Beaded Tape Measure — Bead Embroidery PDF Tutorial | Decorated Tape Measure

Transform a plain craft tape measure into a beaded showpiece — the gift for a maker who has everything (including you).

This is a project that sits at the intersection of functional and wonderful. A 2-inch round plastic craft tape measure gets a peyote Delica band around its edge, a cabochon glued to the face, a netting finish on the back over the button, and a beaded fringe crown at the top — perfect for a flower crown effect using a Painted Lady or character cabochon. The band is worked in even count peyote starting from the centre and working outward, attached with double-sided tape, then finished with decreasing rounds of netting to capture the button side. The result is a fully beaded, fully functional tape measure that looks like jewellery. A thoroughly satisfying intermediate project.

This 13-page PDF includes 9 detailed steps plus a full tab construction guide, a double odd-count peyote reference section, and a herringbone-style Delica graph. Blank graph template also included for designing your own pattern.

Bead list: 1 × 2-inch round flat-backed cabochon (e.g. Painted Lady style), 5g Delica beads (main colour or pattern — approx. 5g total), 2g size 15 beads Colour A, 2g size 15 beads Colour B, 2g size 11 beads Colour C, 2g size 11 beads Colour D, 1 × 18mm Lunar Soft round cab, 5–6 embellishing beads (crystals, flowers, bicones), optional 3mm rounds ×30, optional 2mm fire polish ×30, optional 3mm bicones ×20, 1 × 2-inch plastic craft tape measure, E6000 glue, ¼ inch Terrifically Tacky Tape.

Skill level: Intermediate — knowledge of peyote stitch, netting, and decreasing required.
Techniques: Even count peyote, netting, decreasing, fringe, double odd-count peyote, gluing and assembly.

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.