Fabric flowers are one my favorite accessories. Put a flower on a t-shirt and voila, you’re ready to go out. Put one on a paper package or head band and it adds instant zing.
One day, while gathering fabric strips, I thought: “Wouldn’t these look interesting together?” I experimented, but wasn’t sure which combination would work best. They all looked great. Then … ding, ding, ding…. I had it! They could be layered without being permanently fixed by using a button construction and elastic thread to make “flower petals”. Infinitely customizable.
One button, lots of “petals”, lots of flowers and no time….A perfect combination!
WHAT YOU NEED:
- fabric bits (cut on a bias into strips 0.5″ to 1.5″ inches wide, approx. 12″ long)
- buttons
- button hole thread
- thin elastic thread
- scrap of felt (1.5. inches diameter)
- scissors/rotary cutter
- needles
- safety pin
Cut a piece of felt into a circle of 1.5 inches. Next step is to cut some fabric strips (0.5-1.5″ wide, 12″ long). Gather the strips like in the image below with a running stitch. Here’s the trick. Gather the strips with very thin elastic thread, and tie them close, but not too tight, so they can be pulled over the button. They end up looking a bit like scrunchies or a fabric yoyo.
Sew a safety pin on the bottom of the felt and you’re done. You can wear your pin with either one or two or more layers of gathered fabric circles. Did I mention that making one of these takes 5 minutes?
You can use strips of lace, recycled T-Shirt strips, burlap, liberty fabric, silk, ribbons, anything really. The thinner the fabric the easier it will gather, but experiment by all means.
They would definitely make a beautiful gift when you put the pin in a box with several little gathered strips for assembling and customizing. Put them on a hat. They’d make nice wedding favors. Little girl’s goody bags. Velvet ribbon ones for winter. Use them on a head band, bags, gloves, or wear them around your neck.
But, I’m sure you have a million ideas yourselves……
Oh, this is just perfect! Too bad I don't have any elastic thread…
Must brainstorm a way to get around this setback.
A Curious Fox
this is so pretty.
kelly
ps…i am just so enjoying your blog and your ideas for a handstitched wardrobe create such a longing within me that i think i need to begin the process myself. i need to just start.
Best idea. Ever.
Thanks for this awesome tutorial. I have everything on hand and will give it a go as one of my projects this week.
Also I've just started a new segment on my blog I'd love to feature you:
http://www.slipstitches.com/2010/05/where-i-craft-and-sew-new-segment.html
fabulous, might make one the these tonight!
Love this idea. Just knew my friend at Slipstitches would too!
Hi!
Wanted to let you know I posted a link to this tutorial today on my blog.
Nancy Ward
http://nancywardcrafts.com
Beautiful way to reuse my scraps and dress up my hats and shirts! Thank you!:)
Love this tutorial great job on it!
Very clever.
Hi! I just wanted to let you know that I linked to your fabric flower tutorial on my blog, Art, Like Bread. The link is located in the August 14 post entitled "Fabric Bloom". Thanks for providing such a wonderful tutorial. Have a great day!
-Cami
oi!! amei esse tutorial e gostaria de postar no meu blog com a tradução em português…isso se vc autorizar,dando os créditos para seu blog ,é claro
Espero resposta,venha me visitar
bjssss
Hi Eliana,
Thanks for asking. I usually hesitate to give permission to post an entire tutorial on another blog, but given the language barrier and that I have many readers whose primary language is Portuguese, I say, go ahead.
Could you please send me the link, once it's up?
Thanks.
Oi minha querida amiga,desculpe a demora em responder.
Ando fazendo muita arte rsrsrs
Hj naõ vai dar tempo de postar no meu blog,mas postarei sim,vou seguir vc
Meu link http://combinandoartes.blogspot.com/
bjs
Amo flores em tecido! E esta está tão linda!!
Obrigada por compartilhar o tutorial!
Beijos