American Flag Beaded Safety Pin

This American flag beaded safety pin requires you to use larger pins (I used size 2) because you will need to fit 13 seed beads on each pin. If you would are interested in other free beaded safety pin patterns, be sure to check out the patterns I have for Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Halloween, and Christmas. It is easy to experiment and come up with new patterns. To make your own pattern, use a spreadsheet program like Excel and blacken in squares to see how it will look, then try it out on your own! If you have never made a beaded safety pin before, I recommend first reading my short article in the Tips and Techniques.

Children are good at making this American flag beaded safety pin craft because it takes dexterity and a fine eye to thread the little seed beads on the pin. I have found it can keep an older child busy for quite awhile! An adult may need to help thread the beaded pins onto the larger pin, which can be tricky at first.

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Things Needed:

12 size 2 safety pins
1 size 3 safety pin
Seed beads in red, white, and blue
Pliers
Flat headed tool, like a screwdriver

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1. Start your American flag beaded safety pin by following the bead pattern shown below right. Each column on the pattern represents one of the size 2 safety pins, with red, white, or blue beads threaded on it. Begin with the color on the top of the pattern, and thread that bead on the safety pin first. You may find some beads have an opening that is too small for the pin, but most should fit. When you are finished loading the beads, close each pin. Continue with each pin, following the pattern. Below the pattern photo is a text version of the pattern in case you cannot see the photo.

photo of beaded pins

Text Version of Pattern:

Pins are going left to right; the bead order is the bottom bead first and moving up, the same way you would thread it on to the pin.

Pin 1: 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 7 blue
Pin 2: 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 7 blue
Pin 3: 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 7 blue
Pin 4: 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 7 blue
Pin 5: 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 7 blue
Pin 6: 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red
Pin 7: 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red
Pin 8: 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red
Pin 9: 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red
Pin 10: 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red
Pin 11: 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red
Pin 12: 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red

2. Take your large safety pin, and open it. Using a flat head screwdriver, wedge the flat head in between the safety pin loop at the bottom of the pin. Once inserted, twist the screwdriver to pry the loop open a little, as shown. The goal is to be able to have enough room to allow each #2 safety pin to be threaded through this loop to the other side.

photo of screwdriver in pin

3. Thread each #2 safety pin's loop onto the big safety pin. Thread it around the large pin's loop to get it onto the other side of the pin. This way, when you wear the pin, none of the pins will slide off. This is a little harder than it looks. You may need to experiment with the #2 safety pin orientation at first, but once you get the hang of it you will be putting on the safety pins in the right direction and order easily. When you are all done, use some pliers to scrunch down the big safety pin's loop tight again. You are all ready to wear your American flag beaded safety pin!

photo of threading pins

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