>Layering 101

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I have been beading my Citgo sign, but first, I want to show you what I worked on all day yesterday.

You guessed it- more layering on my beaded Boston Green Line train! I used size 15 clear seed beads with gray and black thread. I backstitched the beads right over top of the white beads. It took me a whole day to do that, and I don't even think I'm done with it! I'm hoping the different grays will 'darken' the white body of the trolley just a bit because I want it to look like the night train. :D

(19" x 7". Click images to enlarge.)

Layering seed beads like this is not easy. It does take a lot of patience. I try to pull the thread gently on each stitch so that the beads do not fall in between the bottom rows of beads. And, sometimes the bottom rows do not sit properly, so I have to go back and stitch through those again. That is probably what I'll be doing today. Here are some close-up pics. Also, compare it with a previous photo of the trolley. Does it look like this technique is working??

If you'd like to learn more about bead embroidery and how I do this layering technique, please check my EBSQ tutorial... :D