Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Flower Fabric Tutorial

I am sorry to be getting this out to you so late, but we have been busy watching little ones and having very little uninterrupted computer time.

There are more than a million ways to make fabric flowers, but this is a way that I find easy to do.  Again, there are many shapes that you can use to portray different flowers.  My basic idea for flowers is that they should have 5, 7 or 9 petals.  I'm sure that can be subjective as well.

I start off with a 2 inch square piece of paper for my pattern.  On this one, I have rounded off two corners.


With two layers of fabric(the same or two blended colors) - right sides together - cut out however many pairs of petals that you would like.

At this point take them to the sewing machine and sew from the base up and around, returning to the base using about a 1/8th inch seam.  Be sure to leave the bottom open to turn your fabric.




Trim the corners and gently turn inside out.  



Iron each petal flat and arrange in the order that you want to sew them together.


Now, I switch my sewing machine to a narrow zig zag stitch - about a three on the sewing machine.  Taking the first petal, I lay a piece of crochet thread at the beginning of the petal, about 1/4 inch from edge and start to enclose the thread within the zig zag stitch.  Secure the stitching at the beginning of the first petal and at the end of the last petal.




Continue to sew across the first petal and then add the next one immediately following it.  You will do this for each petal.  Be sure to not stitch into the crochet thread - only encase it between the zig zags.





Remove the chain from the sewing machine and pull the crochet threads from both ends and tie ends together in a tight knot.  Your petals should now look like a flower.





Next, you will cut a piece of fabric for the center.  I used a piece of fabric that was 8 inches long by 3/4 inch wide.  Using small scissors cut one long edge with frequent little snips to a depth of 1/4 inch.



Since this is such a small piece, I used a gathering stitch on my sewing machine - a #5 - and gathered the opposite edge of the 8" edge that I just cut.  You will now have one long edge gathered and one long edge snipped.  Got it????





Okay....now pull those gathered stitches together and tie.  Be sure to pull the same thread from both sides (ie. the top thread or the bottom thread)  You now have your center done.



To finish the flower off you will find a nice button.  From the back of the flower petals, you will sew the three pieces together - petals, center and then button.  Secure all three and tie off all threads.



Add a pin and you are done.  YEAH!!!  Now you can add it to bags, jackets or whatever suites your fancy.  If you want to wear them in your hair, you can add a hair clip instead of a pin. 




As I said, there are so many shapes that you can play with and the options are endless.  For my sunflower, I cut a pattern with a pointed shaped petal and used a 3 1/2 inch circle for the center.  With the center, I gathered the circle, added a little fiberfill stuffing and pulled the circle closed.  I then sewed a few glass seed beads scattered about the stuffed ball. 




You can also use strips of ribbon that are folded in half and used as a petal. In the following flower I cut a piece of fabric 11"x2".  I then sewed the two long edges, right sides together, turned inside out and ironed to form a ribbon look.  I cut that piece into 5 - 2 inch pieces and continued with the same process.  As I said, the options are endless.


I would love to see any flowers that you make.  I know they will be gorgeous so have a blooming good time.

42 comments:

  1. What a great tutorial. I can't wait to make some flowers!

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  2. WOW, I love these......I have to try this.....though I don't have any crochet thread, but I'm sure other things would work.

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  3. Oh I love the sunflower! And the B&W one! Oh~ and all of them! Very cute! :-)

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  4. I love the flowers...and I envy those of you that can sew or knit or crochet....I have no talent in any of those areas, but I love looking at the things you make! You are very talented!!

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  5. Great tutorial and those are just adorable!

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  6. I love the fabric flowers. Great tutorial.

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  7. Fantastic tutorial! I'm delighted you shared!

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  8. I love this, thank you! Kerrie

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  9. I love fabric flowers....this is such a great way to make them! thanks!!!!

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  10. Thank you so much for the wonderful tutorial. I think I could do this!!

