Sunday 13 July 2014

Flower Brooch Tutorial

I promised a tutorial on how to make these flower brooches... but before I start I think that it is only fair to say that I was originally inspired by the brooch by Gemma Nemer featured in Mollie Makes. However, the actual technique is not new, and this is my take on the process, which is slightly different from that featured in the magazine.


First of all select your fabrics - you can use the same fabric for all five petals, choose five completely different fabrics... or like me choose five different but toning fabrics. What is important is that they are thin fabrics... too thick and your flower will be too bulky.


You will need to cut 5 circles of fabric, approximately 8 - 9 cm in diameter. I found that the lid from a large Golden Syrup tin to be the perfect size template!



Thread your needle with a strong thread and make a knot at the end of your thread. Taking your first circle, fold it in half.


Fold it in half again making a quarter circle.


Now stitch along the circular edge with small running stitches, making sure you are stitching through all four layers of fabric.


It should look something like this...


Fold your second circle of fabric into quarters and without knotting or cutting off your thread stitch along the curved edge of your second circle with small running stitches.


Repeat for all five fabric circles. They should look like a string of bunting when you've finished.


Now, gently but firmly gather up your thread. You want to gather as tightly as possible without snapping your thread (this is why you use strong thread)


When you have gathered it up as tightly as you possibly can, tie a knot at the end to stop the gathers coming undone...


and then working from the back, join the first and last petals with a couple of over stitches.


You have now finished your first round of petals!


Using a smaller template (approx. 6-7 cm)... I used the lid from a small tin of Golden Syrup... cut another five circles of fabric


Repeat the method and make another circle of fabric petals. By now you will realise that by selective folding you can position designs/colors/patterns on your petals.


Next you will need a pretty button, large enough to cover the raw edges and gathering stitches of your smaller circle.


I did originally try stitching the button onto the small fabric circle but it is really difficult to keep the button firmly in place so that it covers all the raw edges. So my advice is to use a hot glue gun to firmly position your button in the centre of your small circle of petals.


Using the glue gun again, spread some glue onto the back of the small circle of petals and position it centrally onto the larger circle.


You should now have something that looks like this....


Next you need a circle of felt, about 4 cm diameter, a circle of firm card, about 3.5 cm diameter and a brooch back.


With a matching thread start to stitch the felt circle onto the back of your flower brooch, using small slip stitches. About half way around, slip the card circle in place behind the felt circle.


Carry on slip stitching around the felt circle securing it firmly in place


Then stitch the brooch back into place onto the felt backing.


And your flower brooch is ready to wear... pin it on your jacket, your hat, your bag... anywhere you like!


or pin it onto a fancy card with some pretty ribbon...


and put it in a case with lots more and go peddle your wares!


22 comments:

  1. Thanks Gina, I did find a tutorial but now I know why your flowers looked fuller the one I found cut the circle in half and we're sewn together on the machine first. I like the all hand sewing idea

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  2. Lovely. Hope the weekend was a roaring success

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  3. Wow, you really did get into making these didn't you! Your hotglue idea is a great one as my one has the button a bit squiffy, so I might take it off and give it a dab of glue instead!! xx

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  4. Blimey' you've made millions! Great tutorial xx

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  5. Gorgeous, even a rubbish stitcher like me could perhaps make one. And licking the golden syrup tin lids is an added bonus... Ax

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  6. I shall have to wash my syrup tin lids first as they always get so sticky! A great tutorial so clearly explained and illustrated, and the results are delightful.

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  7. Thank you!! Great tutorial, I will be adding these to my list of lovely things to make x

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  8. Well, that was quick and painless -- at least for me, watching from here LOL. Thanks for the quick tutorial Gina -- they look like lots of fun to make!

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  9. What a great idea! There are so many ways to enjoy these fun flowers. Thanks.

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  10. my god that's a stack of flowers Gina. lovely clear tutorial. I need to have a go!

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  11. How clever! Thankyou so much for sharing this tutorial, it's nice and simple enough for me to follow yet so effective! I can see other uses for these flowers, maybe as decoration on the edge of curtains, or on a dress, I'm feeling very inspired, thankyou!
    Jess xx

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  12. Thanks for posting how to make these, much appreciated. I am going to dig out the syrup tin now.

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  13. Beautiful Gina, thanks for sharing! :)
    V x

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  14. Gina, you've got some beautiful fabric blooms in your garden this July. Thank you so much for all the tutorial tips.

    Love the syrup tins as templates, and you know what, I might just have eventually buy a hot glue gun.

    xo

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  15. I never have Golden Syrup tins...

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  16. Great tutorial and such pretty fabric you have used. x Jo

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  17. You should be sponsored by Tate & Lyle! Lovely tutorial Gina - thank you. :)

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  18. super tutorial Gina, thanks for sharing. I love the suitcase of wares for peddling!

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  19. Wow! You've demonstrated your process so beautifully! I like to imagine that I can guess how to make many things but I had no idea on these, so it was fun to watch them come togther in your beautiful photos. I tihnk I might just have to try it some time.

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  20. Thanks for a great tutorial Gina :)

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  21. Completely different to the way I've made them in the past. Much more productive to do each layer in one fell swoop. Very clever to use the glue gun too but they still take a bit of work to do and I hope you sold loads at the open studios. I suspect there are legions of women in Hertfordshire now all sporting a floral corsage!

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  22. Thanks for a great tutorial, I love your flowers and will definitely be making some of my own.
    xxx Hazel.

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