With Spring officially here and Mother’s Day just around the corner, I’ve had flowers on the mind. But not just the ones growing in my garden – handmade ones, using scraps of fabric from a number of past projects. I’ve posted before about one of my favorite flower-making books, “Ima Sugu Tsukuritai Co-saju” [“Corsages I Want to Make Right Now” Bunka Publishing, 2006].
My English translation is above. The book page is 8 1/8″ wide by 7 7/8″ high if you want to print it out, in order to make sure the petal pattern is sized correctly. The pattern requires the use of a round-headed stylus (also called a “cup”) in order to create the rounded, 3D-effect to the petals. Not completely necessary, but it helps create a finished, professional look to your corsage.
From last year’s Men’s Shirt to Cute Summer Shirt Dress tutorial that I wrote, I used some extra leftover fabric to make a carnation corsage.
Here is the how-to and pattern below:
Here are a couple more projects in the book…a dahlia:
And a lush camellia:
Okay…I’m all translated-out!If you would like to check out more reference books in English for making fabric flowers, two of my favorites are Heirloom Ribbonwork
Have a flower-filled day!
xoxox
Carly
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love this, and must try! thanks dear 🙂 I also made an apple plush tutorial, pls check if you have time^^
Thanks very much for sharing. I think I will give it a try, I love the creamy spotty one. Beautiful.
http://www.the-black-wardrobe.blogspot.com
heys 😀 ~
thanks for the tuts <3
i'm just wondering, for the floewr ones, you need a 'stylus' .. i was wondering, where could i get one? XD or is there something else i could use instead? XD
do let me know <3 hehe, shall wait for your reply? ^^"
@breakwayx3: Hi there!
I've referred to the tool as a stylus since I wasn't sure what to call it in English. Just something to create a 3D effect on the petals, and to score the veins in the leaves. I use a metal muddler (basically a rod with a ball on one end) – you could also use a cocktail stirrer that has a ball-end for the flower petals, and use a scorer or bone folder (available in the scrapbooking/cardmaking section of your local crafts store) to make the leaf veins. If you want to go all out and make lots of flowers – a heated tool is recommended – plus it makes the indentations permanent and crisp. (Sometimes I've heated up my metal muddler with a hair dryer.) In the “Handmade Flowers from Paper and Fabric” book referenced above, they call it a “flower-making iron.” Also called a “flower-forming iron,” it's definitely not available at any Jo-Ann's, Michael's, or any other run-of-the-mill craft store! I have never even seen one at a floral decor store, except in Japan. If you can find a millinery (hat-making) supply place they may stock it. I sourced a couple online for you here:
http://www.lacis.com/catalog/data/AE_FlowerTools.html
An expired listing on Etsy where you can probably email the seller: http://www.etsy.com/listing/45737106/electric-flower-forming-iron-and-tips
Hope that helps!
xoxox
Carly
What beautiful flower patterns!
Very nice idea but quite challenging, i may incorporate this on my list of products in the future 🙂 Good thing with this is it will not wilt
Thank you for the nice article!
Hi there, this is really great, any chance you could upload the pictures for the making the other flowers again as I am getting a 404 file not found error. The pictures of the flowers come up it i just the instructions that are missing!
Thanks
Alison
Sorry! A lot of my photos got unlinked when I moved to WordPress. (Something like 400+??) I’ve re-uploaded the ones from this post; hope that helps!
xoxox
Carly
hi dear
do you know how can sew this fabric flower?
i love this so much 🙂
http://upload7.ir/uploads//80ad739d63695786ba7c725b790223bee883bda1.jpg
Hi Samir! From your photo, I believe it’s made by creating a long rectangle of fabric which a channel in one of the long sides. Then you thread a flexible wire into the channel, and bend the fabric into a spiral flower style. And secure with some stitching in the center, which you then hide by pinning on a large brooch. At least I think that’s how you would go about re-creating it! Good luck!