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Embellish with Picot Beading

I was taught picot beading by my friend Lucy Garvin many years ago, and I've used it a lot ever 
since. Picot beading is a wonderful decorative technique to finish a neckline or sleeve edge on 
that special outfit. It's also a great way to camouflage thick bodice fabric at the neck opening. 
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You Will Need

- seed beads in one or two colours to compliment garment   - beading needle   - thread in a matching colour   - scissors

Instructions

First completely finish your doll garment. Then choose the seed beads. For best results use tiny round beads or uniform-sized seed beads. The picot edging can be entirely worked in one colour - or two for added interest.
* for demonstration purposes I am using large pony beads, a large needle and thick, contrasting-coloured thread.
 
1. Thread beading needle, and tie ends in knot. Insert needle inside garment and come out along garment edge where you want to start the picot edging.
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2. Pick up three beads
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3. Insert needle through edge of fabric a little more than a bead's-width from where the thread came up
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4. Pull Thread tight
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5. Insert needle back up into last bead
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6. Pull thread up tight
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7. Pick up two more beads
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8. Insert needle through edge of fabric a little more than the width of one bead away from last stitch
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9. Pull thread tight
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10. Insert needle back up through last bead
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11. Pull thread up tight, and pick up two more beads. Continue in this manner until you reach end of edge to be beaded.
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12. To finish off the picot beading, insert needle back up into last bead
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13. Insert needle through 2nd and 3rd last beads, then work thread into back of garment edge.
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Picot beading can be used in more than just necklines. These two examples have picot beading along many edges...
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​Two Colour Picot Beading

For extra interest using two colours of seed beads. Choose colours to match or accent the outfit.
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A. As in step 1 above, secure threaded needle in edge to be beaded. Pick up three beads - the first and third beads in the colour you want directly against the fabric. Insert needle through edge of fabric a little more than the width of a single bead
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B. Pull thread tight, then insert needle back up through last bead
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C. Pick up two beads, paying attention to colour order. then insert needle through edge of fabric a little more than a bead's width from last stitch
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D. Insert needle back up through last bead. 
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E. Continue to work picot beading along edge of fabric. To finish off, see steps 12 & 13 above.
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More examples of two-colour picot beading...
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Copyright © 2012 Martha Boers
All Rights Reserved

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