How to Make Silk Flowers With Burned Edges

Silk captures the elegance of real foliage.

Authentic, organic floral arrangements offer beautiful scents and soft textures, but these flowers also wilt after a short while and may cause some people to have allergies. Silk offers the same soft feel and can be made into beautiful flowers that will last for many years. These silk flowers can be utilized in weddings, in receptions or just around the home. Make this craft with some red and green fabric to create festive, holiday decorations.

Things You'll Need

• 1/4 yard silk fabric
• Fabric marker
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Taper candle
• Thread
• Needle
• 3 to 4 medium-size beads
• Floral wire
• Florist tape

Instructions

1. Lay your silk fabric out on a flat, even surface. Mark out three oval petals measuring about 4 inches long, using a ruler and a fabric marker. Mark out a second set of three oval petals measuring about 3 inches long. Measure out a final set of four fabric petals; this time make them round, measuring about 2 inches wide.

2. Cut out all 10 of the fabric petals with a pair of sharp scissors. Cut off any dangling fibers from the edge of the silk petals to create clean edges.

3. Light a taper candle. Grab a single silk petal, and place the edge of the fabric next to the side of the flame. Avoid putting the silk fabric at the top of the flame where the fabric could catch fire. Move around the edge of the silk petal to create a crisp, burned edge that will give the silk some texture. Repeat with the other nine petals.

4. Place the three large oval petals one over the other at a slight angle to create a six-pointed shape. Place the three smaller oval petals within the initial six-pointed shape to continue creating a flower shape. Finally place the four small, round petals on top with each round petal slightly off from the others.

5. Thread a needle with a matching thread. Tie the two ends together. Push the needle up through the bottom center of the pile of petals. Pull the thread taut. Push the thread back down through the pile of petals. Repeat this sewing technique about five times to ensure the petals stay together. Push the needle back up to the top. This time, push a decorative button onto the needle before pushing the needle back down through the body of the flower. Repeat a couple more times. Place your final stitch to sit at the bottom of the flower. Tie off the thread and cut off the extra thread.

6. Grab the bottom of the flower and pinch together with your index finger and thumb to create a slight cone shape at the bottom of the silk flower. Cut out a piece of floral wire measuring about 16 inches long. Fold this wire in half. Place the folded end next to the cone shape of the silk flower.

7. Wrap the base of the flower and the wire together with florist tape. Wrap in a spiral pattern that slowly works its way down to the base of the floral wire. Wrap a bit of florist tape around the bottom tip of the wire and cut off the excess.

References

• Silk-Flower-Smart.com: Making Silk Flowers