The World of Brooches

I think that many of us come to beading through jewellery. Stringing a necklace, bracelet, or a simple dangly earring is super quick and thus rewarding for a beginner. But as we develop our ability to corral beads, add to our tools, and amass a growing assortment of beads (so many colours and styles and shapes, oh my!!!), it seems many of us also enjoy adding beadwork skills.

This month we will explore the amazing world of brooches, which are based on bead embroidery and which usually incorporate lots of different beads (and sometimes sequins). 

Beaded brooches are timeless. At one time used mostly on sweater sets and suits, I love wearing brooches on my jean jacket! It’s wearable art, really. And the materials are accessible to most – a felt-like base (or a scrap of wool from a thrifted item), needle and thread, an assortment of beads, and a brooch pin.

A Fabulous brooch set from YouTube's Jane.Bespecialjewelry

 

Gather Your Supplies

• Beads: Seed beads are most common, but crystals, pearls, or specialty beads can add dimension. Of course, The Beading Room has you covered.
• Backing material: A good quality felt or wool melton/suiting make an excellent base.
• Thread: A top quality, durable beading thread, such as our Japanese-made KO brand.
• Needles: Beading needles (sizes 10–12) will pass through most beads multiple times.
• Brooch pin back: This is the hardware that allows your finished piece to be worn. These bar pins come in silver and gold. These “shower parts,” donuts and discs, allow you to bead using a grid of holes and attach to a brooch back to finish!
• Adhesive and scissors: For attaching and finishing your work.

Optional extras include cabochons (flat-backed stones), sequins, or charms.

Here are a few bead styles that may enhance your brooch. And these are just a tiny sample!

Forget-me-nots                  Czech Daggers                        Ginkgo beads

Planning Your Design

I don’t know about you, but when I’m trying out a new type of beadwork – looming, bead embroidery, off-loom beadwork, I start with a following a pattern first, just to get the hang of it.

If you’re new, start small. A circular or oval brooch with a single focal bead surrounded by bead embroidery is a great beginner project.

Of course YouTube and Etsy are amazing resources for tutorials; you’ll find an astounding array of brooch designs to learn from.

You might enjoy the resource book, Soutache, by Donatella Ciotti.

A beaded beetle from The Closet Historian, YouTube. Step-by-step tutorial.

Another bug from The Closet Historian, this time, a rather large spider!  

A Basic How-To

1. Attach the focal bead
   If you don’t have a focal bead, you might begin in the middle, or outline the edges – this will depend on the design.
2. Fill the area around the focal point
   Use rows, loops, or stacks of seed beads to outline the focal bead or fill in the brooch.
3. Trim and finish edges
   Once the embroidery is complete, carefully trim the felt close to the beads. Cut a matching piece of backing (such as Ultrasuede™) to cover the back – don’t attach it yet!
4. Insert the brooch pin Glue the brooch pin onto the piece before attaching the backing. (I suggest watching a tutorial or two to see how the pin is secured.)
5. Edge beading for a finished and polished look
   Stitch around the edge of your brooch, stitching through the felt base and the suede or felt backing using techniques like the brick stitch or a picot edging.
6. Two methods to never lose a brooch
   Check out this tip from Audra’s Brooches for securing a heavier brooch.  You’d never guess what she recommends for anchoring the brooch pin…and I will let you find out on your own!
   And another tip from jewelry pro, Cynthia Renee Jewels: attach a magna pin to the brooch pin, which I found on Amazon.ca and promptly added it to my shopping cart. It will be in my next order.

The Beauty of Beaded Brooches

Handmade beaded brooches make wonderful gifts and statement accessories. They can dress up a jacket lapel, hat, or scarf, and because they’re compact, they’re excellent practice pieces for anyone learning bead embroidery.

With patience and imagination, you can create brooches that showcase your unique style and creativity—tiny works of art to treasure and wear with pride.

A lovely history and overview of brooches from YouTube channel, Objectified.

I leave you with one last delight. The photo below comes again from The Closet Historian’s YouTube channel, in an episode that showcases her brooches in a terrarium, as well as a wall mounted display! I think you’ll agree that the photo, dark and a bit spooky! is perfect as Hallowe’en approaches.

Bead Happy Beadlings! Xo Cathy