How to sew a beaded watermelon brooch

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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

Download, print and cut out the watermelon template: you’ll need to download the issue 59 templates.

Cut a circle of calico slightly larger than the embroidery frame and fit it in the frame.

Using the template, draw the watermelon onto the calico.

From the green felt cut a pin tab: 2 x 2.5cm (¾ x 1in).

Making the brooch

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.

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.

Remove the frame. Dab fabric glue around the outer edge. This will prevent the beading falling apart in the next step.

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.

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.

Juliet Bawden

Juliet Bawden is a designer, maker, author and journalist. She has had over 70 craft books published, some exploring and making the things herself, and others writing about designers who are at the top of their field. Her books include ‘The Art and Craft of Papier Mache’, ‘Hearts’ a book of Romantic Gifts, ‘The Hat Book’, ‘Rag Rug’ inspirations, ‘The Art and Craft of Applique’ and more. She also designs, makies and writes for magazines including : Coast, Simply Sewing and Reloved as well as for the web site of both Cath Kidston and Laura Ashley.

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