QUICK MAKE
BEADY BUTTERFLIES
Make delicate butterfly accessories with colourful
seed beads and thin copper craft wire
Get all the materials you need at - www.beadsdirect.co.uk/projects/beady-butterflies >> CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOURS <<
STEP 1 Cut 25cm of wire. Pick up 1B, 3A, 1B. Slide them to the centre of the wire. Pass the wire through 1B and 2A so that the wires cross within these beads. Take the wire exiting the A bead, add 3A and 1B. Pass the other wire though these. Continue with the pattern on the second image.
STEP 2 On the last row, take the wire exiting the A bead. Pick up 3B. Pass the other wire though these. Bring one wire down and wrap it between the beads of the previous row. Pull tight so that it slots between the beads securely. Repeat with the other wire. You can wrap around again to make a more secure finish. Trim off the excess as close to the beads as you can. Make a second wing as shown in the 3rd image here.
STEP 3 Make the lower wings for your butterfly in the same way, following the pattern on the fourth image. Secure and trim the wires.
STEP 4 To make the central body, cut a 20cm piece of wire and pick up six rondelles. Skip the last rondelle then pass the wire up through the next five. Cross the wires through a new rondelle. The last one that you’ve crossed through is its head. Add two A beads onto the wires on each side and trim to leave about 1.5cm. Use round nose pliers to coil the wire around into a loop that sits on top of the beads.
STEP 5 Cut a 20cm piece of wire. Wrap once between the first and second rondelles. Pass the wire through the two end beads of an upper wing – make sure you’ve got it the right way up. Wrap the wire tightly around the body again. If you find that the wings aren’t as tight as you like you can secure the upper and lower wings together by wrapping wire through the loops that sit between the top and bottom wings. Continue to attach all the wings and finally secure the wire by wrapping between beads, and trim away the excess.
A = Dark pink bead B = Light pink bead
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