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Beaded Seven-Spotted Ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata)
Habitat: Asia; Europe; North America Length: ¼ to ? inch (8 to 10 mm)

This relatively challenging project calls on a variety of techniques to create one of the undisputed stars of the bug world, the ladybug. It may take a little practice to get an ideally neat result, but the finished options are so cute that it’s worth taking a bit of extra time to get this insect absolutely right. It makes an ideal desk ornament.

From Beaded Bugs: Make 30 Moths, Butterflies, Beetles, and Other Cute Critters by Nicola Tedman with Jean Power/Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC

Posted by Andrews McMeel Published See Andrews McMeel's 48 projects »
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© 2024 Nicola Tedman / Andrews McMeel Publishing · Reproduced with permission.
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  • How to make a beaded animal. Seven Spotted Ladybug - Step 1
    Step 1

    Making the Head
    Cut a 31-inch/80-cm length of wire. Following the Front of Head chart on page 66, bead rows 1 through 11. Weave back through the last two rows, trim, and bend the wires to finish.

  • How to make a beaded animal. Seven Spotted Ladybug - Step 2
    Step 2

    Cut a 31-inch/80-cm length of wire. Thread eight black seed beads onto it. Refer to the Top of Head chart on page 66 to see how these beads (row A) join rows 1 and 11. Thread the wire ends through rows 1 and 11, making sure you go through the correct side as shown. Thread the wires back through rows 2 and 10 and pull tight.

  • How to make a beaded animal. Seven Spotted Ladybug - Step 3
    Step 3

    For row B, thread eight black seed beads onto the right wire and thread this into row 2. Pass the left wire through these beads and into row 10. Pull tight.

  • How to make a beaded animal. Seven Spotted Ladybug - Step 4
    Step 4

    Continue weaving through the work to add rows C and D; your wires will then be exiting rows 4 and 8.

  • How to make a beaded animal. Seven Spotted Ladybug - Step 5
    Step 5

    Following the Feelers chart on page 66, thread one black bugle and three black seed beads onto each wire. Skip the last bead and pass back through the other three beads and into rows 5 and 7. Use the bradawl to tighten.

  • How to make a beaded animal. Seven Spotted Ladybug - Step 6
    Step 6

    Make a row of two black seed beads to fill the gap at the top of the head. Pass both wires back through rows 5 and 7.

  • How to make a beaded animal. Seven Spotted Ladybug - Step 7
    Step 7

    Thread both wires up row 6. Thread one wire inside the head. Thread the second wire over and between the last two seed beads and inside the head. Twist together on the inside. Trim both wires to ¼ inch/5 mm.

  • How to make a beaded animal. Seven Spotted Ladybug - Step 8
    Step 8

    Adding the Elytra
    Cut a 35-inch/90-cm length of wire. Holding the head facing toward you, thread the wire into row 1 and the first three beads of row A (the three closest to the right edge). Center the wire and, following the Elytron chart on page 66, begin beading the left elytron. When all rows are completed, secure the wires and trim.

  • How to make a beaded animal. Seven Spotted Ladybug - Step 9
    Step 9

    Mirror repeat Step 9 to bead the right elytron.

  • How to make a beaded animal. Seven Spotted Ladybug - Step 10
    Step 10

    Use your fingers to bend and curve the elytra into a round shape so that the head and elytra will lay flat on a table.

  • How to make a beaded animal. Seven Spotted Ladybug - Step 11
    Step 11

    Lacing the Elytra
    You will now use seed beads to join the two elytra. Cut a 16-inch/40-cm length of wire. Center it through the two beads at the back of the head that don’t have elytra attached.

  • How to make a beaded animal. Seven Spotted Ladybug - Step 12
    Step 12

    Thread two black seed beads onto the right wire and thread the left wire through this new row. Hook the right wire behind the loop between rows 1 and 2 of the right elytron. Mirror the hooking on the left side.

  • How to make a beaded animal. Seven Spotted Ladybug - Step 13
    Step 13

    Add one black seed bead to the right wire; thread the left wire through in the opposite direction. Hook each wire around the next loop on the elytron on the appropriate side.

  • How to make a beaded animal. Seven Spotted Ladybug - Step 14
    Step 14

    Continue lacing, using fi rst one white seed bead, then four black seed beads, and fi nally 10 red seed beads, threading and hooking the wires as you did in Step 13 after you add each bead.

  • How to make a beaded animal. Seven Spotted Ladybug - Step 15
    Step 15

    To finish lacing, add two more rows of one red seed bead and then one row of two red seed beads. Since there are no loops left to attach to, pass through, one at a time, the three beads in row 17 of the elytron. Weave the wire into the work to secure and trim.

  • How to make a beaded animal. Seven Spotted Ladybug - Step 16
    Step 16

    Making the Belly

    Cut a 35-inch/90-cm length of wire and thread five black seed beads onto it. Turn the ladybug over and thread each end of the wire behind the loops between rows 3 and 4 and 8 and 9 on the head.

  • How to make a beaded animal. Seven Spotted Ladybug - Step 17
    Step 17

    Following the Belly chart on page 66, bead rows 2 through 19; before picking up each row, hook the wire under the next loop on the elytra to lace the work together as you go. To add the legs to the ends of rows 5, 8, and 11, thread one black bugle bead and one black seed bead three times onto each wire, then skip the last bead added and pass down through the other five. Continue with the next row as usual.

  • How to make a beaded animal. Seven Spotted Ladybug - Step 18
    Step 18

    Weave your wires back through two rows to secure, then trim and hide. Finally, use a small modeling tool with a round end or a cotton swab to poke into the body through the hole at the end of the. Use the tool and your fingers to straighten the rows and perfect the ladybug’s shape.

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Comments

Laura R.
Laura R. · Manchester, England, GB · 32 projects
Ooooh I cant wait to get my book! These are going to be SO good to make! Happy
Reply

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