Description
French beaded Cyclamen pattern shows you how to make this pot plant using two variations of the ‘basic’ French Beading technique. You will also learn how to lace leaves to give them more stability.
About the French Beaded Cyclamen Project
To make the French beaded Cyclamen, you will need size 11 Matsuno seed beads in green flower colour.
I made the cyclamen with 24 gauge (0.5mm) wire. However, you also need a small amount of 28 gauge (0.315mm) wire in green to lace the leaves. I sell all the supplies you need in the beading supplies department. So, make sure you pop over there to get what you need. This includes stem stiffening tape, embroidery silk and floral stem tape.
What Experience do I need?
I have written the pattern in stages to guide you through the French beaded flower techniques. So, you will start with the ‘basic’ technique to make the buds and flowers. Then learn how to develop this technique to create shaped leaves. This variation of the French Beading technique is more advanced. So, I recommend that you already feel comfortable with the ‘basic’ technique for making flowers before you try this pattern.
If you are just starting to learn, then you can find complete video demonstrations of the basic technique in my book ‘Bead Flowers and Wedding Bouquets‘. Once you have mastered this, you will be capable of moving on to make shaped leaves.
You will find it helpful to have a bead spinner to thread the beads for this project as the French Beaded Cyclamen uses several thousand beads.
Background
I designed this project as I seem to have missed out on the green-fingered gene! I’m really not very good at looking after real pot plants. In my experience, although Cyclamen are beautiful with their delicate flowers and shaped leaves, they are also very difficult to look after. To be perfectly honest with you, I can only dream of having a real plant with this number of flowers and buds on at any one time!
The beauty of French Beaded flowers is that they never die. You don’t have to worry about whether you’ve given them the right amount of water. Or placed them in the perfect light or the best temperature.
So, if this idea appeals, you may also like to try my Orchid Pot Plant… I have less trouble keeping orchids alive, but the French beaded version does guarantee constant flowers!
