Carolin 
For a long time, I didn't quite dare to try tatting with beads. As it turns out, it's much easier than I expected—and a lot of fun. Depending on the type and number of beads you use, the finished lace can look elegant and sophisticated, rustic, or delightfully over-the-top. Just give it a try!
How Does Beaded Tatting Work?
There are several ways to incorporate beads into tatted lace. In most techniques, the beads are first threaded onto the shuttle thread in the required quantity and then positioned at specific points while tatting. Alternatively, individual beads can be threaded onto a picot and secured when making the join. The following illustration provides an overview.
Bead(s) Between Elements
This is the simplest method. After finishing one element, slide a bead from the supply on the shuttle thread close to the last double stitch, then continue with the next element as usual.
Bead(s) in a Picot
To place a bead inside a picot, the beads must be threaded onto the thread that forms the double stitches. For chains, this is the ball thread. For rings, slide the required number of beads onto the core thread before forming the ring by making the first double stitch.
A particularly beautiful effect can be achieved by placing several beads in one picot while leaving the core thread slightly loose alongside them.
Schöne Effekte enstehen hierbei, wenn man mehrere Perlen in ein Picot setzt und den Innenfaden locker daneben liegen lässt.
Bead(s) Between Double Stitches
Placing beads between double stitches works exactly the same way as placing beads between elements.
Bead(s) Threaded onto a Picot
As mentioned earlier, you can also slip beads onto a picot before joining to it. Make sure the picot is long enough and that the bead hole is large enough for two threads to pass through.
Materials
Seed Beads
Seed beads are small, slightly rounded glass beads. They are inexpensive and available in virtually every color imaginable. Their holes are short and smooth, and with a little practice, they can even be threaded directly onto size 10 crochet cotton without a needle.
Seed beads are also easy to find second-hand. Chances are there are more seed beads tucked away in your neighbors' craft supplies than you could ever use in a lifetime.
Rocailles kann man sehr gut gebraucht bekommen. Vermutlich schlummern im Bastelmaterial Deiner Nachbarschaft mehr Rocailles, als Du in Deinem Leben verarbeiten kannst.
Faux Pearls
Faux pearls are perfectly round and slightly larger than seed beads. They are made of plastic with a glossy pearl-like coating. Their holes are larger and longer, although the coating often makes them slightly rough on the inside. They are easy to thread using an ordinary sewing needle.
Real Pearls
eal Pearls For especially elegant tatted jewelry, you can of course use genuine pearls.
Other Beads
Beaded tatting offers endless opportunities for creativity. In fact, you can incorporate almost anything with a hole in it—metal beads, sequins, buttons, charms, wooden beads... use whatever makes you happy.
Beading Needle
If you plan to work with lots of beads, it's worth investing in a beading needle. These needles are extremely thin and flexible. With ordinary sewing needles, the eye is often too large to fit through small beads. A beading needle has a long, narrow eye, making the entire needle flatter and easier to pass through tiny bead holes.
How many beads are hiding in your craft supplies? I'd love to hear—leave me a comment!
