How to Make Silk Satin Peonies

Create a peony from layers of silk satin fabric.

Peonies are known for their large colorful blooms. These flowers contain numerous fragile petals with undulating edges. Enjoy the beauty of peony blooms year round by recreating them using faux silk satin fabric (real silk fabric won't work). Handmade satin peonies are inexpensive and simple to make. Personalize the size and colors of each flower to perfectly fit its intended purpose. Use your satin peonies as accessories for clothing, headbands, shoes, purses and hats.

Things You'll Need

• 1/8 yard satin fabric
• Scissors
• Glass
• Water
• Candle or lighter
• Hot glue gun
• Pearls or rhinestones
• Felt

Instructions

1. Spread out 1/8 yard of satin fabric on a flat work surface. Cut out five to eight round shapes of varying sizes from the fabric with a pair of scissors. Don't worry if the shapes aren't perfectly round, the variation in the edges will add to the texture of the finished flower.

2. Fill a glass with water and set it on your work space.

3. Select one of the round fabric pieces. Hold the edge of the fabric two to three inches away from the flame of a lighted candle or lighter. Move the fabric slowly closer to the flame until the edges begin to singe and curl. Rotate the fabric near the flame to singe and curl its entire edge. Repeat this process with each piece of fabric. Drop the fabric pieces into the glass of water if any of them catch on fire.

4. Let the fabric petals sit and cool. Select the largest petal and lay it on the work surface with the edges curling upward. Place a drop of hot glue with a hot glue gun in the center of the fabric. Choose a second fabric petal that's just smaller than the first. Set it on top of the first petal in the center. Press down gently to glue the petals together. Add additional petals to the flower in this same manner.

5. Add a drop of hot glue to the center of the topmost petal. Place three or four pearls or rhinestones on top of the drop of glue. Press the beads down gently into the glue. Let the flower sit until the glue sets.

6. Cut a small circle from a piece of felt. Glue the felt circle to the back of the finished peony to create a base for the flower.

Tips & Warnings

• Layer different colored satin petals together to create a multicolored peony.

• Don't place the fabric directly into the flame as it will start on fire.

References

• Vanilla Joy: Satin Peony Tutorial
• Maryjanes & Galoshes; Flower Tutorial; 2010