Join Nichole Vogelsinger for a cozy beaded embroidery project called Winter Skies. In this tutorial, you will stitch a night sky hoop featuring beaded tree branches, a satin stitched moon with a beaded outline, and an embroidered owl finished with bead accents and star like crystals.

Nichole walks you through choosing fabric and hoop size (6 inch or 7 inch), transferring the pattern, and setting up your hoop so everything stays crisp and smooth. You will also learn how to use a bead spinner to quickly string and stitch long rows of seed beads for the trees, plus a simple alternative method for shorter sections if you do not have a spinner.

Along the way you will pick up several stitches that level up any bead embroidery project, including satin stitch, stem stitch for beaded outlines, back stitch, trellis or lattice stitch, and colonial knots. The finishing touches include Czech crystal “stars” that bring the whole winter sky scene to life.

If you make your own Winter Skies, tag #makeitwithmichaels or #learnwithmichaels and show off your version. Different bead mixes, thread colors, and star placement will make every hoop totally unique.

Pattern PDF is here.

TIPS:

To sew beads to fabric we recommend GoodThread. It is an ideal thread and already used by beaders for fringe and other bead weaving projects.

Nichole uses some specialty variegated threads for the wings on her bird. You can use and DMC thread you like. We recommend DMC size 5 pearl cotton for all the color stitching.

About Nichole Vogelsinger

Nichole Vogelsinger is an artist and author living in scenic Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with her husband and two sons. Coming from a family of creatives, Nichole’s passion for fibers, beads, and fabric started early. In 2012, she developed her signature embroidery hoop designs, combining fabric and intricate embellishments, which she shares with a global audience on Instagram (@wildboho). Her free-spirited approach—balancing chaos and control—encourages stitchers to explore creativity without limits.

Nichole creates video content and classes for John Bead and produces tutorials on her own YouTube channel, sharing her expertise with a wider community. She regularly teaches embroidery workshops across the U.S. and is the author of three books: Boho Embroidery: Modern Projects from Traditional Stitches, Boho Embroidery: The Pattern Collection, and her latest release, Needles Out! (2024). For more information, visit her at www.wildboho.com.

 

Here is a link to many of her other free tutorials for John Bead.

Here is a link to the entire John Bead for Michaels Stores collection.