Monday, March 7, 2011

Felt Flower Tutorial

 Quite a few of you have asked how I have made the felt pillow flower. There is a blog that I found one on but I did it a little different. I am not usually very good at giving directions or explaining things well so bare with me. If you are a perfectionist this tutorial is going to drive you buggy because I just wing everything and don't have exact amounts or measurements to any of what I do. Sorry!!!
This flower can be done with or without a sewing machine! It truly is easy and can be done in an hour or so....really I don't know how long it takes. I stop to get someone a drink, help get out a toy, etc. :)

Step one, decide how big you want your pillow and where you want your flower/s to be.  I find a CD works for a good object to trace, it makes a nice sized flower. I start by cutting out felt circles. Cut out about 2in. across and cut out 10 or so start and then cut those circles in half. Each of mine are a little different, I don't cut them all out exactly the same, I like the look that gives.

Like my choice of CD!? lol!
Next you need to lay out your first layer of the flower, overlap them and then pin the petals down. Use either your sewing machine or by hand to secure this layer.
The first layer, see how IMperfect it is....thats okay!!!


With the second layer, you use the same sized circle halves as the first layer.
When you get to the next layer cut some smaller circles. As I do this layer I create a small crease in the petal. It gives it a little dimension. Your machine will kind of want to do this crease anyway. Mine does anyway.
So heres what it looks like after four layers. Add more or less, do whatever you want for your look. There are no right or wrong ways to do this.
I like to add a twisted flower to the middle. All I do is simply cut a section of the felt and twist it. I sew it by hand with dmc floss. Use a strong needle to get through the felt.
Heres where you twist until you form enough of a flower to cover the center.
Looks like this as I do it, then I secure it to the middle of the flower.
Here is what you end up with, flippin adorable!!
Today I decided to add a small flower too, so I did the same as the other.

Now you sew it and make it a pillow!! Careful ironing around it...but you will want to iron, it gets kind of wrinkly looking!


So, here is the front of it.
And to change it up a little bit, I put a patterned fabric on the back.
There you have it, simple, fun and all your own!! Plus these are cheap to make...if you shop clearance bins like I do!! :) Have fun with these and I would love to see pictures of your own!! If you have more questions or I didn't explain well enough please comment or send me an email!! Thanks for your interest in my crafting!!

4 comments:

heidi said...

awesome, thanks Val!

Jen said...

Very nice!! I may need to put one of those on a t shirt!

Annie said...

Love your pillows and the awesome flower. On your post back on Feb. 23you had a pillow with a big black flower on it. I love the fabric on the pillow with all those colors...do you know the name of it and where you got it? I have been looking for something just like this to make some curtains. Let me know if you don't mind. Thanks!

Val said...

Hey Annie, I have gotten all my fabric so far from JoAnns Fabric or Hobby Lobby. The pillow you are talking about is from JoAnns, I have been trying to find it online so I could just connect you with a link, but I cant find it!! It is a Keepsake Calico brand. I will keep looking and let you know if I find the exact fabric. Oh, and it is a dark brown not so black. I'd just hate for you to order it and find its not what you thought! Thanks for checking out my blog!