Step 1:
Begin your beaded safety pin craft by following the bead pattern shown
on the right. Each column on the pattern represents one of the smaller
safety pins, with green, white, or orange 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 photos is a text version of the patterns in case you cannot see the photos.
Text Version of Shamrock 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: 9 white
Pin 2: 3 white, 3 green, 3 white
Pin 3: 3 white, 3 green, 3 white
Pin 4: 4 white, 1 green, 1 white, 2 green, 1 white
Pin 5: 9 green
Pin 6: 4 white, 1 green, 1 white, 2 green, 1 white
Pin 7: 3 white, 3 green, 3 white
Pin 8: 3 white, 3 green, 3 white
Pin 9: 9 white
Text Version of Irish Flag 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: 9 green
Pin 2: 9 green
Pin 3: 9 green
Pin 4: 9 white
Pin 5: 9 white
Pin 6: 9 white
Pin 7: 9 orange
Pin 8: 9 orange
Pin 9: 9 orange
Step 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 little safety pin to be threaded through this loop to the
other side.
Step 3: Thread each little 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. You may need to experiment with the small 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.
