Beads, buttons and sequins can all turn a plain flower into something spectacular!
You can add one button to the centre or make a real statement by adding maximum bling!
In the tutorial below I show you how to sew a button with decorative bead treatment, seqiuned edging and a dense beaded centre.
Mix and match the different techniques to create a different look every time!
Firstly you will need to make a flower 🙂 Use any type of centre treatment that does not cover the centre of your flower. | |
Using a beading needle and some fine sewing or beading thread, make a few stitches in the centre of your flower to anchor the end of the thread.
Now, thread a bead, or a few beads onto your needle and start sewing them on to the centre of your flower. I like to pass the needle all the way through the flower to the back when I stitch my beads on. |
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Keep stitching them on until you have filled as much of the centre as you desire. | |
I filled the centre of my flower completely. Take your beading thread to the back of your flower and fasten it off. | |
If you want to add a circle of sequins continue as follows.
With a new thread, make a couple of tiny stitches at the edge of the centre of your flower. |
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Place a sequin on your flower behind the thread and poke the needle down through the centre and pull it out the back of the flower. | |
Your sequin will look like this. | |
Bring the thread back through the flower about half a sequin’s width in front of the first one. | |
Lay down a second sequin, half over the top of the first one and stitch down. | |
Bring the thread back to the front half a sequin’s width in front of the second sequin.
Continue adding sequins in this way until you have gone all the way round. |
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You will have two sequins sitting side by side. You still need to add one more before you are completely finished! | |
Bring your needle through the flower from the back, underneath the very first sequin that you stitched onto your flower. | |
Poke a sequin under the first sequin so that only half of it shows and stitch it down. | |
Now you’re almost finished! | |
Pop your flower off the loom and secure the loose threads on the back. Heavily beaded flower such as these make great brooches to wear on a hat. | |
To make a flower with a much simpler centre, you can add a nice button with just a couple of beads.
First, make a flower in your choice of style. Use any type of centre treatment that does not cover the centre of your flower. |
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Take a doubled piece of sewing thread in an ordinary sharp sewing needle and secure it in the centre of your flower by making a couple of stitches. | |
Sew on your button, making sure it is nice and secure.
Then thread on a few beads, enough to cover the gap between the holes on the button. |
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Pass your needle back through the button and secure firmly on the back with a few more stitches. | |
Pop your flower off the loom. Secure all loose ends by darning them in on the back and admire your handiwork! |
Copyright Sarah Bradberry April 2007. All rights reserved.