Herringbone: Oxford Definition – an arrangement or design consisting of columns of short parallel lines, with all the lines in one column sloping one way and all the lines in the next column sloping the other way so as to resemble the bones in a fish, used especially in the weave of cloth or the placing of bricks.

(Obviously, Oxford didn’t know that beading also uses this sloping column set-up!)

As you see in the bracelet above right, ("Sleeker" bracelet from beadifulgifts.com. Designer: May Brisebois) the Ndebele is supple, and is versatile in that one can incorporate different sizes of beads and beads of different shapes quite easily. 

This remarkably fluid stitch, offers amazing drape rather than stiffness.

“Seven Rings Necklace,” from beadifulgifts.com.
Designer: May Brisebois

How To

As with so many beading stitches, the first row or first few rows, are the tricksiest! So it is with Ndebele.

This stitch begins with a row of ladder stitch. If you’re making a tubular herringbone rope, that may only be eight beads, but if you’re doing a long flat piece, that will take some patience! (In the Ndebele tribe, for example, they use the stitch to bead ceremonial aprons, about 200 beads across. Yikes!!

The ladder stitch begins with a row of beads that sit side by side, as you see in the screenshot, left.

YouTube tutorial on the ladder stitch by brickstitchbeadpatterns.com

 The first row sets the foundation, the subsequent rows build the herringbone pattern.

Screenshot, Norgard Design’s 2024 Global Project, “Honoring the Ndebele.” Instructor: Anvi Shah.

The link above will take you to a tutorial in tubular Ndebele, taught by bead artist, Anvi Shah.

Conserving a Ndebele beaded blanket – The British Museum

The link above gives you a “behind the scenes” look at how conservators work to repair an Ndebele beaded blanket for exhibit – fascinating!

Part 1 Beaded Ndebele pattern, from Fabulously crafts, YouTube channel.

Learn how to bead a flat Ndebele pattern in this 4-part series.

And finally, a few simply amazing creations, based on the herringbone stitch by gifted bead designer River Rose, as credited.

“Little Rosie” Vessel, ETSY. BeadingwithRiverRose. Designed by River.

“Lotus Petals” Vessel, ETSY, BeadingwithRiverRose. Designed by River.

And below, “Bauble Flower, Thistle Pattern” ETSY, BeadingwithRiverRose. Designed by River.

I hope you’ll give this stitch a try. It’s my go-to stitch for necklaces, simply because it has the most drape of any stitch I’ve tried! But it also holds its shape, as you can see by these amazing sculptural pieces.

Until next month my little bead sprouts, bead on!

-          Cathy