How to Use the Sewing Machine Beading Foot

With the beading foot, you are able to attach strings of beads, pearls, and other stringed embellishments to your sewing project with your sewing machine.

What the Beading Foot Looks Like

Beading feet have a deep groove or channel on the underside of the foot. The foot is usually short and chunky. The width and depth of the groove on the underside varies based on the size of beads it was designed for. Most machines offer the beading foot in three sizes: 6mm, 4mm, or 2-3mm. If your machine did not come with a beading foot you can usually find one on Amazon for around $6.00.

How the Beading Foot Works

The beads nestle into the groove on the underside of the foot. The machine is set to a zig-zag stitch. As the beads pass by a stitch is created between the beads. This creates a safe and secure stitch.

Depending on the weight of the fabric and the beads you may need to place some stabilizer under the fabric where the beads are being placed. As always a few test stitches are a good idea.

How to Use the Beading Foot

1. Snap on the Beading Foot.

2. Thread the sewing machine with a thread that matches the fabric or a clear nylon thread in the needle.

3. Set the machine to a zig-zag stitch and increase the stitch length and width just a bit.

4. Place stabilizer under the fabric if needed. Place the string of beads or pearls under the foot, laying them in the groove on the underside of the Beading Foot. Lower the presser foot. Turn the handwheel to make some stitches by hand carefully.

5. Begin sewing. If this is the first time to use the foot go slow. Do not push on the beads or pull the fabric from behind. All you need to do is guide the beads.

Pro-Tip: Stitch pearls to a scrap of fabric first to test thread tension, presser foot pressure, stitch length and width according to the beads. Make adjustments if needed. Stitch slowly.

As always, if you have any questions about this technique let me know in the comments section and I'll be happy to help!