How to Pin a Corsage or Boutonniere

By eHow Parties & Entertaining Editor

Rate: (26 Ratings)

Avoid potentially embarrassing and dangerous pinning encounters by using a steady hand and forethought.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Corsage/ Fresh Flowers
Dressmaker Pins

Step1

Hold the flower arrangement by its stem. Have the flower facing away from your date and toward you.

Step2

Place the corsage or boutonniere at a slight angle on your date's lapel, approximately 4 inches in from the tip of the left shoulder.

Step3

Make sure that the flower is evenly placed on the lapel before attempting to pin it.

Step4

Take a strong and sturdy stickpin in the hand that is not holding the flower.

Step5

Stick the pin into the fabric at the bottom left corner of the stem.

Step6

Weave the pin back out from under the fabric. Push it through about 1 inch, laying it at an angle over the top of the stem.

Step7

Stick the tip of the pin back into the fabric on the other side of the stem. Insure that the stem is tightly in place with the length of the pin pushing it down.

Step8

Weave the pin back out of the fabric once more. Be sure that the very tip of the pin does not stick out, nor does it poke under the fabric and touch the skin.

Who Can Help:

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Tips & Warnings

Readjust the flower's angle a bit after pinning, if necessary. You can re-fluff any petals that may have become matted during the pinning process.
When sticking the pin into the fabric, use only the very tip and avoid digging too deeply downward. This is where steadiness comes in handy.

Comments

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Oasis Corsage Magnets can be purchased from Flower Wholesalers - at about 50c per magnet - using glue gun, glue one magnet to corsage and place the other magnet inside the garment you are pinning it to - they are very secure and no holes in your gown

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Make sure the corsage or boutonnière includes two pins. Start where you want to place the first pin (at the top. Angle it downward, over the stem and back into the fabric. Then use the second pin. Start at the bottom, and angle it up in the same manner so that it criss-crosses.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 If you do not have a steady hand, you can use the leaf or leaves of the corsage to pin on the recipient's lapel.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 do NOT put the pin through the stem. It does NOT work and the flower keeps falling over and stuff... it's awful, in short. Make sure the stem isn't sticking out either, it looks dumb. Last, but not least, allow yourself plenty of time to pin the darn thing. They're awful, but they look snazzy!

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