Tutorial – Fabric Flower brooch
Sorry that this has taken soooo long but here it is:
This is really a little origami with fabric, and it works out equally well in paper…. cards… maybe?
Requirements:
I made my brooch using all the same fabric, but it can look equally pretty if you make the large petals in one fabric and the small petals in a contrasting fabric. You can make the flower with petals all the same size if you wish and can even throw caution to the wind and have each petal in a different colour…. just have fun with it.
These flowers can be used as an embellishment for all kind of things – think a smaller flower used to adorn headbands or hair clips or fixed on to bags.
- fabric – enough to cut six 3 1/2 inch squares (for the large petals)
and six 2 1/2 inch squares (for the small petals) - matching thread
- needle
- scissors
- button – for the centre. (Beads can look good too)
- brooch back
- a small piece of felt to create a backing for the flower
- fabric glue (optional)
This first step is a little unusual, thread your needle. (You’ll be grateful…. really you will) I use a double thread and tie a neat knot in the end. Then place a square of fabric right side facing down and fold diagonally, corner to corner to make a triangle.
Next, take the bottom left corner of the triangle and fold it over to meet the point.
O.K. This next step will test how nimble your fingers really are….
Fold the bottom right corner over to meet at the top, in exactly the same way as you did with the first corner.
You are now looking at something which is square in shape with the folded seams down the middle.
Holding on firmly to the square, turn it over, so that it’s face down on your mat, table or whatever.
Can you still feel the folds with your finger? Bring the bottom corner over to the middle and hold in position.
Then, fold the other corner into the middle. You should be looking at a kind of irregular shaped hexagon of fabric…..
…which is probably making a bid for freedom, trying to escape and unfold itself, but onwards….
Now, fold the two straight edges together as if you were closing a book.
If you look at the shape you should have oneside that looks like this; folds at the top and open edges at the bottom.
Don’t let go….
Now for some sewing. I know that it’s more usual to just thread these petals together at this point but I’ve sometimes found that the folds at the back can spring open. So, just to make sure that they don’t, I put a little stitch at the bottom – like so. (Now you’re pleased we threaded the needle first aren’t you? Caused me some grief that step….)
Next cut off the triangle of fabric at the bottom of the fabric shape – if makes it easier to gather up the petals when you’ve finished because it elimnates this unnecessary bulk.
….seriously large scissors !…
That’s it, your first petal…. now you just have to make the others…
When you made all your petals, the next step is to string them together. Use a doubled thread – don’t forget the knot in the end and string one large petal, followed by one small petal etc until all the petals are strung together. Don’t pull too tightly.
.. beginning to look pretty isn’t it?
Once all the petals have been strung together, pass the needle back through the first petal to join the circle.
… almost there – just the finishing touches
I used a 29mm cover button, covered in the same fabric as my flower. (See this tutorial – Link). Again, you can use any kind of button or beads just to finish and decorate the middle of your flower.
Looking at your flower you may wish to just manipulate the flower petals into position before sewing on the felt. I think that this flower looks neater and more pleasing to the eye, if the top and bottom petals are opposite one another with the large side petals sticking out a bit like butterfly wings. The smaller petals will then sit nicely in-between.
It sometimes helps to use a little fabric glue to secure the button tightly to the flower (eliminates wiggles! – if you know what I mean) but I would always sew the button on too.
Use a little glue – just around the edge…
The next step involves cutting a small round of felt to create a backing for the brooch. It doesn’t need to be large because there’s no unsightlness involved in making this, but it gives something to sew a button and a brooch back on to.
Sew on your felt, but don’t pull too tightly or you risk distorting the shape.
Sew on the brooch back – turn it over and admire it.
Pleased with it ?
1Glamglass
wrote on 17 March 2009 at 16:13
That is lovely!! A very effective design. Thanks for sharing that!
2PennyDog
wrote on 17 March 2009 at 16:17
Brilliant!
3nickynackynoo
wrote on 17 March 2009 at 16:23
Beautiful. Thank you!
4Sam
wrote on 17 March 2009 at 16:37
ooo that’s great! thanks for the tutorial
5Topcat
wrote on 17 March 2009 at 16:45
Pleased with it? Are you kidding? …fabric, buttons AND origami? I won’t sleep tonight for making these (you had me at tutorial).
Thanks, really clear instructions and a beautiful result…wanders off to raid the stash…
6maria
wrote on 17 March 2009 at 16:52
Thanks for the tutorial, I’m going to have a go soon.
