How to Make Artificial Fabric Flowers

Don't discard that scrap of fabric, recycle it into decorative fabric flowers. Embellish clothing, accessories and home decor projects with homemade artificial fabric flowers for a fraction of the retail cost. Attach a fabric flower to the front of a plain tote bag or purse, or add a little color to an old jacket lapel. You can glue a fabric flower to a barrette to make a stylish hair accessory, or glue a pin finding to the back to make a brooch. Once you master fabric flower making, you'll be amazed at the number of ways you'll find to use them.

Things You'll Need

• Cardstock
• Circle templates
• Pen
• Scissors
• Synthetic silk Fabric
• Tea-light candle
• Lighter
• Needle
• Thread
• Round bead

Instructions

1. Trace at least three different-sized circles onto a sheet of cardstock. The largest circle relates to the overall size of the artificial fabric flowers, the other circles are patterns for the interior petals. You can cut up to six circle shapes, each one smaller than the next for your fabric flowers. Cut the circle shapes from the cardstock.

2. Place the cardstock circles onto the back side of the synthetic silk fabric you chose for your fabric flowers. Trace around the circles and then cut them from the fabric.

3. Cut slits one-third of the way into each circle around the perimeter of each fabric circle. The slits will form the petals for your artificial flower, space them as evenly as you can, but perfection is not necessary. Round the petals, if you like, or leave them curved with points on the ends.

4. Light the tea light candle. The flame is consistently low on most tea light candles, making them a preferable choice for this project.

5. Hold the fabric flower so that one of the petals is 2 inches above the tea light's flame. The synthetic silk will begin to melt along the edges, adding dimension to your artificial fabric flowers. Keep the circle moving above the flame to melt the outside edges of each petal. Repeat this step to melt the edges of each fabric circle.

6. Stack the fabric circles from largest to smallest. Thread a needle with thread that matches the silk. Double the thread and knot the end.

7. Insert the needle through the center of the stacked fabric circles, from back to front. Arrange the petals around the center thread to shape your flower. Insert the needle back down through the fabric flower, from front to back. Make two additional up-and-down stitches to secure the layers together. End with the needle exiting the front of the flower.

8. Thread a round bead over the needle and down to rest against the center of the fabric flower. Select a bead that coordinates with the design of the fabric flower. Hold the bead in the center of the flower and insert the needle back down through the fabric flower, next to the bead. Secure the bead with a few more up-and-down stitches. Knot the thread on the back of the flower and cut the excess.

Tips & Warnings

• Mix colors and patterns for rich-looking faux blooms.

• Do not hold the fabric too close to the flame or the silk may catch on fire.

References

• Simply Vintage Girl: How to Make Lovely Fabric Flowers

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Maize Hutton: Frayed Flower