[sam id=2 codes='false']
[sam id=12 codes='false']
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INTRODUCTION TO FLOWER STITCH
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| The Flower Stitch can be used for pendants, earrings and even window hangings. This stitch is a favorite because of the many things which can be done with it. Through some experimentation, you can develop other patterns from it. The example shown here has three rows while the pattern pages show four rows. You can expand the circles out as far as you want by adding more rows. After you’ve done this stitch a few times, try experimenting on your own. Print out the pattern pages and make copies to develop your design ideas.
Alternate names for this stitch include: African Flower, Flower Mandala, African Flower Mandala |
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ROW 1
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STEP 1
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| Pick up the first bead on the needle. Pull the bead down the thread, leaving six to eight inches of thread as a tail. Now pass the needle up through the bottom of the bead. Try not to split the thread as it will be removed later.
See Starting in Chapter One for detailed explanations of this process. |
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| Figure 5.1 |
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STEP 2
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| String eleven more beads (#2 to #12) onto the needle and make a circle by passing the needle through bead #1 again. |
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| Figure 5.2 |
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ROW 2
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STEP 3
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| Pick up three beads (#13, #14 and #15) and pass the needle through bead #3. |
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| Figure 5.3 |
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STEP 4
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| Pick up three beads (#16, #17 and #18) and pass the needle through bead #5. |
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| Figure 5.4 |
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STEP 5
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| Continue in this manner (picking up three more beads each time) for beads #7, #9, #11 and #1 as shown in Figure 5.5 |
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| Figure 5.5 |
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STEP 6
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| Now pass the needle back through beads #13 and #14 as shown in Figure 5.6 |
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| Figure 5.6 |
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ROW 3
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STEP 7
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| Pick up five beads (#31 through #35) and pass the needle through bead #17. |
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| Figure 5.7 |
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STEP 8
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| Continue in this manner (picking up five beads each time) for beads #20, #23, #26, #29 and #14 as shown. |
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| Figure 5.8 |
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STEP 9
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| Now pass the needle back through beads #31, #32 and #33 as shown. |
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| Figure 5.9 |
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ROW N
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| You may stop here or keep adding more rows by adding two to the number of beads in each ‘petal’ (i.e. there were three beads per ‘petal’ in the 2nd row and five in the 3rd. There will be seven beads per ‘petal’ in the 4th row, nine in the 5th, etc.). |
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FINISH
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| Fringe is usually added to the outer row. This is explained in Chapter Two. This stitch can also work as a pendant hanging. It is very versatile. You can change the number of ‘petals’ by changing the number of beads in the first row. The example shown in this chapter has twelve beads in the first row and six ‘petals’. Just divide the number of beads in the first row by two to get the number of ‘petals’ you will end up with. |
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EARWIRE
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| You may wish to attach an earwire to this piece. If so, pick one of the points (or ‘petals’). Work your needle to the middle bead of that ‘petal’. Pick up six to eight beads and pass the needle through the same middle bead going in the same direction as the first time. |
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| Figure 5.10 |
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