Pony Bead Flower Pattern for Bracelets, Keychains and Other Pony Bead Jewelry

Materials Needed:

• 1 - Lanyard Hook OR 1 - Key Ring

The lanyard or keyring are just a standard recommendation. If you're making a pony bead flower bracelet or necklace, you might prefer to use stretch cord or add a jewelry toggle clasp instead. You can also leave the connector off until you've decided how you'd like to use your finished flowers.

• Cord - 3 ft

  There are lots of different types of cord you can use for your pony bead flower pattern. Of all the different kinds of cords we've tried, a flat plastic lacing such as Rexlace (also called boondoggle or plastic lace) seems to work best on these types of patterns. It helps the rows of beads sit neatly together without bunching or curling as easily and keeps the finished flowers in shape. Round cords, about 1 1/2mm to 2mm thick, also work well, and there is a plastic cord called pony bead cord that is supposed to be good, but I haven't tried it so I can't say from experience.

  Monofilament Cord OR 2mm Metallic Cord

  Helpful Hint: If your cord end frays easily, try dipping the end of your cord into a little melted wax and smoothing it out with your fingers. This helps prevent fraying and creates a stiffer end for threading through your pony beads.

• 16 - Green Pony Beads (For the connecting sections.)

• Flower 1:

  8 - Pony Beads (For the flower petals.)
• 2 - Pony Beads (For the center of Flower 1.)

• Flower 2:

  8 - Pony Beads (For the flower petals.)
• 2 - Pony Beads (For the center of Flower 2.)

• Flower 3:

  8 - Pony Beads (For the flower petals.)
• 2 - Pony Beads (For the center of Flower 3.)

• Flower 4:

  8 - Pony Beads (For the flower petals.)
• 2 - Pony Beads (For the center of Flower 4.)

Naturally, these bead counts will be different if you make a pony bead flower bracelet or necklace. This is also a great place to use up those leftover stashes where you only have a few beads left of a color.

• Glue (We used super glue.)
• Scissors
• Ruler or Measuring Tape

Instructions

1. Locate the halfway point of your cord or lacing and fold it in half. Attach the folded cord to your key ring or lanyard hook using a lark's head knot as shown in the photo. You should now have two cords hanging from the key ring.

Note: Omit the previous step if you are using a different type of connector for your pony bead flower bracelet or jewelry project. You will still want to fold your cord in half so you have two even lengths to begin weaving your beads.

2. Thread both cord ends through a green pony bead and slide the bead up against the connector. This bead keeps the two cords together and gives your pony bead flower chain a starting point.

3. Using the pony bead flower diagram below, begin weaving the rows beneath the first green bead. Thread the beads for the first row onto one cord, then pass the other cord back through those same beads from the opposite direction. Pull both cords until the beads sit together beneath the starting bead.

Note: The tension of your cord does make a difference. The rows should sit together without being pulled so tightly that your flowers begin to curl or twist. If a row doesn't sit straight, loosen it, straighten the beads and pull the slack out again.

3. Continue following the bead colors and cord paths in the diagram to complete Flower 1. The two center beads form the middle of the flower, with the surrounding beads forming its petals.

4. After completing Flower 1, continue with the green connecting beads shown in the diagram. These simulate the greenery around a flower and separate the flowers, allowing them to form a continuous pony bead flower chain.

5. Continue with Flowers 2, 3 and 4, following the diagram for each flower and the green connecting sections between them. Once you've finished the first flower, you'll be using the same weaving method for the others.

6. When you finish threading through the final row tie the cords together securely using a surgeon's knot or a double knot. Apply a drop of glue to the knot to prevent it from coming untied and trim the excess cord after it's dry.

Your pony bead flower chain is finished! You can use it as a flower keychain, attach it to a backpack or use the same pony bead flower pattern as the beginning of a bracelet, necklace or another jewelry project.

The illustration below uses red and blue to show you how each side of your cord is woven through the beads. It opens to a larger image if you click it. The path color will change to a different shade where that same cord is woven back through a row.

Other Ideas and Uses for This Project

A pony bead flower bracelet would make a fun friendship project. Invite your bff over and make a bracelet for each other. You could even make matching pony bead friendship bracelets as a little reminder of your friendship. Stretch cord is one possibility for a bracelet, or you could add a clasp if you prefer.

For a necklace, continue the flower pattern until you have the length you want. You could also use a shorter flower chain as a decoration hanging from a necklace, or attach one to a purse, backpack or zipper. The same flowers can be used for quite a few different pony bead jewelry projects.

Make a pair of earrings using this pattern substituting seed beads or E beads and a small gauge wire instead of the pony beads and cord.

This would be a fun activity for a birthday party, scout group or summer camp. Everyone can work at their own pace, following the illustrated pony bead flower tutorial and checking the diagram as they go. Unlike a video, the diagram stays right where you need it, so there's no need to keep stopping and replaying a step.

Did You Know?

Friendship bracelets have been exchanged as little symbols of friendship for generations. Many people remember making them with embroidery floss, tying knots to create patterns and giving them to their friends. Beaded friendship bracelets offer another way to share that same tradition, and flower designs have become a popular choice for bracelets and other jewelry.

Flowers have also been used as symbols for centuries. Different flowers have been associated with friendship, affection, happiness and remembrance. That's one reason a little flower bracelet can be more than just a fun craft. It can become a gift that reminds someone of the person who made it for them.