Tag Archives: sewing

Fabric Flower Tutorial

Posted on by Abi

Today I thought I’d share a fabric flower tutorial with you all, we’ve been making these for years and they are so much fun. This is a really useful little technique to know as the flower can be made into a badge, sewn onto a hairband or hairclip or anything else you can think of. You can also vary the size with eaze and the end result looks very impressive.

What You’ll Need

Cardboard

Fabric for petals

Fabric for flower centre

Felt Fabric

Buttons and beads to decorate

Step 1

First you need to decide on the size you would like your finished flower to be. The one in the picture above is about 9cms across. Next draw a circle onto your carboard the same size as the flower and cut out.

Step 2

Place your cardboard circle onto your petal fabric and draw around six times (to make six petals). Cut out the six fabric circles.

Step 3

Fold each circle of fabric in half, with the right side of the fabric showing. Now you need to gather the raw edges of your petals, sew small running stitches along the side.

Step 4

Pull the stitches to form your petal. Repeat with the other five circles using the same piece of thread going from one to the next.

Step 5

Join the first petal to the last and sew firmly together to form your flower.

Step 6

Cut a small circle from felt or a woollen material that doesn’t fray and sew onto the back of your flower.

Step 7

Now we need to make the centre of the flower. I chose a contrasting blue material for mine. Once again use your cardboard circle and cut out a circle from this fabric. Gradually sew a running stitch round the edge of the circle turning the raw edge to the centre as you go.

Step 8

Pull your thread so that the gathers end up in the centre of the circle.

Step 9

Place this circle with the gathers facing down so they can’t be seen into the centre of your flower. Next you will need a button to secure it. Sew it right into the centre to hold everything together. At this point you can add beads or whatever embellishments you fancy.

Step 10

Now your flower is finished you can sew a brooch back onto the back if you like, or add it to a fabric hairband or hairclip. I think I may add one onto a bag I’m sewing, really the ideas are limitless. Have fun!

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Make Your Own Kilt Pin Brooch

Posted on by Abi

I was trying to think of a new tutorial to share with you all and suddenly I thought of making a kilt pin brooch! We have sold these in the past, now we only make them for fairs or commissions and they were always very popular, I have had my own one permanently pinned to my jacket for years.

You’ll Need

A Kilt pin or large safety pin

Ribbons

Lace

Tape

Cord or string

Buttons

Beads

Anything else you fancy for decoration 🙂

Step 1

Make a rosette from tape or ribbon. First cut a piece of ribbon about 12 cms long and fold in half wrong side out. Sew the two ends together and then sew a running stitch all along one edge. Pull the cotton tight to make a rosette.

Step 2

Narrow tape or ribbon can be attached by folding in half and then putting the two loose ends through the loop and pulling tightly.
Step 3
Attach some thicker ribbon by folding over the pin and sew with a running stitch. It looks good if some of the ribbons overlap.We have also added waxed cord here, pushing a bead on and knotting underneath looks great and adds a bit of sparkle!
Step 4
Next we sewed lace flowers and the ribbon rosette we made earlier in place.
Step 5
Finally attach some buttons by sewing through all the layers to keep everything firmly in place. Trim the ribbons, cord and lace to make a good shape. Then stand back and admire your work! 

Don’t forget there’s still time to enter our comp 🙂

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Summer Bunting Tutorial

Posted on by Abi

We’ve recently been experiencing fabulous weather in the uk. The kind of weather that inspires outdoor parties, picnics and gatherings at the park. Bunting has received something of a resurgence in popularity and it always makes such a welcoming summery sight. But rather than plumping for the easily ripped paper type how about making your own fabric version! It’s remarkably simple and is a wonderful reason to use up all those fabric scraps that creative people tend to accumulate.

You’ll Need

Bias binding (length depends on how long you want your bunting)

Fabric

Carboard

Pencil or tailors chalk

Scissors

Step 1

Draw a triangle on a piece of cupboard, I used an old cereal box for this. Cut it out and ta-da you have your template! Remember to leave a border of about 1 1/2cm to be your seam allowance.

Step 2

Take all your fabric and draw around your template using either a pencil or tailors chalk. If your wondering on numbers, I think about 6 flags per 1 1/2 metres looks good. So for this length you would need 12 triangles.

Step 3

Lay your bias binding flat and space your triangles along it to make sure you’ve cut enough and to choose the order of patterns.

Step 4

Take 2 triangles and sew them together with the right side of the fabric facing. Leave the top side of your triangle free.

Step 5

Trim your seam allowance if required. If your fabric is likely to fray edge it with a zig zag stitch. Then turn the whole triangle the right way out and press with an iron.

Step 6

Repeat steps 4-5 for all your triangles. I like to sew the open edge closed, but it is not essential.

Lay your completed flags along the bias binding.

Step 7

Fold the binding in half over the top of the flags and pin or tack into position. I also press with an iron to make even easier and crisp.

Step 8

Sew along the binding making sure you catch the flag tops.

Step 9

Stand back and admire your brand new summer bunting!

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