Beading Tutorial: Chevron Chain with Tilas

Miyuki will be launching 30 new Tila two-hole bead colors this fall, with lots of fun shades, including some new non-metallic colors that beaders are sure to love. These unique little seed bead cousins are really fun to use, although they take some getting used to. Ever since the original release of Tilas, beaders have been looking for ways to weave them with their other seed bead favorites.

Openwork stitches are ideal for Tilas, because they work well with the double hole design. Using Tilas as shared or anchor beads in netted beadwork makes for some fun variations on classic styles. In anticipation of the new Tila colors, we’re going to take a look at incorporating Tilas into basic chevron chain, then double up for a mirror effect.

Chevron chain is a variation of netting that can be divided into three sections: the outer loops, and central zigzags, with shared beads connecting them. This tutorial uses two colors of 11/o seed beads, with color B making up the zigzag section.

One Tila equals about three 11/o seed beads, and they are mirrored here by two 6/o Czech seed beads. Both the Tilas and the 6/o beads are bumpered with an 11/o seed bead to make up the loop sections of the Chevron chain. You could also use 8/o seed beads, all 11/o beads, or another combination that you like.

Basic Chevron Chain with Tilas

Attach a stop bead to a comfortable length of beading thread, leaving an 8 inch tail. Pick up 3 color A seed beads, 3 color B, 4 A, 2 6/o seed beads, 4 A, and 3 B.

Stitch down through the first three seed beads picked up to form a teardrop shaped loop. Pull snug.

Pick up 1 A, 1 Tila, 4 A and 3 B. Stitch up through the first three A at the side of the loop. These make up the first shared section. Pull snug to bring the new beads into a new teardrop loop.

Pick up 1 A, 2 6/o seed beads, 4 A and 3 B. Stitch down through the first 3 A on the side of the loop below. Pull snug to form a third loop that mimics the first.

Pick up 1 A, 1 Tila, 4 A and 3 B. Stitch up through the 3 shared beads of the previous loop.

Continue adding beads in this pattern until the chain reaches the desired length. Finish with a 6/o loop.

Connecting a Second Chain to the Tilas

Attach a stop bead to a new length of thread, and pick up 3 A, 3 B, 4 A, 2 6/o, 4 A, and 3 B. Stitch down through the first three A to form a teardrop.

Pick up 1 A, and stitch through the first Tila in the previous chain.

Pick up 4 A and 3 B, and stitch through the 3 shared A in the new loop.

Pick up 1 A, 2 6/o, 4 A and 3 B. Stitch down through the next 3 shared A seed beads and pull snug.

Pick up 1 A and pass through the next Tila. Repeat until you have filled in all the Tilas with new chevrons. Finish with a 6/o loop.

This technique works up really fast, and doesn’t use much thread. The row of Tilas in the center of the beadwork adds a lot of charm to the simple chevron chain, and provides some interesting opportunities for color patterns. I’d love to make one with a single seed bead color, and a repeating pattern of three Tila colors in the middle.

Happy beading!

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