Cute As A Fox

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Hand Sewn Fabric Flowers –

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Today I am showing you how to make these cute fabric flowers. They combine a Kanzashi style flower with the rolled rosettes that are so popular right now. (Disclaimer: I don’t know a ton about kanzashi except that I am in love with all the flowers I see. I will be trying out different styles)

Supplies:

  • Material for flowers. I really like using fat quarters for this. You can get several flowers from each one depending on the size and number of your petals. For your first flower, I would stick with a lightweight cotton. I have used denim and home decor fabric and it is a little harder to work with. I am using a home decor fabric for this tutorial.
  • A circle template. I have used a cup or for this tutorial I used both ends of a mini tin.
  • Pencil or marker. I used a disappearing ink sewing marker.
  • Hand Sewing Needle and matching thread
  • Felt

Step 1: Trace your circles on the back of your material. In the tutorial I am making a 5 petal flower, but I really like 6 too.

Step 2: Cut out and press your circles.

Step 3: Fold your circle in half, with the right side facing up. The wrong side of the fabric will be touching.

Step 4: Fold in half again, so you have a wedge shape.

Step 5: Tie a knot in the end of your thread. Starting on the side where the two pieces come together, sew a running stitch along the rounded part of your petal. I like to fold the material onto the needle and get the whole petal on at once. It works faster for me and I make sure I’m not accidentally wrapping the thread around the bottom. (See the bottom of the post for a tip on sewing the petals.)

When you pull the needle through, you can see your running stitch.

Step 6: Pull the thread tight and gather your petal. Repeat for all of your petals.

Step 7: Connect your end petal to your start petal by pulling your petals into a circle and stitching the last and first petals together.

Step 8: Here are your finished petals. I made three different sizes of petals. I also used six petals on the smallest flower so you can see how that looks.

Step 9: Now to fill those holes in the center! Cut a strip of fabric about 1/2″ wide by 20-24″ long. I only had about 18 inches to work with for this, but that worked out fine. You can notice that I was not terribly concerned about neatness. You won’t be able to tell at all in the finished product.

Step 10: Hold on to one end and begin twisting your fabric. Tie a knot in the end. (Sorry no picture, it turned out beyond blurry!) It’s very easy though just one knot in the very end.

Step 11: Twist your fabric and wrap it around your center knot. Hot glue it together as you go. The first few I made were a gluey mess, so take your time and use as little glue as you can.

Step 12: Keep twisting and gluing until you get a rosette large enough to cover the hole in your flower.

Step 13: When your rosette is the right side, flip it over to the back side and secure the end to the back with some hot glue. Then trim off any excess material and you are done with the rosette.

Step 14: Hang with me, we are so close to being done. Cut a circle of felt large enough to cover the back of your petals. You want to make sure those raw edges where you gathered the petals will be covered. Hot glue the felt onto the back of your flower petals.

Step 15: Put glue on the back of your twisted rosette and glue on to your petals.

Step 16: I glued a pin onto the back so you can use it however you like.

Here is a peak at my three finished flowers. I used a large button to finish off one and then a bead with some twisted fabric to finished off the third one. Come back tomorrow for the big reveal on what I made these for.

Important Notes and Tips:

  • I found the tutorial for the petals at Pink Paper Peppermints.
  • When looking around the internet, someone said that the fewer stitches you do, the smaller the hole in the center of your flower will be. Good to know if you want to use a small button or something. Can’t find the original post to credit, but thanks for the tip!
  • Stay tuned for Part 2 of this post where I will be showing photo galore of all the different flowers like this I have made. I used this for the Tour de Thrift as a cute way to present some of the door prizes. That will be coming soon too!

Recommended Reading:

Fabric Flowers Part 2/ Certificate Planters The big reveal! – Messenger Bag w/ Fabric Flowers Mini Cupcake Flowers

Comments

  6. I have just the project to add these too! Thanks so much! I knew it was missing SOMETHING! i just didn’t know what it was! NOW I DO!! I’ll be posting a link to your tutorial in a few days when i finish up my project!

    Reply

  12. Super cute! These would be perfect to add to just about anything! I love it! Great job and thanks for linkin to It’s Stinkin Cute Craft Thursday!

    Reply

  23. Those are adorable!! I always wondered how to make the petals!! Visiting from justsewsassy.com!
    BTW, thanks for stopping by this week to follow:)

    Reply

  37. i made some today! Let me tell do NOT try to baste these on your sewing machine, it wont be cute enough. My machine only does a basting stitch of 6, It not a true basting stitch! Do it by hand much easier.

    Reply

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