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When they finally appeared, many people thought they were unnecessary, impractical and even scandalous
You will need
- Small piece of white calico or cotton to fit in the hoop
- Small embroidery hoop
- Square of green felt
- Erasable fabric marker
- Beading needle
- Seed beads in white, two shades of green, red and black
- Fabric glue
- Safety pin
- Matching thread
- Basic sewing kit
- A template: download the Simply Sewing issue 59 templates for this template
Method
Cutting out
1
Download, print and cut out the watermelon template: you’ll need to download the issue 59 templates.
2
Cut a circle of calico slightly larger than the embroidery frame and fit it in the frame.
3
Using the template, draw the watermelon onto the calico.
4
From the green felt cut a pin tab: 2 x 2.5cm (¾ x 1in).
Making the brooch
1
Stitch a line of dark green beads on the outside of the shape. Inside this, stitch a line of lighter green beads, then a line of white beads.
2
Starting at the bottom edge of the melon, sew lines of red beads in a fan shape so that they reach from the bottom edge to the line of white beads. Add black beads to the ‘seed’ markings. Fill in any space using red beads.
3
Remove the frame. Dab fabric glue around the outer edge. This will prevent the beading falling apart in the next step.
4
Cut the brooch out of the calico and lay it on a piece of green felt. Using an erasable fabric marker, draw around the brooch onto the felt and cut out. Stick the felt to the back of the brooch using fabric glue. Sew around the edge with a line of running stitches.
5
Sew the pin tab onto the centre back of the brooch. Sandwich the safety pin between the tab and the brooch back to finish.
Designer Juliet Bawden has written a variety of craft and design books. See more of her sewing projects at www.creativecolour.org and on Instagram @juliet_bawden.
