Flags of the World
designed by Margo Mead
Level: Beginner
Now featuring virtually every country in the world!
Click on the link for the country you are interested in. It will show only a picture, no bead counts. It was too time-consuming to try to do bead counts for each one! (Note: The Pride Necklaces have bead counts and directions.)
Special Note: These were made to give only a suggestion of the real flag; naturally, it was too difficult to design the full effect of some of the flags. I got the pictures of the Flags of the World to help me with my designs from this site: Flags of the World. Each flag pattern is turned on its side, clockwise, as if it were hanging down from the part you would put against the flagpole.
These patterns are best done with mini pony beads (4x7mm) and clear plastic lacing.
If you do them with regular-size pony beads (6x9mm), they will probably need reinforcing to keep their shape. Do this either by running a separate string or cord (whatever you are using as the string), through the middle two or three beads of each row, weaving in the usual manner. See the Gingerbread Man instructions for better directions on how to reinforce.
Another idea for reinforcing is to use small straws, string the beads on the straws, cut off the excess, and then weave the string through the straws as you normally would through the beads.
Ideas for How to Use These Flag Patterns:
Make these in seed beads as Thinking Day SWAPS (Girl Scouts & Guides). Caution: Not all of these countries are WAGGGS countries. See the GuideZone Guiding Around the World page for a list of countries that are WAGGGS members.
Make a necklace with regular pony beads by starting at the bottom of the pattern. When you get to the top, use the extra cord to make a necklace!
Or you could make a wallhanging by doing these like the patterns in the Sunbeads book by Suzanne McNeill Design Originals. (There is a straw at the top, 1 folded-in-half string is strung through each column of beads, and the loop of the string is hooked over the straw.) See these Jack-O-Lantern directions for another way to make a wall hanging using a pencil.
Make one to go along with a country report you're doing for school!
