How to Build Brooches
Homemade crafts and do-it-yourself projects are certainly appearing increasingly more popular for several reasons. Making a craft project, such as a decorative brooch, is a way to use recycled materials without having to buy anything new, making it inexpensive and beneficial for the earth as well. The do-it-yourself brooch can spruce up an old T-shirt or sweater that might otherwise get tossed aside. Make one or a group of brooches for gifts or use them to dress up a gift box. Make them alone or with friends and family. There are countless options. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Adornments such as buttons, sequins or beads
- Ribbon in different colors, patterns, textures or sizes
- Scissors
- Needle and thread
- Safety pins or brooch pins
Instructions
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1
Choose two ribbons that differ in color and size. Ideally, the colors should contrast with one another. One of the ribbons should be at least 1 cm wider than the other.
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2
Cut each ribbon. For ribbon that is wider than 5 cm, the length should be approximately 1.6 feet or 1/2 meter; for ribbon that is 3 cm to 4 cm wide, the length should be about 1.1 feet or 1/3 meter; for ribbon thinner than 3 cm, the length should be about 0.8 feet or 1/4 meter long.
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3
Sew three stitches over the top of one another on the bottom right of one of the ribbons with a thread that is approximately twice the length of the ribbons. This is the beginning of the first ruffle in the brooch and will hold the thread in place. It does not matter which ribbon is sewn first, as long as they are sewn separately.
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4
Sew a running stitch along the edge across the ribbon, ensuring that all of the stitches are equal in length.
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5
Carefully pull the thread and push the ribbon down it, gathering the ribbon and making the first ruffle. Hold both ends of the ribbon between the thumb and index finger and continue to securely pull the thread to maintain the ruffle.
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6
Oversew the two ribbon ends together to hinder the ribbon from possibly fraying.
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7
Repeat Steps 3 through 6 to make another ruffle with the second ribbon.
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8
Sew the smaller ribbon ruffle onto the larger ribbon ruffle.
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9
Add buttons, sequins, beads or any other decorations to the front of the brooch. Smaller brooches just need one adornment, but larger brooches can fit more.
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10
Sew a safety pin or a brooch pin onto the back of the brooch using the pin side that does not unhinge.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Always sew on the back of the ribbon and keep the front, generally the shiny side, as the front of the brooch.
