Litte Brown Bird covered beads with silk ribbons
 

Here is a tutorial showing how I cover the beads for the buds for my Little brown bird quilt. The silk ribbons I use are hand dyed so the buds (beads) then have a variance in colour. I buy these from south Africa as I live in Spain but I know these ribbons are available in America. The name to look for is Di Van Neikirk.

Here is my method. I do mine individually. It can be done by just doing one after another but that is more difficult.

Will tell you what the various pictures show as I have not finished posting pics.

Unfortunately they have not come out in order.
1st pic shows the needle threaded
2nd pic shows how to thread it by putting it through the eye and then pushing the needle through the end of the ribbon you have just threaded.
3rd pic shows the bead being covered
4th pic shows the bead fully covered, remember to keep your ribbon flat to the bead each time you put it through
5th pic shows the bead covered and cut. Cut the ribbons diagonally so you have two point to put through your needle.
6th pic shows the needle size, sorry bad pic.
7th pic shows the bead size, sorry same bad pic. but the bead should be about the size of a pearl but you need special beads with large holes.

further pics for covering bead
 

here are a few more pics for you.

These last three pics show how to attach your bead to the fabric.

Having threaded the two ends through your needle push it through the fabric.

Next pic show that you tie off the ends at the back, later you can sew the ends of the ribbon down and cut them off.

Lastly the picture of the bead on the block

Hope that helps.

Thanks for sharing

Butterfly, thank you for the tute. Your explanation and illustrations are very helpful and I will be looking for the beads to cover as I do plan to do more of the Brown Bird blocks. My favorite technique for quilting is applique and I can see using these on many of my blocks. Again, thank you. Suz

That will be a beautiful quilt! I'm not sure I will ever have the expertise to do that one.

Thanks for sharing..