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5 Reasons to Love Brick Stitch–
I’ve said it many times before—I love playing with seed beads using brick stitch! I think brick stitch was the first seed bead pattern I mastered—before peyote, that’s right. It is just so . . . versatile! And because I’m big on fooling around, fiddling with and otherwise doing the “what if I try this” approach to my new designs, I can get gaga over brick stitch. Here's why:
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1: Beading with brick stitch makes firm shapes.
Brick stitch makes a nice, firm fabric of beadwork, so shapes retain their form. In Nancy Zellers’ Deco Deluxe bracelet, the brick stitched components stay stiff, which makes the design succeed. If the shapes were floppy, this bracelet would not be nearly as dynamic because you would not see the architectural shapes. |
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2: It’s easy to follow brick stitch patterns.
Brick stitched flat beadwork works in horizontal rows. Circular brick works in concentric rows (or rounds). The regularity of the rows makes it easier to keep track of patterns, row by row. You see how this works in the astrological symbols you create for my dog tag pendants in What’s Your Sign?
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3: Brick stitch adapts to different sizes of beads.
In circular brick stitch the concentric rows allow you to explore using different sizes and shapes of beads. In Tina Koyama’s striking Crystal Radiance Brooch, a central crystal is the hub for expanding rounds of brick stitch, changing out the size, color and shapes of beads from seed beads to cubes. Ultimately she finishes the design with a picot edge of crystals and seed beads. |
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4: Brick stitch can be curled into a tube.
Even though brick stitch makes a stiffer piece of beadwork, it will roll naturally into a cylinder. Round About, a bangle project by Dottie Hoeschen, is a perfect beginner brick stitch project. The seed beading part is a simple strip of beadwork you zip together into a tube, then add a few favorite focal beads with a basic wire-wrapped loop technique. You’ll want to make more than one of these. |
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5: Brick stitch combines easily with other stitches.
One look at Kerrie Slade’s Periwinkle Choker and you can see how gracefully brick stitch combines with other seed bead stitching techniques. In this lovely design square stitch and netting are incorporated to bring together components using two types of brick stitch. |
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Your 5 Free Brick Stitch Beading Projects!
Are you ready to try beading with brick stitch? All five of these projects are yours when you download the latest FREE eBook from Beading Daily. We give you step-by-step, fully illustrated instructions PLUS bonus stitch lessons for some of the other stitches used in these projects. It’s free, so download it now. Why not? Start having fun with these fabulous brick stitch patterns today! And be sure to tell your friends how to get their free brick stitch eBook, too!
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Which version of brick stitch is your favorite? Post your creations in our Forum Gallery and tell us about them
here on Beading Daily!
Happy beading!
