How to learn brick stitch

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Maybe you’ve found a pattern that requires brick stitch. Or maybe you have just heard of the technique. So, you’re wondering how to learn brick stitch…

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Well, you’ve come to the right place! I am putting together a series of bite-sized lessons, in the form of free blogs. Each one will deal with a particular aspect of brick stitch.

So, you can use them all and treat this like a little course. Or, if you already have some skills, you can just use the lessons you need to refresh your memory. You can find all the available lessons here>>

brick stitch

How to learn brick stitch…the right way!

Let’s be honest, there’s nothing to stop you from dipping into any lesson and trying it. But, as with all beading techniques, your skills grow and develop. So, if you try and jump in with an advanced element before you’ve mastered the basics, you’re just going to make life hard for yourself.

Now, I am going to try and publish the lessons in a sensible order. So, if you are signed up to receive new blog posts via email, you will be getting these in order. If you’ve come to this at a later date, then all the lessons will be available here. So, it would be down to you to select your order.

I suspect that much of this will be obvious, but let me give you my suggested order anyway:

  • Starting brick stitch
  • Basic brick stitch
  • Shaping brick stitch
  • How to read a brick stitch pattern
  • Increasing and decreasing in brick stitch
  • Circular brick stitch
  • Tubular brick stitch
  • Two drop brick stitch

If you already know some of this technique, then of course, feel free to jump in and out and just pick the lessons you need.

Beaded four leaf clover pattern

What you will get in each lesson

Each of these lessons will give you a little guide to the particular area of brick stitch. So, you will be able to grab your beads and practise as you go.

I have also included links to patterns that will give you projects to try. If you have ever thought about how to learn brick stitch in the past, as with any technique, lots of practise is key. The constant repetition will really help the new technique to stick in your head.

Then, many of the lessons also include free tutorials that you can download to print out and keep.

valentine beading projects

Before you start…

…on your how to learn brick stitch mission, you need to gather together some materials. Although you can just read through each blog, if you are serious about how to learn brick stitch, then you should bead as you read.

Size 10 Delicas, Learn even count Peyote, Katie Dean, My World of Beads

What are the best beads for brick stitch?

You may have read, or just noticed, the formation of beads in brick stitch looks just like the formation in Peyote stitch…but turned on its side. So, as with Peyote, the best beads for brick stitch are the most even and regular seed beads. If you can afford them, then use Cylinder beads. So, that would be Miyuki Delicas, or TOHO AIKO beads, or something similar.

If you don’t have cylinder beads, then regular seed beads (rocailles) are fine. Just try to use a high quality bead so that they are fairly regular in size. If you’ve ever been tempted into buying a cheap seed bead, you will know what I’m about to say. The cheap beads are really irregular. So, you will find fatter beads, thinner beads, in fact so many slight differences that you may wonder which is the ‘average’ bead. You will find yourself throwing away beads because they differ so much. So, that ‘saving’ on the cheap beads really isn’t!

Anyway, if you do need to buy some beads for your brick stitch, you can click on the photos here to find a supplier.

Size 8 seed beads, best beads for learning a bead weaving technique, Katie Dean, My World of Beads

What is the best thread for brick stitch?

Your favourite beading thread.

People are always asking me which is the ‘right’ or the ‘best’ beading thread. Well, there is no definitive answer to that. It really depends on you and what you like. So, the only way to find that out is to try out different types of thread.

My personal preference is for Fireline. But I can name a ton of top designers who hate Fireline. So, it may or may not be best for you. If you already have some thread in your stash, then use that. If not, you can click on the image below and try any of the threads from that supplier. They are all good quality.

How to choose beading thread, Katie Dean, My World of BeadsTools

You simply need a beading needle and some scissors. Lay your beads out on a beading mat and you’re good to go!

If you need information about any of these tools, take a look at this section. It contains posts about lots of different beading tools.

What next?

Well, that’s it really. You’re all set up. So, time to embark on your next beading journey… How to learn brick stitch…. Use this link to find all the available lessons (if you’re reading this early on, I may still be in the process of adding them, but you can always sign up to my blog and get new posts via email – just use the form on the right-hand side of any page) and remember… Have fun!

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5 Responses

  1. GRACIAS,MUCHAS GRACIAS.

  2. Allison says:

    Thank you! I’ve been wanting to learn brick stitch and these lessons will surely come in handy. Hopi g there’s videos too as I have a difficult time following diagrams. Thank you for all your thoughtful work in sharing with us!

  3. Peggy Heimbrock says:

    Thank you

  4. Helen Roberts says:

    Thank you. Regards, Helen.

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