French Flower Beading - Basic Technique

d

From your prepared feed wire (the wire on the spool), separate the starting number of beads for your petal/leaf. If a pattern says something like, "5 bead basic, round top round bottom (RTRB), 9 rows" this means start by separating 5 beads. In the example pictured, we're using 8 beads to start.

Bring the starting beads within a few inches of the end of the feed wire. If you are not used to handling beads like this or are prone to spilling beads, make a twist in the top of the wire to prevent the beads from spilling off.

d

Make a large loop of bare wire under the separated start beads, and give it a few twists just below the separated beads. This loop will form the stem of the petal/leaf.

Henceforth, the portion of the wire with the initial separated beads, going up to the end, will be called the basic wire.

d

Now bring down some of the beads from the feed wire and line them up snugly against the beads on the basic wire.

d

Bend the feed wire across the front of the basic wire such that it holds enough beads to continue to fit snugly against the basic beads.

d

Wrap the feed wire around behind the basic wire, trying to keep it as close to the beads (down on the basic wire) as possible, if you are making a round top. If you are making a pointed top, see the instructions at the bottom.

d

Continue to wrap the feed wire all the way around the basic wire. You are making a complete loop, as flat as possible for a round top.

d

Now bring down more beads from the feed, and once again line them up snugly against the basic beads. As you did on the top, bring the feed wire across the front of the stem wire.

d

Wrap a loop of feed wire around the stem wire just like you did at the top. Then bring in more beads from the feed wire and go back to the top. Repeat these steps for as many rows as the pattern calls for, counting the basic wire as a row. You may need to twist the stem wire loop closed more as you work your way down it.

d

Here is a 15-row petal, seen from the back where the basic wire is exposed. On the last row, wrap the feed wire tightly around the stem wire several times, then snip it with wire cutters. To prevent the wire from snagging other petals, cloth, or even skin, be sure to flatten it down against the stem wire with a pair of needle nose pliers.

d

To make a pointed top instead of rounded top, simply change the angle of the wire as you wrap it. Instead of keeping it a flat loop against the beads, make a 45-degree angle with the loop.

d

Then add beads just like with the rounded top. A finished 9-row yellow pointed petal is shown.