Estimated Time:
approx. 20-30 minutes

Materials:
each Flag Pin will require:

ten safety pins, each 1 1/16"

seed beads (approx. 2 mm size):

20 blue, 37 white, 46 red

needle-nose pliers

small flat-head screwdriver

Instructions:
Open a safety pin. Four of the pins will have this pattern: 5 blue, then red and white repeated 3 times; end with red.
Five pins will alternate red and white 5 times, and end in red.

When each pin is 'loaded', close it and set aside.

To put the beaded pins on the pin that holds 'em all, you will use the screwdriver to Slightly and Gently pry apart the coils at the end of that last empty pin.

Hold that pin with the 'head' upward, and the 'pin' open and extended to the Right.

Slip the 'loop' of the first beaded pin on; pull the pin down and around the pulled-apart loop in the holder pin, and up the back-side. (This first beaded pin should be all red and white.) Add on the other 4 red and white pins, and then the pins that include blue.

When all are in place, use pliers to squeeze the loop of the 'holder' pin back into place, closing the loop.

Other comments or suggestions:
This type of pin was given to me (and about 50 others!) as a generous gift from a woman with a generous heart. Her pins were presented on a small card, with a flag sticker on it. I have already observed her to be a compulsive crafter, but if making these were not Fun, she would not have made 'em in huge multiples!

I have seen similar pins made with different sized safety pins...more pins, and more beads. Some require that the pin holding all the others be slightly bigger. It's just a matter of proportion; you can easily adapt a little to suit your materials and preferences.

I also found it suggested that brass pins could benefit from a spritz of acrylic sealer, to prevent rust (!) But I am not the sort to mess w/that...are you? Steel pins are about as attractive, really...