Beaded Name Badge — Bead Embroidery PDF Tutorial | Custom Lettering

Bead embroider your own name — a wearable, one-of-a-kind badge that's as personal as it gets.

This tutorial shows you how to create a business card-sized bead embroidered name badge using a backstitch lettering technique on Lacy's Stiff Stuff foundation fabric. You trace or draw your name, stitch it in contrasting beads, fill the background with layers of seed bead texture, then back, edge, and finish the piece as a brooch or pendant. It's freeform, forgiving, and a brilliant way to use up your bead stash. Includes a full cursive alphabet template so you can trace any name or initial. Inspired by the work of bead embroidery master Sherry Serafini.

This 6-page PDF includes 7 step-by-step instructions covering tracing, backstitching letters, background fill, gluing and backing, edge stitch, and finishing. Also includes a full cursive alphabet font template and annotated photo of a completed name badge showing all the key elements.

Bead list: 10cm × 15cm Lacy's Stiff Stuff foundation, 10cm × 15cm Ultrasuede backing, 5g size 15 seed beads Colour 1 (background), 2g size 15 seed beads Colour 2 (highlight/edging), 1g size 15 or 11 seed beads Colour 3 (lettering), 5–6 crystals or decorative feature beads (optional), 1 × brooch/pin back or magnetic name badge finding, E6000 glue.

Skill level: Beginner — no prior bead embroidery knowledge required.
Techniques: Bead embroidery, backstitch, stop stitch, edge stitch (modified brick stitch), gluing and backing.

On A String is a small Australian beading business created by Paula — a beader, teacher, and maker who believes the craft is better when it's shared. Every tool is designed from the beading table. Every tutorial is written from experience.