I love to bring flowers to a hostess, and I love to give handmade arts and crafts as gifts. So I was pretty excited when I saw the tutorial for making these fabric flowers in the 2012-2013 issue of Quilting Arts Gifts. The issue is full of holiday crafts, but many of the gift-making ideas are appropriate for any time of the year.
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| Fabric flowers, by Amanda Davis, are easy gifts to make. |
These flowers are an example. Make them in holiday colors for a centerpiece or a gift topper. Or, make them in colors appropriate to your favorite season or room.
You just need fabric, basic craft supplies, and a sewing machine (though, I bet you could get away with handsewing).
Fabric Flowers by Amanda Davis
(From Quilting Arts Gifts magazine)
Materials (for one flower)
Each flower is 2½” x 3″, and 11½” tall
- Fabric for each flower, 5 pieces 5″ square
- Craft felt, 2½” square
- Bamboo skewer or 18-gauge floral wire
- Hot glue gun
- Craft glue
Optional:
- Fabric strip, ½” x 20″
- Fabric cutting machine and flower die
Directions
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| Figure 1 |
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| Figure 2 |
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| Figure 3 |
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| Figure 4 (Process photos by Rob Butterfield.) |
1. Cut 5 flowers from the 5″ squares of fabric either free-hand or with a fabric cutting machine.
2. Stack the flowers, right side up, alternating the petal placement so the petals of the flower on top are over the grooves of the flower underneath. (Figure 1)
3. Tack the layers together with your sewing machine by making 4 -5 stitches in the center of the flower.
4. Fold the stack of flowers in half right sides together, and pleat it into the shape of a “V” with your fingers. (Figure 2)
5. Stitch a 1/8” seam, across the bottom and about ½” up each side of the stack. (Figure 3)
6. Using the circle die or a template, cut a 2″ circle from the felt, then cut the circle in half. Fold the half circle piece in the shape of a cone and stitch along the straight edge with a 1/8” seam allowance. Turn the felt right side out. Use hot glue to attach the cone to the bottom of the flower. (Figure 4)
7. Snip off the bottom of the cone. Place a dab of hot glue inside the cone, and insert the bamboo stick or floral wire. When the glue has dried, you can wrap the stem with a thin strip of coordinating fabric held in place with a small amount of craft glue.
8. Fluff the petals of the flowers so they open.
These flowers are one of several easy gifts to make featured in Quilting Arts Gifts 2012-2013, along with personalized fabric ornaments and a Magic Marker silk scarf you won’t believe.
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| The cut flower shapes. |
I
can’t believe I’m already thinking about homemade holiday gift ideas, but if I want to get my handmade arts projects done on time this year, I better start now.
P.S. What about you? Have you started your holiday art projects? Tell me what you’re working on!