On the Trail

Create a six-bead ladder stitch for the first row of the band. See the Basic Herringbone Stitch Diagram PDF to help you get started. Your rows will be six beads wide. Here is the order of beads you should use in each row:

• One TOHO 8/0 bead round in frosted Ceylon cream
• One Miyuki 8/0 round seed bead in silver-lined bronze alabaster
• Two Miyuki 8/0 metallic matte dark copper Delicas
• One silver-lined bronze alabaster Miyuki round seed bead
• One Ceylon cream TOHO

Basic Herringbone Stitch Diagram PDF
Basic Flat Herringbone Stitch Video Tutorial

When you get to the end of the first row, the tails of the threads will be coming out of the bottom of the beads at both ends of the row. Flip the row so that the threads are exiting from the top of the beads.

The next row will begin the herringbone stitch. Add a TOHO and a Miyuki round seed bead to the thread and bring the needle down through the second to the last bead in row one, as shown in the PDF above. These two new beads will sit on top of the two beads below in row one. They will make a V shape as you pull the thread. Then bring the needle up through the bead to the left. Add TO Miyuki Delica beads to the thread and bring the needle down through the fourth seed bead in the row. Comp up through the next bead over, add a Miyuki round and a TOHO, and go down through the next bead over in row 1.

Bring the needle around the outside edge of the last bead in row 1 and up through the corresponding bead in row 2.

Keep adding rows of herringbone until the band is the desired length. Ours is approximately 23 inches long, but your length will vary depending on the hat you want to use it with. If you need to add thread at any point, make sure to take a look at our Starting, Ending and Adding Thread page for some helpful tips.

Bead Weaving Basics: Starting, Adding, and Ending Thread

When your band is the desired length, remove the first row of ladder stitch. Stitch the last row into the second row (now the first row) to form a continuous band.

Thread a five-foot length of Leather Cord USA 1mm natural red brown round leather through two beads in the center of one of your rows and center the leather on the beads. Bring one half of the leather to the corresponding outside edge of your band to begin stitching the leather to the edge. Stop when you reach where you started. Stitch the other side of the leather to the other edge of the band in the same manner.

Bring one of the leather ends through the start of the edge and then through the loop of leather between the two center seed beads. Repeat for the other leather end. Stitch the leather ends under the loop to the beads underneath it to secure them in place. Knot the ends of the leather and trim.

List of Components:
Miyuki 8g 8/0 Metallic Matte Dark Copper Delicas (DBL0312, qty 2)
TOHO Bead Round 8/0 Frosted Ceylon Cream (TBRD8-147F, qty 2)
Miyuki 8/0 Round Seed Beads - Silver-Lined Rose Bronze Alabaster 22g Vial (MR8-0641, qty 1)
Leather Cord USA 1mm Natural Red Brown Round Leather - By the Foot (BTF-0822, qty 5)