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  11. Wow what a great tutorial.
    So It is nice to make such flowers.
    I don't know what is cracket thread
    But i think that any very strong thread is good??
    Okee.
    thanks and big hugs Dorine

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  12. Thankyou, I'm so glad you've shown us. I have tried to make one or two, but it didn't work out quite like yours, if ya know what I mean:)

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  13. I love them, but I will not be trying them! I would ruin them and be totally frustrated with myself! Maybe 20 years ago - or 30.

    You are so talented! That black purse just calls out to me - adorable!

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  14. Thanks for the great tutorial. I'm bookmarking.

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  15. Gorgeous! I have been dying to make fabric flowers but thought they would be more difficult. I will have to try this now.

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  19. I just love your little craft projects. These fabric flowers are perfect and will surely add touch of glam to my niece’s hair clips. Thanks a lot.

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  20. Thank you, that's a great tutorial and it looks easy. Great flower to pin on tot-bag as well - Hugs Nat

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  21. Beautiful flowers Mary and a great tutorial, I have bookmarked this page, I have to try this. Thanks for showing us how.

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  22. Oh so cute ! I must make me some flowers soon.

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  23. These are really cute and it is a great tutorial. My 19 year old was just asking me if I could make flower for her shirts, bags, etc. I guess they are what is "Hot" this year. Found your blog because of the snowball fight! I will be following to see what else you come up with. Nice blog!

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  24. Thanks for the tutorial..it is really cool! :)

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  25. Wow! Wow! Wow!!!!! I love the flower tutorial! And your blog :o) What fun! I look forward to visiting again soon :o)

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  26. Cute, Mary! Great tutorial. Another project to add to my "want to do list". :-)

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  27. What a great tutorial...thanks for sharing. What cute flowers.

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  28. You did a great job with this tutorial. I'm going to save it so I can try it later. blessings, marlene

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  29. Great tutorial!
    It is a gorgeous flower!
    Micki

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  30. Just popped in to see how you made the flower and see my comments were deleted. Don't know what happened there.

    I loved your turoial and am now making one to go on a swap bag.

    Thanks my friend. XX

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  31. That is the cutest flower!!! Thanks for the tutorial. And thanks for stopping by my blog.

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  32. Ok, I need to take out my sewing machine (which my dad had bought for me the first year I was married, in 1979) and learn how to use it so that I can make some flowers! lol You make it look so easy but I know it would take me a week to probably get one done! hehe The flowers are just so precious and look great on anything. Thank you so much for taking the time to make this tutorial for us:-) xoxox

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  33. woweee you are just so amazing!!! I absolutely LOVE your work! Wished I was sop talented and creative!!!

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  34. fabulous! How great was that tutorial! Thank you very much, that's one i may actually do, Tracey

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  35. I am printing this off as we speak, or I guess I should say 'type'! What fun that is going to be to make those flowers, I must teach my DIL and her Mom too, well, I will give them the tutorial and they will take it from there! I bet they will put some on their totes that they still make!

    Finally found out about the television deal. I guess Mr. B had trouble with the distributor and they are being slow getting them out to us but it should be here by Monday. Yea! R e-mailed one of the people at Acadia and she checked it out for him.

    Can't wait for you to see the cottage! It is so cute but I am trying to hold off posting any pictures till the painters and all their mess is out of there. Stopped in today to show them where I wanted the tv's mounted on the wall and pictures put up. I don't have everything done yet, still have six boxes to go through of things they saved but will do that at my own pace. Mostly it's dishes but also some decorations which I may or may not use.

    Raining cats and dogs here. I finally got a post up. I have been so bad about it! Just way too much to do in the summertime!

    Hope all is well with you and again thank you for doing the tutorial. Hugs to all! xoxox

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  36. I have never seen these flowers, but they are very pretty. You tutorial was very clear. I love these. They look like they would be fun to make.

    Trudy
    www.sewingwithtrudy.blogspot.com

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  37. Oh how fun! I am gonna send this link to my granddaughter. She would love to do these and I would too!

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  38. So cute!!! You have the best ideas!

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  39. LOVED THIS! Thanks so much for sharing it with us!

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  40. Love your flower tutorial and your snowball quilt is the nicest one I have ever seen. Thanks for sharing.

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