French beaded flowers technique: Beehive

Level: Intermediate

The beehive technique is a variation of the basic frame technique. Units made with this technique is usually used in the centers of flowers.

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Technique: beehive
Practice center – 11/0 seed beads/26 gauge wire
Pattern: 1-bead beehive, RT RB, 12 rows

Prepare: String 6 inches (15.2 cm) beads onto a spool of 26 gauge wire.

1. Make a 1-BB frame with a 3 inch (2.5 cm) top basic wire and 3 inch (2.5 cm) twisted wire/loop.
2.  Make the first 3 rows.
3.  Bend the top basic wire and the twisted wire down. Photo 1.
   

   Photo 1

4.  Insert your forefinger underneath the unit and wrap the subsequent rows with the wires at this angle. Photo 2.
   

   Photo 2

5.  If you want your beehive to be more “open”, spread the wires more widely. Photo 3.
   

   Photo 3

   Note: If you want your beehive to be more narrow, keep the top basic wire and the twisted wire closer towards the center.

6.  Finish making all 12 rows and wrap the working-wire and the top basic wire together to form a pair of bottom wires. Cut another tail off of the spool. Photo 4.
   

   Photo 4