stitch up through the last bead of the second row and pull tight.  This is called a step-up.
6) Flip the work over and begin adding a new row of beads.  Pick up two beads, and stitch down through the next bead in the previous row.  Stitch up through the adjacent bead.  Step-up at the end of the row.
7) When the bead work is the desired length, finish the final row by stepping-up into the second-to-last bead.  Stitch down through the third bead, and up through the fourth, pulling tight with each pass.  Continue across the row until each bead is secure.
 
Adding and ending thread:  
Try to finish threads at the end of a row.  Instead of stepping-up, continue down the side of the bead work, and secure the thread with knots every 4 to 6 beads.  Attach a stop-bead to new thread and stitch into the second-to-last bead, three rows down from where you left off stitching.  Exit the last bead in the top row and resume stitching.

Tubular Herringbone

Materials:

Seed beads
Thread
Needle

You May Also Need:

Scissors
Bead Cups
Ruler

1) Create a bead ladder with an even number of beads, at least six beads across.
2) Sew the ladder into a ring by stitching up through the first bead and back down through the last bead.  Pull tight.  Stitch through the first bead again, then through the second to secure
the ring.  (See Ladder Stitch for more detailed instructions.)
3) Pick up two beads, and sew down through the next bead in the ring.  Stitch up through the following bead and pull tight.
 

 4) Continue adding two beads at a time around the ring, using herringbone stitch. 

5) At the end of the round, step-up through the ladder and first bead added in the round and pull tight.  You may wish to steady your work with a pencil or dowel until the tube begins to take shape.
 

6) Continue adding rounds of herringbone stitch, stepping up through two beads at the end of each round.
 

7)  When the bead work is the desired length, finish the final round by stepping-up into the second-to-last bead.  Stitch down through the third bead, and up through the fourth, pulling tight with each pass.  Continue around the tube                                         until each bead is secure.

Adding and ending thread:

When the working thread is approximately 4 inches long, finish a round and step-up to begin the next round.  Do not pick up any beads.  Stitch down into the adjacent stack of beads and exit after 4 to 6 beads.  Do not secure the tail until your new thread has been added (this will help to keep your place in the beadwork).  Secure a stop-bead to your new thread, and stitch up into the appropriate stack of beads, at least 3 beads down.  Exit at the top of the bead work and continue stitching normally.

Spiral or Twisted Herringbone

Materials:

Seed beads
Thread
Needle

You May Also Need:

Scissors
Bead Cups
Ruler

1) Create a bead ladder and complete three rounds of tubular herringbone.  (See above.)
2) At the end of the third round, step-up by stitching up through two beads in the adjacent stack. 
3) Pick up two beads, sew down through the next bead, and up through two beads in the next stack.  Continue around the ring.
4) To step-up at the end of the round, stitch up through 3 beads.  You will begin to see a twist after about 6 rounds.
5) Continue adding rounds of herringbone in this manner until the rope is the desired length.
6) Finish the final round by stepping-up into the second-to-last bead.  Stitch down through the third bead, and up through the fourth, pulling tight with each pass.  Continue around the tube until each bead is secure.

Adding and ending thread:

When the working thread is approximately 4 inches long, finish a round and step-up to begin the next round.  Do not pick up any beads.  Stitch down into the adjacent stack of beads and exit after 4 to 6 beads.  Do not secure the tail until your new thread has been added (this will help to keep your place in the beadwork).  Secure a stop-bead to your new thread, and stitch up into the appropriate stack of beads, at least 3 beads down.  Exit at the top of the bead work and continue stitching normally.

For more ideas and inspiration, see this tutorial on increasing flat herringbone weave:

Bridged Herringbone