Hope you are enjoying this wonderful holiday! Did you know that Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day? It is a day of remembrance for those who have died in the service of our United States nation.
Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, but it’s difficult to prove the origins of the day. An interesting tid bit is that there is also evidence that a women’s group in the South decorated graves before the end of the Civil War. All in all, Memorial Day is intended to honor those who have given their all in service to our country.
Show your patriotism and make this beaded flag pin that is fun and quick. You can hand out these pins at your Memorial Day BBQ party or have it as a fun and fashionable way to show your American pride with the family!
Follow the instructions below to create your own red, white and blue flag pins.
- red, white, and blue seed beads (you can find at Michael’s or local craft store) Note: Make sure you get seed beads with holes large enough for the pins to go through.
- a dozen large safety pins. (The exact number will vary a bit depending on your safety pin size.)
Steps to make your Flag Pin:
- On your first safety pin, you will load thirteen 13 seed beads. Seven will be red and six will be white. Alternate them as you put them on the open pin: red, white, red, white, red, white, red, white, red, white, red, white, red.
- Repeat that six more times, so that you have a total of seven safety pins with thirteen red/white beads on each of them.
- On the eighth safety pin, you will start making the blue ‘stars’ section of the flag. It’s important that you load the blue beads first; otherwise your flag will be wrong side up. Put seven blue beads on the pin, and push them towards the hinge-spiral. Then add 3 red and 3 white, alternating. From hinge to clasp should be blue, blue, blue, blue, blue, blue, blue, white, red, white, red, white, red.
- Repeat that three more times, so that you have a total of 4 pins with flag sections above the stripes.
- With your last pin, you will string all the others, by putting the opened pin part through the hinge-circle of the other eleven. Put all the pins with blue beaded sections on the pin first (with the open sharp part of the pin facing your right), followed by the red-and-blue striped ones. BE CAREFUL FOR THE SHARP POINT!
- Close the safety pin, and double-check that your flag is hanging correctly.
- Pin on a loved one and enjoy!