Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Felt Flower Tutorial

I have admired the various flowers that people create from material and felt for a little while now and decided to have a go making some myself. After experimenting a bit I have created a tutorial of the way I make them for anyone interested.

These felt flowers are perfect to make into hair accessories or dress up an outfit or bag by making them into brooches that can be removed for washing. With theses pretty felt flowers the possibilities are endless  

Materials:

8” X 8” felt,
Pearl beads or small buttons for flower centre,
Invisible or co-ordinating thread,
Fabric scissors,
Air dry or water erasable marker,
Bobby pins with a pad or hair ties,
Hot glue gun,
Clear template plastic (recommended but not essential)
Flower templates.

Instructions:
  • Trace the flower designs onto template plastic and cut out along traced line. (I found that if you are making multiple flowers paper templates quickly damage).
  • Trace around the desired flower template using an air dry or water erasable marker five times being sure not to overlap.
  • Cut out each flower along traced lines (if you used a water erasable marker you will need to spray pieces with water to remove ink from the edges of the flower).
  • Place one flower down. This will be the base of the flower and anchor for the petals.
  • Fold each of your remaining four flowers in half and layer onto your flower base weaving each under and over just as you would to close a box.
  • Using invisible tread make a knot at the back of the flower, bring the needle through the centre of the flower being sure to catch one of the petals before returning to the back of the flower. Continue bringing your needle through the centre until each petal has been caught (I recommend stitching each petal three times to ensure it is secured tightly.
  • Finish the flower by sewing a bead (small flower) or small button (large flower) to the centre. I used small fabric covered buttons for the centre of my large flowers.


 Attach to Bobby Pin:
  • To attach to the bobby pin place a small amount of glue onto the bobby pin pad using a hot glue gun.
  • Centre and press the small flower back onto the bobby pin pad before the glue sets.
  Attach to Hair tie:
  • Cut a small rectangle of felt from the felt off cuts  
  • Place a small amount of glue onto one short side of the rectangle using a hot glue gun.
  • Press onto the Large flower back as shown before the glue sets.
  • Slip your hair tie under the unglued end of the rectangle.
  • Place a small amount of glue onto the other short side of the rectangle using a hot glue gun and press down. Be sure not to glue your hair tie in the process. I have found that by not gluing the hair tie directly onto the flower and making the rectangle allows you to shift the flower into position more easily when tying the hair back.


 
I hope you enjoy making these as much as I do!

 
 

4 comments:

Melinda said...

Thanks for the tute. I'll give that one a try.

make it perfect said...

cute clare - chloe's hair looks gorgeous!

Nettie's Blog said...

Love that cute little girl modelling the clipsfelt flower clip too...might have to have a go at these...thanks Clare

Unknown said...

Very pretty little flowers and I love the model, how cute is she!

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