How to Make Fabric Flowers With Feathers

Fabric flowers and feathers are often used on hats.

Fabric flowers with feathers are often added to fascinator style hats and other hair pieces to create drama and evening decoration. The flowers and feathers can be attached to a small base or a comb to make them easier to use. Making the flowers and feathers takes only a few minutes and the results can look expensive and flirtatious. Coordinate your fabric colors with the evening attire you are using so that you can wear the piece all night.

Things You'll Need

• 1 1/2-inch-wide wire ribbon
• Scissors
• Wire cutters
• Needle
• Heavy duty thread
• Felt
• Tulle

Instructions

1. Cut 4 feet of 1 1/2-inch wired satin ribbon. Pull on the wire on one side of the ribbon. The wire should slide through the fabric. Gather the fabric along the pulled wire until it is a medium to tight gather. Leave 1 inch of wire protruding from the pulled side on each end and trim off the excess with wire cutters or scissors.

2. Fold the gathered fabric side four times accordian style in 1/4-inch pleats. Thread a sturdy needle with heavy-duty thread. Tie a knot in the end of the thread. Stitch through the pleated ribbon 1/8 inch from the edge. Go through all of your pleat layers. Bring the needle back to your beginning point.

3. Bend the gathered ribbon edge around your stitched center. Stitch from the center of the original pleated set to the ribbon you are adding and back to the center until you have several more layers circling the center. As the flower grows bigger, stitch from one outer layer to the next. Turn the end of the ribbon under to hide the cut edge and sew it in place.

4. Sew several flowers of different sizes. Cut two pieces of felt 4 inches long and 1 1/2 inches tall. Cut a circle of tulle 12 inches in diameter or the size of a dinner plate. Sew a small circle the size of a silver dollar in the center of the tulle using a basting stitch. Pull on the thread to gather the tulle and tie off the thread to itself to hold the gather.

5. Center the tulle over one piece of felt. Position your flowers on the felt in an arrangement you like. Insert feathers between the flowers to create a spray effect. Lift off the flowers and stitch the feathers and tulle to the felt. Add each flower back in position and stitch the flowers over the tulle and feathers.

6. Turn the arrangement upside down and place your second piece of felt over the first piece. Sew the long sides together to create a long pocket for a hair fastener.

Tips & Warnings

• Wire ribbon flowers allow you to adjust and bend the flower into the shape you like.

References

• Make It Do: Ribbon Flower Pin Tutorial