These flowers work up very quickly, using seed beads and a 4 mm center bead. My example uses some potato pearls from my collection that have larger drilled holes. The seed beads in my example are a Preciosa Ornela mix of size 11 seed beads. Japanese size 11 seed beads can be just a little bit bigger, so you may find it easier to make these with 6 petals instead of 8 petals if you're using Japanese seed beads.

Use seed beads NOT cylinder beads. The blocky edges on cylinder beads don't work as well. You could also make this around a small center using size 13-15 seed beads.

You will need:

• size 11/o seed beads


• 4 mm center bead- round


• Beading needle (I used a size 12 sharp)


• scissors


• beading thread

If you want to stitch them to bobby pins when you're done, you'll also need some bobby pins! They will also work on hair pins (the U shaped pins) to accent an updo such as for prom. Pearls or AB firepolished rounds with beads to match a dress would be pretty!

Start by passing your needle and thread through the center bead, bring it around the outside and knot the thread with a short tail. You'll bead over the tail instead of weaving it in.


Pass the needle and thread back through the hole in the center bead, and around the other side.


Now back through the hole, and you'll start the petals. Add 13 seed beads, then pass the needle and thread UNDER the thread around the bead. The thread around the bead is the blue circle. Pass it back through the last 3 beads.


Add 10 beads, pass the thread under the thread around the center bead, and back up through the last 3 beads added.


Continue working around with 4 petals on each side of the hole through the center bead. When you get to the last petal, add 7 beads, and go down through the first 3 seed beads.


Weave in the end of the thread making several half hitch knots, and cut off thread, or use the thread to stitch the flower to something. I put a 6 bead loop on the back of the center bead, knotted off securely then put the bobby pins through the loops.

Here's a blank graph so you can figure possible color combinations. You could do an ombré flower for example!