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.

Instructions:

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.

Text Version of Pattern:

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

Pin 1: 7 blue, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red
Pin 2: 7 blue, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red
Pin 3: 7 blue, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red
Pin 4: 7 blue, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red
Pin 5: 7 blue, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red, 1 white, 1 red
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. Open your large safety pin. 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.

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!

Questions from Others:

Seed Bead Size Question

by Renee

Long Island, NY

"I think this is the nicest pattern yet. I want to do it in a summer class group and I am concerned about the beads. I need to order in bulk online and my question is how do I know the beads will fit on the pins? Does 'seed beads' mean a bead that comes in a particular standard size? I have been looking at bead sites and some have sizes listed. What size do I need? Do I buy the ones on the 'hank' and how many beads is on a hank" I need about 3000 of red, 2300 blue and 1500 white. Any guidance you can give me would be appreciated. Thanks!"

Reply from Crafts For All Seasons:

I think this will be a wonderful project for a summer class group! I have gotten your question before, and it can be difficult to answer. This is because even if you order a specific size seed bead, they still may vary a bit in size slightly from one another, and from manufacturer to manufacturer. It can make things a bit frustrating! Yes, seed beads can come in specified sizes. The size seed bead I used here was 11/0 (1.8 mm long each). I bought my seed beads in a multi-colored pack in my local craft store. The size of the seed beads actually was not specified on the packet, but I measured them to make sure they were the size 11/0. This means about 13 beads should fit on each #2 size safety pin, which are about one inch in length. Usually if the size isn't stated on the package I have found that the beads are usually the 11/0 size. "Hanks" are way to buy in bulk. They usually consist of 10 to 14 strands of beads, with each strand being 12 to 14 inches long. Therefore, you would get approximately 1872 beads per hank for size 11/0 beads. To get this number: (13 beads per inch x 12 inches per stand x 12 strands in a hank). Of course, this too will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer so you will want to check with the company to be sure how many strands come in a hank. I think the best advice I can give it to place a small order first from the company you are ordering from (or ask for a sample) and try out the craft first. Even safety pin sizes can vary, a #2 pin may be slightly different lengths from one manufacturer to another. For the American Flag beaded safety pin it is important to get 13 beads to fit on the pin length. My #2 safety pin length was one inch. Other bead patterns you can change to accommodate the bead width but here you cannot.

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