How to Applique Silk Flowers

Silk flowers are beautiful, everlasting and can be quite romantic. Simply by taking them apart, they take on a versatility that allows for more than a mere flower arrangement. Try this simple applique technique and create many outside-of-the-box creations.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Silk flowers
• Fusible web
• Printer paper
• Fabric
• Scissors
• Embroidery floss
• Embroidery needle
• Buttons or beads
• Iron

1. Take the silk flowers apart. Pop the head of the flower off of the stem and remove all plastic from the petals. Peel the plastic veins from the backs of the leaves. Discard all plastic and the stem.

2. Iron the silk flowers and the leaves flat.

3. Lay the silk flower petals and leaves right side up on the glue side of the fusible web. Carefully position printer paper over the top of the flowers and leaves to protect the iron. Iron the printer paper to adhere the flowers and leaves to the fusible web.

4. Turn the fused sheet over so you can see through it. Cut around each of the silk flowers and leaves. Discard the printer paper.

5. Peel the fusible web paper backing from the backs of the fused silk flowers and leaves and discard.

6. Iron the fabric you will be appliquing.

7. Arrange the fused flowers and leaves, glue side down, on the fabric. Iron the flowers in place.

8. Using three strands of matching embroidery floss, blanket stitch around each flower and leaf.

9. Stitch buttons or beads to the centers of the silk flowers.

Tips & Warnings

• Allow for a seam when determining placement of the flowers and leaves on the foundation fabric.
• Wait and attach the beads or buttons until after your project has been contructed.
• Depending on the flower chosen, add more detail with an assortment of embroidery stitches.