Try Russian Chevron Chain

Russian chevron chain isn't quite the same as the chevron stitch you might be familiar with from the work of Designer of the Year Melanie Potter, but it's a fast and easy way to make lovely beaded bracelets and necklaces. While it more closely resembles St. Petersburgh chain in its construction, Russian chevron is a delightful bead-weaving stitch that can be modified in dozens of ways to suit any taste or project!

To get started with Russian chevron, all you need are three different colors of seed beads (A, B, and C) in size 11/0. Once you learn the basic thread path, try substituting Czech fire polished beads, round glass druks, or crystal bicones for some fun variations. If you want to begin by making a bracelet, choose a fun button for your clasp or closure.

Begin by cutting a comfortable length of thread. (About 5' is enough to make a bracelet for your first experiments with this stitch.) String a stop bead in the center of the thread. (Note: You can also work this base using a two-needle technique.)

		Pick up 5A and 1B. Repeat until you have reached your desired length. Measure your button, and make a loop at the end large enough to slip over the button. Pass back through the last B added, and through the next 3A.
		Thread a needle on the other side of the thread and remove the stop bead. Pick up 1B and 10A. Pass back through the 1B to form a loop.
		To work the second side of the base, pick up 5A and pass through the next B in the base.
		Repeat until you get to the clasp loop. Pass through all the beads in the clasp loop, and then back through the B at the base of the loop. Continue through the first 3A on the opposite side of the base. (You should have two working threads, one on each side of your base.
		To begin adding your side embellishments, pick up 7C and pass through the bead you exited at the beginning of this step, plus the next bead.
		Pull snugly to form a little loop. Pass your needle down through the last 3 beads added in the previous step. Pick up 1B, and pass through the center bead in the next unit of the base. Pull snugly to bring the embellishments up towards the next unit, and repeat.
		You might notice your Russian chevron pulling to one side as you add embellishments to the first side. Keep your embellishments snug, but not too tight. When you add embellishments on the second side, keep your tension snug as you did on the first side, and the beadwork will form a flat chain. If you need to, you can use your fingers to smooth out your Russian chevron chain as you stitch.

Want to learn more about stitching chevron chain? If you're new to this fun, versatile bead-weaving stitch, I can highly recommend Bead Stitching Chevron Chain with Melanie Potter. When I'm learning a new bead-weaving stitch like chevron chain, it helps for me to be able to see it demonstrated by a real person. Learn how to stitch flat, tubular, and circular chevron chain, along with other creative variations of this bead-weaving stitch. Best of all, you can download your copy of Bead Stitching Chevron Chain with Melanie Potter on your favorite desktop or laptop computer and be watching and beading in just minutes!

Have you worked with Russian chevron chain before? Do you know anything about the origins of this bead-weaving stitch? Leave a comment here on the Beading Daily blog and share your knowledge, tips, and techniques with us!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer