How to Make a Camellia Fabric Flower
Camellias are beautiful, large flowers native to Japan, China and throughout East Asia. You can bring a little bit of the Far East to a special event, or even to your home dining room by making a stunning bouquet of fabric camellias. Use a luxurious silk or satin fabric for a special artificial flower corsage that will last long after the special event, or make a bouquet from leftover scraps of rayon fabric for an inexpensive home decoration.
Instructions
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1
Cut the fabric into circles for the flower. You need three different size circles. Cut seven circles with a diameter of 1 1/2 inches. Cut six circles with a 2 1/2-inch diameter. Cut the final six circles with a diameter of three inches.
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2
Fold one of the smallest circles in half to make a semicircle. Sew a 3/8-inch-wide running stitch along the rounded edge of the folded semicircle. Leave the thread attached.
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3
Fold another of the smallest circles in half to make it a semicircle and hold it next to the first semicircle. Sew a running stitch along the rounded edge of the new semicircle, using the same thread attached to the first. Leave the thread attached and push the two semicircles together. As you push, each semicircle will form a petal shape.
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4
Repeat the above step to add each of the 1 1/2-inch-wide circles to the thread. When you are finished, pull on the thread to bring the semicircle petals together and knot the thread. This is the top layer of the camellia flower.
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5
Fold one of the 2 1/2-inch circles in half and sew a running stitch along the rounded edge. Leave the thread attached. Fold another 2 1/2-inch circle in half and sew along the rounded edge. Push the two petals together and repeat to attach all of the 2 1/2-inch circles. Knot the thread when you are finished to complete the middle layer of the flower.
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6
Fold one of the 3-inch circles in half, sew a running stitch along the rounded edge and leave the thread attached. Fold another 3-inch circle in half, sew along the rounded edge and push the two petals together. Attach all of the 3-inch circles in the same manner and knot the thread to complete the bottom layer of the flower.
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Place top layer on top of the middle layer and sew through the center to join the two layers. Place the joined layers on top of the bottom layer and sew through the center to complete the flower.
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Tips & Warnings
To use the flower as a corsage or a fabric brooch, sew a small circle of felt to the underside of the flower for extra stability and insert the safety pin through the felt.
To use the flower in a bouquet, make a hook at the end of a piece of floral wire, slide the end into the bottom center of the flower and hook it onto some of the stitches used to join the layers together.
References
- Fast, Fun & Easy Fabric Flowers: Beautiful Blooms in an Afternoon; Karen Flamme
- Kanzashi in Bloom: 20 Simple Fold-and-Sew Projects to Wear and Give; Diane Gilleland
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
