DIY Network

French-Beaded Clover Pin From "Jewelry Making" episode DJMK-213

Use this French beading technique to create a lovely blossom.

Guest artist Arlene Baker shares some of her beaded bouquets with host Jackie Guerra.

Materials:

Size 11 seed beads - one hank pink or color of choice for flowers and bud
Size 11 seed beads - one hank green for leaves and calyx
One spool 28-gauge gold or silver beading wire
One spool 34-gauge gold or silver beading wire
1" pin clasp with prongs
One skein embroidery floss
Water-soluble white glue
1/2 yard of 1/4" wide velvet ribbon
Wire cutters
Needle nose pliers (with smooth jaws)
Ruler
Wire straighteners
Scissors
Wire spool holders
Toothpicks

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	Master the technique and create beautiful rose bouquets ...
	... or even a bundle of lavender!

Flower Petals

• Using 28-gauge wire and plum beads, make continuous single loops, five on one wire, 3/4" beads per loop. Make two.

  
  

• Using 28-gauge wire and plum beads, make Continuous Single Loops, eight on one wire, 1" beads per loop. Make two.

• Using 28-gauge wire and green beads, make continuous single loops, five on one wire with one bead between each loop, 5/8" beads per loop. The extra bead between the loops enlarges the center opening in the calyx to accommodate the stem wire extensions below the petals. Be sure to count the number of beads that make 5/8" before you make the first loop.
  
  
• Slide one bead from the beaded spool wire close to the base of the first loop. Count the number of beads needed for the second Loop and make it next to the extra bead with Wire B.
  Slide one bead from the beaded spool wire close to the base of the second loop. Count the number of beads needed for the third loop and make it next to the extra bead with Wire B. Repeat the process to make the fourth and fifth loops.

  
  

• Slide one bead from the beaded spool wire close to the fifth loop to complete the sequence (this bead will be between the fifth and first loop) and finish the unit.

Bud Petals

• Using 28-gauge wire and plum beads, make continuous single loops, five on one wire, 3/4" beads per loop. Make one.

• Using 28-gauge wire and green beads, make continuous single loops, three on one wire, with one bead between each loop, 5/8" beads per loop. Make the bud calyx the same way you made the flower calyx. Make one.

Leaves

• Using 28-gauge wire and green beads, make continuous single loops, four on one wire, 1" beads per loop. Pinch the sides together to narrow the loops as you make them. Finish the unit as instructed in continuous single loops, but flatten the loops instead of leaving them bunched together (they should stand up like the four fingers of your hand). Make four.

• Assemble the flower by stacking one 5-loop petal and one 8-loop petal. Then insert the stem wires below these petals down into the center of one 5-loop calyx unit.
  
  
• Thread the stem wire extensions below one 5-loop petal through the middle of one 8-Loop petal. Push them together so the small petal is nestled within the large petal.
  
  
• Straighten the stem wires and trim the ends evenly. Push these wires through the opening in the center of one 5-loop calyx unit. Pull the stem wires down and simultaneously push the calyx up against the bottom of the clover.
  
  
• Repeat the process to assemble the remaining flower.

Thread the stem wire extensions below the bud down into the center of the 3-loop calyx unit the same way as the flower.

• Use 3 strands of embroidery floss or stranded silk for the final finish on all the stems. Wrap each stem for the entire length.

• Group the flowers, bud and leaves to make a small bouquet. Use a clothespin or piece of transparent tape to hold the stems together temporarily. Cut a 10" length of bare 34-gauge wire. Leave a 2" wire extension and put the rest of the wire against the stems slightly below the clustered flower. Hold the wire and the stems between the thumb and forefinger of one hand and use your other hand to wrap the longer end of the 34-gauge wire in a tight spiral around the entire bouquet.

  
  

• Remove the clothespin or tape. Keep the wraps close together. Do not wind straight down the stems.

  
  

• When the stems are securely bound together, wrap back to the starting point and the 2" wire extension. Cross one wire over the other and twist them together for about 1/4". Trim away the remaining untwisted wires close to the last twist. Use the tip of your needle-nose pliers to smooth the cut ends and press the twisted wires next to the stems.
  
  
• Cut a 4" length of the same floss used to wrap the stems. Use a toothpick to dab a little glue on the binding wires. Starting from the back side of the bouquet, press one end of the floss against the binding wires and into the glue. Take the other end of the floss and wrap it around the binding wires to cover them. Keep the thread smooth and flat as you wind.
  
  
• End the wrapping on the back side of the bouquet.

  
  

• Trim the floss and dab a bit more glue on the thread ends. Use your fingers to smooth them against the covered binding wires. Allow the glue to dry.
  
  
• Position the pin clasp on the back side of the bouquet with the catch pointing down the stem (the pin should be closer to the top of the bouquet than near the middle to keep the pin from falling forward when you wear it). Slip the prongs over several flower stems. Use the tip of your needle-nose pliers to bend the prongs around the stems.

  
  

• Tie a bow around the stem just below the clustered flowers. Trim both ends of the ribbon on the diagonal.
  
  
• Curl the tips of the petals and bend the leaves to make them look natural. Rearrange flowers as necessary to make the bouquet look attractive.

RESOURCES :

Beads in Bloom: The Art of Making French Beaded Flowers
by Arlene Baker
Interweave Press, 2002
ISBN: 1931499063