 | 1. To start the first row, sting 4 beads and tie the thread into a snug circle. Pass the needle through the first 3 beads again. (Maintain a firm tension to form the distinctive cross shape.) |
 | 2. Pick up 3 more beads(#5, 6, and 7) and sew back through the last bead of the previous circle and beads #5 and 6. |
 | 3. Pick up 3 more beads and sew back through #6 and the first 2 new beads. Continue adding 3 beads for each stitch until the first row is the desired length. You are sewing circles in a figure-eight pattern and alternating the direction with each stitch. |
 | 4. To begin row 2, sew through the last 3 beads of the last stitch on row 1, exiting the bead at the edge of one long side. |
 | 5. Pick up 3 beads and sew back through the bead you exited in figure 4 (the first "top" bead of row 1) and the first new bead. |
 | 6. Pick up 2 beads and sew back through the next top bead of the previous row and the last bead of the previous stitch. Keep the thread moving in a firgure-eight pattern. Pick up 2 beads for the remaining stitches on the row. Don't sew straight between stitches. |