How to Make Fabric Flowers for Clothes

Unconventional fabrics with patterns or stripes add depth and interest to your flower accessory.

Flaunt your femininity with attachable, easy-to-make fabric flowers. These little beauties can add zing and dress up almost any outfit. Create a pattern and cut it out of fabric and sew the flower at home or toss the fabric in a bag for something to keep your hands busy when out and about. Pick shiny, bold fabrics, or dark, demure ones, depending on your fashion taste and personal style. These fabric flowers make perfect gifts for any special girl or woman in your life.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Marker
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Decorative fabric
• Sewing pins
• Needle
• Thread
• Hot glue gun
• Pin backing

Instructions

1. Draw a flower template on a sheet of paper with a dark colored marker. Create the pattern by drawing five triangle shapes all open at the base of the shape. Leave about an inch margin from the bottom tip of the triangles and draw a line connecting all five shapes together. Use a ruler to help guide your lines as you draw.

2. Cut the pattern out. Cut out a long strip of fabric two times the width as the flower pattern. Fold the fabric in half so that it is the same width as the pattern. The length of the fabric should extend four or five times the length of the pattern. Longer strips of fabric will create larger flowers.

3. Position the flat edge of the pattern against the folded, bottom edge of the pattern. Fold the fabric against the pattern, accordion style, until you reach the end of the fabric. Place a pin in the center of the pattern to attach it to the fabric folds.

4. Cut out the top and bottom pattern shape with the fabric. Do not cut the folds on either side of the fabric. Unpin the pattern and lay out fabric flat against your work surface. You should have one long piece of fabric cut in the shape of your flower pattern.

5. Knot one end of colored thread that matches the color of your fabric. Thread the needle and sew one small stitch at the bottom, flat edge of the fabric. Continue a running stitch along the edge of the fabric by making four or five stitches along the edge.

6. Pull the thread gently to gather the fabric into a circular shape. Sew a stitch through the folds of the gathered fabric to tack the shape into place. Continue sewing several stitches and gathering the fabric together to form a flower until you reach the end of the fabric strip.

7. Sew several stitches through the base of the flower to hold the shape in place. Knot the thread and cut the thread. Glue a pin backing with a hot glue gun to the flower base. Allow to dry. Pin the flower to a dress, coat or other piece of clothing.

Tips & Warnings

• Try cutting a flower pattern with rounded petals or other shapes to change the look of each fabric flower.

• Use a contrasting color or fabric to make your flower stand out against your outfit.

• Use caution when using scissors to avoid injury.

References

• "Fun-to-Wear Fabric Flowers"; Elizabeth Helene Searle; 2006
• "Flowers that Wow: Inspired Arrangements for the Floral-Impaired"; Jonathan Fong, Jessica Boone; 2006
• You Tube: Kara Janx: Fabric Flowers

Resources

• Little Birdie Secrets: Make a Fabric Flower and Tutorial Round Up
• Studio 5: Urban Corsage: How to Make Rolled Fabric Flowers