If you’ve ever wanted embroidery to feel less delicate and more daring, this beaded snake hoop is perfect.
The contrast of bright green crystals against black velvet gives the illusion of movement, almost as if the serpent is ready to coil. It’s a fantastic way to play with texture.
You’ll find yourself balancing color shades, adding depth with darker greens, and letting the beads create scales that shine under light.
Materials Needed
- 1 embroidery hoop (8″-10″, wooden or metal)
- Black velvet fabric
- 100-150 assorted green beads and crystals (sizes 2-6 mm, mix of shades)
- Beading needle (size 10 or 12) and strong nylon thread
- Chalk pencil or fabric marker
- Fabric scissors
- Optional: backing fabric
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Stretch black velvet over the inner ring of the embroidery hoop, making sure the fabric is taut.
Step 2: Use a chalk pencil to sketch the outline of a snake shape, smooth curves work best.
Step 3: Thread your beading needle with nylon thread and begin attaching beads along the outline, starting with larger beads for definition.
Step 4: Fill in the snake shape bead by bead, layering smaller crystals between larger ones to mimic scales.
Step 5: Once the snake is fully filled in, knot the thread securely on the back. Trim excess thread and attach a backing fabric for a neat finish.
Tip: Vary bead sizes and shades of green for a realistic, shimmering effect. Adding one or two jewel-toned accent beads, like sapphire or emerald, creates unexpected highlights.