I made these following the pattern in the current issue of Beadwork. They look great when they're flat but when I held it up they all flopped! Can anyone tell me where I've gone wrong and if there's anything I can do to save them without taking them apart?

I used blue tiger's eye beads for the centres, delicas for the petals and C-Lon thread. The only thing I did change in the instructions was to use 16 beads instead of 17 for the base as 17 wouldn't fit. Hoping someone can help!

They are gorgeous Liz.

I can't help much with the floppy problem, but I'm sure our seed bead people will be able to. Fireline is a stiffer thread, so that may work.

Celia

Oh how disappointing when they are so lovely. Firleine might have been better,
May be your tension is a bit out as you only used 16 instead of 17 beads around?

I think we need Lynn on this one or email the designer. Isn't the designewrs email addy given next to the end of the pattern?

Isn't it a pain when it's all floppy and you need it quite hard!! IYKWIM!!

There is a little trick with floor wax which will make the beaded parts stiffer but I'm not sure that that will fix your problem.

(Just going downstairs to get the name of the stuff I mean!!)

Claire x

Johnsons wax - Klear.

You just need a drop and you dip the necklace into it and then let it dry flat. You can then polish up the beads as required.

Maybe it will help!

Claire

I've had this happen with brickstitch flowers too, stiffer thread would help (Fireline maybe)... can't lay hands on the mag just at the moment but will have another read of the project to see where the problem might be arising.
You could probably engineer some beaded loops around the back of the central bead to hold the petals facing forwards, that might help.
Emailing the designer is a good idea, or try the Beading Daily forums, I know she's a regular poster on there and you can also contact the magazine's editors that way too

Claire

Thanks for all your suggestions. Lynn I think I might try the beaded loops idea to try and support them. Like Amy says, I think my tension may be a little off on the base ring and it didn't help that the tiger's eye beads I chose to use are really shiny Guess who's wishing they had strung the first one to see what it looked like before making the other four

I'll probably email the designer too, I'd love to make some more of these flowers and would like to get it right next time!

Thanks all

Hi

Try the Klear floor polish - it really does work! I had angels with floppy wings last Xmas & this worked perfectly. It would save you taking it all apart too.

I dabbed it on with a bit of kitchen roll & left it to dry overnight & voila angels with perfect wings.

Vickie

Liz - I made one of these and mine is floppy too! Think I would try fireline if I did it again.

Di

Thanks Vickie and Claire, the Klear does sound like a great idea but I'm a bit worried about using it on something that's going next to my skin in case I get a reaction (I get eczema and I'm allergic to so many things!).

Aw Di, sorry to hear your flower flopped too So it's not just me then? I put some cross-your-heart-support on the backs this afternoon with size 15s and I think it's done the trick. Will definitely try Fireline next time though.

Just had to say that I kind of liked the floppy flowers. They look like some sort of bell-shaped flower. Or a (fairy) skirt.

Really like your choice of colours too.

How about trying clear Nail Varnish, I've tried it on floppy flowers before, it makes them very rigid, so may be put it on only a few petals, I love your colours