STEP 1:
Thread your needle with a generous armspan of thread (around 120 - 150cm). String four beads and form into a square by passing through the first bead strung. You can knot the beads into the square if you wish. If you’ve tied a knot sew away from the knot by passing through the next bead. This square forms the bottom or floor of the fifirst cube.
STEP 2:
The first three sides of this first cube are initially formed flat then pulled up in step 6. To form the first side of the cube, string three beads and sew through the bead on the bottom square that you’ve just come out of – you only need three beads for this side because the bead in the bottom acts as the fourth bead. Without picking up a bead, sew through the next bead on the bottom square so you’re in the right place to add the next side of the cube.
STEP 3:
String two beads and sew through the first bead strung in the previous step and the bead on the bottom square you’ve just come out of. You only need to add two beads this time because you’re including two that are already in place. Don’t worry that the beads get a little out of place at this stage.
STEP 4:
Without picking up a bead, sew through the next bead on the bottom square so you’re in the right place to add the third side of the cube. String two beads and sew through the first bead strung in the previous step and the bead on the bottom square you’ve just come out of. As before, you only need to add two beads because there are two beads already in place
STEP 5:
The last side only needs one more bead so to get to the right place to add it, sew through the next bead on the bottom square then through the third bead strung in step 2 (indicated with an arrow).
STEP 6:
Gently pull the thread so that the three sides sit up on top of the bottom square of beads – here the beadwork is shown looking down on the top of the cube. You can now clearly see the gap where the last bead should go. String a bead then sew down the bead indicated by the arrow.
STEP 7:
Here the beadwork is tilted over to show the fourth side of the cube. To secure this last bead, sew through the bead on the bottom square that is parallel with the one you’ve just added. Then sew up the bead you came out of in step 5 and last bead added (indicated with arrows). You’re back to the top of the cube.
STEP 8:
Looking back down onto the top of the cube you can see that the four beads aren’t actually linked to each other. So sew through all four beads on the top then to get to the right place to begin the next cube go through the next top bead again. The top of this cube now becomes the new bottom of the next cube.
STEP 9:
Go back to step 2 to add the next cube. Here is the first side of the second cube added. Note that you are now working in the opposite direction around the new bottom square. Continue adding cubes as desired
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