A tension bead or stopper bead is used to keep beads from falling off the thread and to help maintain the tension in a piece of beadwork. The tension bead is not counted in a project bead count, since the bead is removed once the beading is complete. There is usually a 4-6" length of thread below a tension bead, which is woven into the beadwork once the tension bead has been removed.

To add a tension bead, pass the thread through the bead, then loop around and pass through the bead again in the same direction. The thread is anchored without any knots. The position of the tension bead can be adjusted.

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