Hedebo Edging with Beads (Tutorial)

This stitch is a Beaded Hedebo Edging. As the name implies, it is usually used as an edging stitch. I came across it though while I was looking for something to use for a seam treatment that would be on the smaller side and yet a bit unusual. I think it fits the bill perfectly. There are quite a few steps but once you get in a rhythm it isn't bad. I need to practice a bit more and work on my tension but I am still pleased with it.

I used my trusty Tiger Tape again for this one. The stitch is worked in two steps. First you work the row of large and small cross stitches and then work across them again adding your beads and Hedebo stitch.

Start by bringing your needle up at the bottom left hand side of your seam.

Take your needle to the top of the seam area and take it down, bringing it up again directly below. This forms the first leg of your first small cross stitch.

Now you form a larger cross stitch. Take your needle down at the top, leaving a larger gap and bring it up again directly below.

Continue these steps until you have worked all the way across your seam.

This is how it should look at this point. Notice the short and long stitches alternate.

Work your way back across the seam from right to left filling in the other leg of each cross stitch. When you get to the end take your needle down just above your the spot where you first came up at the when you started stitching.


This is how it will look at this point. I take off my Tiger Tape at this point because I do not need it anymore. You can use any other method of marking or, if you have a good eye for spacing, you can likely wing it. I really like my Tiger Tape so that is what I use.
Now it is time to work back across the seam adding the beads and the Hedebo stitches. You are going to add the beads on the small cross stitches and the Hedebo scallops will be formed on the large cross stitches.

So, to add your bead you will bring your needle up just below where you last went down, thread a bead onto your needle and take it down up and to the right of that spot. Basically you are making another leg of your small cross stitch from bottom left to upper right over the original leg but this time it will hold a bead.

Now you work your scallop of Hedebo stitches on the large cross stitch. Slide your needle under the large cross stitch, keeping the thread over your needle.
Pull your thread through until a small loop is formed. Next take your needle under the top of the loop and over the bottom of the loop as shown in the picture above and take your needle through.

Pull the thread until the stitch sits snugly. (Please note that although it looks for all the world like I have a coffee stain on my fabric, I don't! lol It is just the way the fabric reflected the light.)

Repeat these two parts of the Hedebo stitch until you have filled your large cross stitch. Pack your stitches as much as possible - this forms the scallop effect. To complete the scallop of stitches, take your needle down at the top of the next small cross stitch and bring it up directly below. You are now ready to thread on another bead and continue as before. Keep alternating placing the beads on the small cross stitches and the scallops of Hedebo stitch on the large cross stitches until you reach the end of your seam.

And here is my finished seam! I used a Wildflower thread by Caron for this, colour 217 (Chili). This is what I had on hand that looked the most Christmassy to me. The beads are a thrift store find - pretty nasty little beads actually being plastic coated with a metallic finish. I loved them when I saw them though because they just screamed `Christmas Balls` to me!

I have broken down this seam into a lot of steps to try to make it easy to follow. Don`t let the number of steps intimidate you - it isn`t difficult. It just needs a bit of practice and to keep your tension consistent.