How to make Tubular Chenille Stitch?

Tubular Chenille stitch is one of the needle-weaving techniques used to create beaded tubes for necklaces and bracelets. Other techniques include the Russian spiral, peytwist, tubular herringbone, cubic right-angle weave (CRAW), prismatic right-angle weave (PRAW) and probably others. For crochet lovers, there's the crochet spiral. We've already got quite a few technical sheets and tutorials on some of these techniques on our site if you're ever interested.

Tubular Chenille stitch is a variation on Flat Chenille Stitch. You can use Seed beads 11/0 or 8/0, half-round Toho seed beads with normal seed beads and lots of other types of beads. Always try to use beads of the same proportions. Tubular Chenille stitch is also available with and without borders. This is the version without borders.

On this technical data sheet, you'll find the video tutorial "Chenille Stitch Tubulaire bracelet and Terracotta ceramic heishi beads". For more information on this bracelet, go to the tutorial page. You'll also find the materials needed for this DIY bead at the bottom of the page.

Chenille stitch in tube is very easy and customizable. We present here a version with 6 beads as a base, but you can adapt it as long as the number remains even and greater than or equal to 4.

Before you start, be aware that at first your weave won't look like a tube. You'll need to tighten the weave as you go along, respecting the steps, and your weave will take on a cylinder shape by the fourth or fifth step.

Step 1:
Start by threading 6 identical beads and form a loop by ironing through all the beads and a third time through the last bead threaded.

Step 2:
String a different bead, in this case green, and pass through the next two beads in the previous row.

Step 3:
Thread a new green bead and pass again through the next two beads in the previous row. Continue doing the same with a third green bead and thread through the first green bead as well.

Step 4:
Thread between each green bead 2 more beads of a different color or the same color as the first row. Emerge from the first bead threaded in this third row.

Step 5:
Place a green bead or a bead of a different color between each duo from the previous row, and thread through two beads from the previous row each time.