How to Make Cloth Flowers

Faux flowers can be made with many materials, including cloth. Cotton, silk, nylon and velvet bring different textures to custom floral arrangements in your home. One simple flower that can be made with cloth is a wild daisy. Wild daisies can be blue, yellow, purple or white. Because it is a light flower, try using an airy fabric like cotton to create this effect. With just a few simple flower-making tools, you will have a beautiful centerpiece for your kitchen or coffee table.

Things You'll Need

• 4-inch-by-18-inch cotton fabric strip
• Heavy spray starch
• Iron
• Ironing board
• Scissors
• Sewing needle
• Fabric glue
• Thread
• Stem wires
• Floral stem tape

Instructions

Preparing the Fabric

1. Place the strip of cotton fabric on the ironing board and spray it with the heavy spray starch.

2. Iron the fabric on a low setting. This will give the fabric a stiff quality that will make it easier to work with.

3. Cut a 1-inch long fringe along one of the 18-inch sides of the strip. This will be the outer petals of the flower. The fringe should be about a quarter-inch thick.

4. Cut a 1-1/2-inch long fringe along the other 18-inch side of the strip. This will be the inner petals of the flower. The fringe should also be about a quarter-inch thick.

5. At the end of each petal, cut out a V-shape. This will give the petal a forked appearance.

Sewing the Petals

1. Fold the strip of fabric longways, so the inner petals meet the outer petals. The outer petals should be about 1/2 inch below the inner petals.

2. Sew along the crease of the fabric.

3. Tie a knot in the end of the thread to secure the stitch. Cut off any excess thread.

Assembling the Flower

1. Squeeze a line of glue along the sewn edge of the strip.

2. Position one end of the strip around the top of the stem wire and begin rolling it around the stem. The end of the stem should not be sticking out over the petals.

3. Continue rolling the strip tightly, applying continuous pressure with your fingers. When the end of the strip is reached, hold down the end with your finger.

4. Secure the end of the strip down with the floral stem tape. Continue wrapping the tape around the base of the cloth flower, then down over the stem wire to secure the flower to the stem.

5. Fluff out the petals with your fingers. Repeat the steps, making as many flowers as you need for your arrangement.

Tips & Warnings

• Give flowers some sparkle with craft spray glitter or try tipping the edges of the petals with gold or silver glitter paint.

• Do not iron a heavily starched fabric on the highest setting. This will burn the starch.

References

• Panjo Kutch: Flower Making