How to Craft a Beaded Flower Applique for Your Denim Jacket or Jeans

Decorated jeans and denim jackets are stylish fashions for teens and adults alike. These pieces of clothing can cost a lot of money in fashion boutiques and department stores. You can, however, create your own beaded appliqués for denim jackets and jeans for a lot less money. This article describes how to create a fashionable beaded appliqué of a flower.

Materials Needed for Beaded Appliqué

In order to create a fashionable beaded appliqué, you will need an item of clothing to put it on. Jeans and denim jackets are popular choices. You will also need a piece of fusible web, fabric or leather scraps for the flower shape, and beads. A beading needle, thread, scissors, and an iron are also needed for this project.

Creating the Beaded Appliqué

Begin by choosing the basic flower pattern you wish to create. For this example, simply find a flower shape in a book or on the internet. Clip art sites are great for this. Lay the piece of paper pattern over your fabric and the fusible webbing. Pin all layers together and then cut it out neatly.

Next, position your jeans of denim jacket out flat on a hard surface. Place the fabric flower appliqué on to the piece of clothing. The fusible web should be between the two. Use an iron to press the appliqué onto the fabric. Follow the directions on the fusible webbing package.

Beading the Flower Appliqué

After the flower fabric motif is attached to the jeans or denim jacket, it is time to get creative with the beads. Begin by threading your needle and knotting the end. Run this through the denim fabric and tie off or knot so it is secure.

At the exact edge of the flower motif, push the needle up through the fabric from the inside. Then thread approximately three of four seed beads onto the needle and push them tight against the fabric. The amount of seed beads will depend on the size of the flower motif appliqué. You want the beads to cover one edge of a flower petal. Push the needle back through the jeans or denim so the beads lay tight against the fabric.

Continue around the fabric flower until the entire outline is completed with seed beads. These beads can be in the same color as the fabric, or one that contrasts or compliments it. That depends on your personal taste and what you want the item of clothing to match.

After the flower motif is outlined, you can stitch beads into the center, as rays on top of the flower petals, or as accents around the outside of the appliqué. Leaf patterns or swirls of sparkling beads are popular. Whatever you choose to put next to the flower beaded appliqué, make sure it lays flat against the fabric and is secure.

Decorating jeans or a denim jacket with a beaded flower appliqué can transform a basic outfit into a designer original. Plan your appliqué before cutting and beading and have fun being creative.