This is just a little trick that I use to make my ladder stitch kandi more even. If you don't like ladder stitch, this might help make it more enjoyable for you as well! This is not a tutorial for ladder stitch itself, but I'm more than happy to make one if desired.
Step 1
Get some disposable straws, plastic or paper. I'm using what I happen to have on hand (paper cocktail straws) and I encourage you to do the same. Plastic straws are better for this sort of project because they're cheaper, more flexible, and can add a pop of color. However, paper straws are just as viable and buying them helps support sustainability efforts, if that's something you're willing and able to spend a little extra money on.
Step 2
Cut the straw down the middle. This is what will make the straw fit inside the bead. If you're using beads with larger holes than standard 6 x 9 mm pony beads, you might not have to do this. It doesn't hurt to check and see.
Step 3
Optionally, cut a thin piece off down the middle if need be. I found this super helpful with my paper straws and it can help a lot with larger straws (think a McDonald's straw or bigger). I recommend trying this trick out without making another cut first, especially if you're using a plastic straw.
Step 4
Pinch the sides of your straw together to make it fit inside your bead. One side should go underneath the other, unless you've cut off enough of the straw that it fits without curling up inside the bead like mine.
Step 5
Add on the number of beads you need for a row minus one. The pattern I'm following has 4 beads for this row, so I'm adding 3. I'm doing this to keep the straw shorter than my row of beads, which helps the straw not stick out on the sides. I recommend pushing the straw all the way through your last bead.
Step 6
Cut the straw with the beads still on it. It might look like I'm cutting flesh against the beads, but the thickness of the scissors' blades leaves a gap between the beads and the cut line. It's better to cut too big of a piece than too small of a piece because you can always trim it down later.
Step 7
Gently slide your beads down the straw to make room for the last bead. It's OK if the beads fall off; just add them back on.
Step 8
Add the last bead of the row. It's OK if it looks a little loose because your string will keep it on nice and tight, but if it falls apart when you move it around, try again with a bigger piece of straw. If your straw is sticking out or you want to hide it a little more, feel free to take the last bead off and trim the straw down. Cut off as little as you can at a time to make sure you don't accidentally make it too short.
Step 9
Optionally, swirl the inside of your row of beads with something long and thin. This opens up the hole a little more and just makes it looks tidy. Try this if you're using a paper straw and/or having a harder time fitting your string through your beads. I'm using a sewing needle in this picture, but you can also use something like a thumb tack, a straight pin, or a safety pin (if you're careful).
Thanks for checking this out! I hope you found this helpful, especially those of you who have a hard time with this stitch. Feel free to reach out if you have questions or want to see another tutorial! Keep in mind that the straws will make the holes in your beads smaller, especially paper straws. Because of this, I recommend using string that's 1 mm or smaller with this method. I know 1.2 mm exists and that might be fine (I don't have it to test myself), but 1.5 mm was not fun for me personally. Patterns Used: • Toadette - https://www.evsbeadiecrafts.com • Cosmic Brownie - https://kandipad.com/pattern/cosmic-brownie-ladder-cuff-4380711 • Pink Gingham - https://kandipad.com/pattern/gingham-ladder-cuff-11411016 • Quick Ball - https://kandipad.com/pattern/pokemon-quick-ball-cuff-ladder-or-square-stitch-5330602 • Tetris - https://kandipad.com/pattern/accurate-tetris-cuff-7621327 • Smile (don't mind that I made wrong) - https://kandipad.com/pattern/smile-but-ladder-stich-2272350