Description

French beaded flower: sunflower PDF or PDF/Video Class 

Level: Advanced

This is an advanced pattern. This tutorial assumes that you know the basic French beading techniques and know how to read a pattern. You need experience in:

• Basic frame 
• Continuous Loops
• Beehive technique
• Continuous Split Basic – covered in the pdf and video class
• Scallops
• Lacing/Lace-as-you-go

PDF option: 

• 26 page PDF, notes, pre-requisite technique discussion, tutorial with 156 step-by-step photos
• 12 page companion  PDF with just text instructions to print without photos

Video option:

• 26 page PDF, notes, pre-requisite technique discussion, tutorial with 156 step-by-step photos
• 12 page companion  PDF with just text instructions to print without photos
• Instructions on PDF on how to access Petals, Center, Sepals and bonus colorway videos
• Access to Lesson 1 for the sunflower petals and petals assembly:  – Part 1, 47:46 mins Part 2, 20:48 mins
• Access to Lesson 2 for the Center – Part 1, 28:57 mins, Part 2, 42:51 mins
• Access to Lesson 3 for the Sepals, Part 1, 9:40 mins, Part 2 5:08 mins, Part C 9:57 mins
• Access to Bonus colorway video, 28:59 mins
• Leaves (Leaf A: Part 1 25:18 mins, Part 2: 22:37 mins, 8:46 mins, Leaf B: 15:42 mins, Leaf C: 8:59 mins, Leaf Assembly: 17:29 mins)
• Assembly (Sunflower Assembly: 14:47 mins, Final Assembly: 10:56 mins)

• Automatic download after purchase – if you didn’t download right away, you can login and download at a later time if you have an account or create an account at checkout

About this project:

The Continuous Split Basic is a technique I developed in order to have the look of basic frame petals on a
continuous wire. In this tutorial, I will be modifying the technique slightly. If you are an experienced beaded flower maker and have never worked with this technique before, I will go over each step in this tutorial.

Important! Be very mindful as you are beading all units in this tutorial. Eliminate distractions. Read the directions carefully and pay very close attention as you are beading each step of the way. Each of the units can take 1 to 2 hours to make. If you make a mistake, there’s a chance you won’t catch it until 1 to 2 hours later. Sometimes, you can make it work because nature is not perfect. But sometimes, you may want to take it apart or start anew. That’s your call. However, be mindful from the very start to avoid timely mistakes. But even if you have to take it apart, that’s okay because that’s the process of learning.
With most patterns, you are able to make any of the units in any order you like. For this pattern, it’s important to make the units in the order of Petals, Center, and then Sepals. How you put together the sunflower framework will determine the size of the Center and twisted wires of the Sepals.

Text instructions

I want you to be successful at making this flower and have written thorough instructions, notes, troubleshooting, and tips along with numerous photographs. I understand that you may not want to use up so much ink to print out the photos so I’ve included text instructions in a separate file.  You have the option of printing the text of those specific pages and refer back to the pdf on your device if you need to look at the photo.

Materials

Seed beads:

I use 11/0 seed beads for this pattern. I will list the specific brand and color I used below if you like my color schemes but please don’t feel limited to what I’m using. While I did use the same brand of beads for all of my units, you can mix brands. I’m usually more concerned about getting the best color match than using all the same brand of beads for a project.

• 11/0 Matsuno Dynamite Transparent Rainbow yellow (source: Fire Mountain Gems)
• 11/0 Matusno Dynamite Transparent Light green (source: Fire Mountain Gems)
• 11/0 Matusno Dynamite Transparent Rainbow rootbeer (source: Fire Mountain Gems)

Wire:

All of the beading wire used are 24 gauge. Because of the techniques used, we are able to reinforce the stability of the petals and leaves without using a heavier gauge beading wire.
We are using 30 gauge lacing wire for the petals and for the leaves. You can use silver or gold to lace everything if you don’t have green. I’m generally not too picky about matching lacing wire with the bead color because it’s not meant to be seen. You will usually see me using silver for the majority of lacing. Of course, I do like to use green lacing wire for green units.

• 24 gauge gold copper-core wire or bare copper wire (Source: Parawire)
• 24 gauge green copper-core wire (Source: Parawire or Fire Mountain Gems)
• 30 gauge gold or silver copper-core wire (Source: Parawire)
• 30 gauge green copper-core wire (Source: Parawire or Fire Mountain Gems)

Other Materials

• Floral tape (Source: Amazon or local craft store)
• 3 lengths of 12 gauge galvanized steel wire (Source: Amazon or local hardware store)
• Green embroidery floss (Source: local craft store)
Note: The length of the stem wire is up to you. Galvanized steel wire can be purchased in rolls at the hardware store and can be cut to the length of the stem that you want.

This pattern/tutorial CANNOT be copied/reproduced or redistributed in any way. Pattern cannot be reproduced and sold for financial gain or used as a tutorial for a class. You may sell the item that is produced in this pattern with credit to “Fen Li, Bead Flora Studio” as the creator of the pattern in your online listings or on marketing materials if selling in person. Otherwise, this pattern is for
personal-use only.

You can find me on youtube, facebook, and instagram @beadflora
Feel free to email me with any questions. I’m always happy to help.