DIY Tutorial - How to make your own fabric flowers!

[Dazeydawl]

So I posted in an earlier thread that I bought some beautiful fabric flowers off of etsy for $25 each. After closer inspection i realized that it didnt look to hard to make and gave it a try on my own. Turns out they are actually pretty easy and at cost of approximately $1.50 each to make, well worth it to make my own. So I thought I would make up a tutorial for anyone out there who wants to attempt to make one, or several.

 

Supplies

 

 

 

There are some supplies needed that are missing from the picture. But I'll list them off.

 

1. Bridal satin

2. Organza

3. Lace

4. Good fabric scissors

5. A marker or chalk for tracing

6. 4 different sizes of stencils (you can see that i used shot glasses, as well as a ribbon roll and bead cord roll)

7. White thread and needle

8. Candle ( i just used a votive, oh and of course something to light the candle lol)

9. A variety of beads, or decorative buttons

10. Felt

11. Backing of choice (can be brooch pin, or hair clip, or nothing)

[Dazeydawl]

Step 1

 

 

Start by tracing out your 4 different sized stencils on both the organza and bridal satin. On the bridal satin trace the circles on the non-shiny side (im sure that has a technical term but beats me!) I like to trace 4 of the largest size and 5 of each of the 3 other sizes on both fabrics, for a total of 38 circles (i dont always use them all and of course it also depends on how large or small you want your flower)

 

Next cut out your cirlces, make sure that if you traced with black marker like i have that you leave NO marker on the edges (cut just inside of the lines) or else what little marker left behind turns very black when you burn the edges. Im sure there could be a better and faster way of doing this step such as layering fabric for 5 layers and just cutting it once to make 5 circles but i have yet to try it as the fabric is slippery and even with pins i dont see it working well for me.

 

 

All the cut circles. You can now also cut out some random pieces of lace, these dont have to be perfect circles and you only need 3 or 4 or none if you dont want to, its just a decorative element.

[Dazeydawl]

Step 3

 

Light the candle. It is now time to start burning the edges. Holding one circle at a time, hold the edge to the flame and turn the circle so that the cut edge melts.  As the edge melts theI circle will start to pucker and form a petal shape. I like to do it fairly fast and go around the edge a couple times until its the shape and stiffness i like. Its hard to explain but you'll know what im talking about when you try. Make sure when you are doing the satin circles that the shiny side is facing up as that is the direction that it will pucker.

 

 

Its really hard to get a good picture of this process

 

 

All the petals, you can see how they all curved. 

 

[Dazeydawl]

Step 4

 

Now to start layering the petals. Starting of course with the smallest circles. Theres really no rhyme or reason to the layering, just layer them in a way that you think looks pretty while keeping the flower somewhat symetrical. The great thing about flowers is they are not perfect therefore fabric flowers dont have to be either.  Also get your needle and thread ready, use about 2 feet of thread (so it will be 1 foot once the needle is threaded)

 

 

After i do each size of petal i like to secure it by sewing it just a little bit. So once i finished with the small circles, I took the needle and pushed it through starting from underneath, up through the center, then back down, then you have to push it back up through the center again so the needle and thread ends on the top so you can continue layering the next size of petal.

 

 

After each size of petal you just repeat that process.

 

[Dazeydawl]

Step 5

 

I forgot to mention in the layering process that if you are using lace to just throw those pieces in randomly.

 

But now that all the petals are layered its time to start on the center beading, this part can be tedious but you can also use larger beads than i have or just use a decorative button which will get it done super fast. However i use seed beads, pearls and sew on rhinestones. Before i start beading though i thread the need from the bottom up through the center only this time i add a small circle of lace to the center so that it hides all the stitch marks for sewing the layers together.

 

 

And now that the thread is on the top i cut the thread right at the base of the needle and start stringing some beads.

 

 

In order for the beads to be secure you can only do about 3 or 4 beads at a time and then you have to sew them down by then again threading the needle, however now i just put both ends of thread throught the needle.

 

 

then push the needle through the flower where you finished with the beads and then push it back up as close to the same spot as possible, slide the needle off, slide on a couple more beads and just repeat the process until your happy with it.

 

[Dazeydawl]

Finishing Up

 

 

Once your finished with the beading knot the thread on the underside of the flower, if you want to make it into a brooch or hairclip just cut out a circle of felt and hot glue it to the back of the flower and add your backing hardware. I didnt do that with this flower as its going on either my ring bearer pillow or my flower girl basket. Both upcoming DIY projects.

 

[Tulumbride2013]

Yay! I've been waiting for this tutorial! You are so crafty. I love these. Think ill go get everything and make some this weekend! They would make cute hair flowers as well. Thanks so much for this!

[Dazeydawl]

Lol. Just for you Tulum!! Sorry it was so long in the making

[Tulumbride2013]

Haha it's cool.l I've been so busy too I've barely been on here! I'm definelty making these ASAP though. They will be so cute as embellishments on all my projects.

[Dazeydawl]

You totally have to post some pics of the ones you make. I plan on using these a lot too. So far I have the 3 that I originally bought for my bridesmaids, either their hair or their dress. I will be using them on the ring bearer pillow and flower girl basket, well pail actually. I plan on using smaller ones for my bride and bridesmaids hangers. And I've even debated on doing some in purple or ivory and purple mix and putting metal pins on the back and usin them on the cake!