7JuliaB
wrote on 17 March 2009 at 18:06
Lovely! I was wondering how to make these.. x
8Andrea
wrote on 17 March 2009 at 20:34
Sophie and Ilove these and we shall certainly be having a go at these. Sophie has said that she must finish her felt egg cosy first! Me? I’m cutting out me squares come what may!
xx
9Kitty
wrote on 17 March 2009 at 20:44
I absolutely love this brooch Julia – thank you so much for the tutorial. I am definitely going to have a go – you’re now bookmarked and in my ‘craft bits’ folder! x
10chickadee cards
wrote on 17 March 2009 at 21:41
Beautiful!
11Gill
wrote on 17 March 2009 at 22:11
That’s really lovely, I might have to buy some fabric now to go with my polymer buttons!!
12cherrie
wrote on 17 March 2009 at 23:17
This is so much easier than I imagine it would be. Thanks for the great tutorial. I just know I will be requested to make some. Cherrie
13Ali
wrote on 19 March 2009 at 0:17
Super super gorgeous. Thanks for writing it up – with such great photos too.
14Debbie
wrote on 19 March 2009 at 22:40
This has to be the prettiest flower brooch around, thank you for sharing.
15dottycookie
wrote on 20 March 2009 at 10:59
Those are so lovely – I had a go and I fear they are going to be addictive!
Thanks for writing it up.
16Helen
wrote on 24 March 2009 at 21:37
I love making these! Great tutorial and very clear – I like the way you varied the petal size – I never thought of doing that, but it looks really effective.
17missdee
wrote on 28 March 2009 at 12:28
how beautiful. Thank you
18Alison
wrote on 30 March 2009 at 20:30
This is really sweet, thanks for sharing.
19Marion McCarthy
wrote on 7 April 2009 at 17:33
Just loved the flowers. Will be making some to put on my granddaughters cardigans. I’m sure they will want to make them too. thank you. Marion
20Khristina
wrote on 23 April 2009 at 10:22
ohhh how cute is this….I am going to put a link on my Freebies blog if thats okay to direct them here…hugs Khris
21Sandy
wrote on 4 May 2009 at 14:46
This is just the cutest brooch and so easy to make with your great tutorial I’m so happy I found your site thanks so much for sharing it with all of us who would never have come up with the idea on our own thank God for people like you with this great talent!!
22Kara
wrote on 15 May 2009 at 13:57
These are gorgeous! Thanks so much for the wonderful tutorial.
23Ita
wrote on 16 May 2009 at 7:58
thanks for the tutorial, what a cute flowers..i’m going to make a bunch of it.
24Tiffany
wrote on 16 May 2009 at 17:18
Lovely! I’m linking from my blog!
25hair accessories
wrote on 26 May 2009 at 6:25
That is lovely! Making that little flower is so much fun. Thanks for the great tutorial, all the step by step photos really helped! I’m going to try it =)
26eloho
wrote on 5 October 2009 at 19:45
Fabulous! Thank you soooooooo much for sharing this tutorial
27Anni D
wrote on 18 October 2009 at 16:06
It worked first time! I was so pleased. Thanku so much for such a great pattern, so good of you to share!
28marion w
wrote on 12 November 2009 at 1:23
hi thanks for the tutorial that flower looks great will have a go soon
29My Heritage Fabrics
wrote on 23 November 2009 at 22:20
We’re linking, too: myheritagefabrics.wordpress.com
Thanks for a great tutorial. It is very popular here for girls to wear silk flowers in their hair–this is a nice, new look at the trend. These flowers work very well on contour clips or similar.
30aliza patell
wrote on 3 February 2010 at 13:13
oh my wow! thanks. have been trying to to the kanzshi fold for ages but it comes out looking wrong. this is perfect and looks remarkably similar.
31Michelle
wrote on 2 March 2010 at 4:06
I have tried 3 different fabric flowers now and none of them have turned out looking very great, but yours is totally awesome!!! I am so excited to show off the flower on my little girls skirt!! Thanks, oh, and if you have anymore awesome flowers, please do share! (ps. I love that you used origami, I LOVE origami.)
32Karen Clark
wrote on 2 June 2010 at 14:32
Wow, very neat!! Thanks for sharing
33Naimah
wrote on 1 July 2010 at 20:28
Very beautiful I am going to make a few this weekend and will let you know how they come out thank you so much.