I have been promising you a flower making tutorial for some time now. So, I finally put something together. This is a tutorial showing how to tool (shape) fabric flower petals without the use of expensive flower making tools. Even the method I use for stiffening the material is not traditional, being that the petals are stiffened individually. This is not meant to be a comprehensive tutorial on flower making, but it is, I feel, the most important aspect of it. The rest can be figured out by observing how vintage artificial flowers or flowers founds in crafts stores are assembled. There are many wonderful flower making books that can be found on Ebay, and other booksellers' sites. Also, check out the free out-of-print flower making book links to your right under "Speedy Resource Access: Flower Making" on this site.
Please note that the fabric stiffener I used for this project is not the only stiffener that is used to stiffen flowers. I used this stiffener because it better suited the fabric I was using.
Following my video is a video showing how to assemble an artificial flower. Note again, this is not the only method of assembling a flower. Experiment, experiment, research, research, and observe. Have fun!
P.S., Yes the flower above was made with a spoon and awl.
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Awesome post, Lee, as usual!
ReplyDeleteThanks French Room.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog! Thanks for all the free info and tutorials. Please add my name to your Giveaway.
ReplyDeleteHi Claire,
DeleteThanks. I'll put a note in the correction location.
Hi Lee,
ReplyDeleteI just found you! I am so thrilled with your blog and all the links to information and inspiration. I need to step away from the computer and get some work done. Be back later.
Thank you,
Ann
Thanks you Ann. Yes, come back. Feel free to make any suggestions or ask any question you would like.
ReplyDeleteI have recently stumbled upon your blog whilst looking for a tutorial on blocking leather. What a fascinating wealth of knowledge here...thank you so much for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteHi Chrissie,
DeleteThank you for taking the time to drop me a note. Please stop by again, and please feel free to suggest a tutorial you would like to see on this site.
Lee
Thank you so much for sharing this tutorial, Lee. By the way, is there any fabric flower making book you would recommend? I've seen a lot but honestly I can't decide for one in particular. I would like one where they make beautiful flowers like those made by Russian girls on YouTube, from who's tutorials you don't understand a word LOL. Thanks again for everything you share with us.
ReplyDeleteHi Georgia,
DeleteI feel that the Japanese silk flower making books are very helpful. Although I can't read them, they have quite a few images in them. They show how to hand paint the petals, etc. Another thing is to use various types of natural fabrics (silk, cotton, linen, etc.) because they give different results. Purchase flower books, the type that you would purchase if you were going to work in your garden, and study the flowers in it. Finally, if your interests are in roses, pick a real rose and photocopy it and make a pattern from it for your rose. Never use someone else pattern before you create your own. You can always tell when someone uses a pattern that they have taken from another instructor or someone selling flower making instructions. All of the flowers look the same and it is a sign that they have not truly mastered flower making.
When time permits I will make some flowers and put them up for show-and-tell. The flowers in my banner are hand rolled, so I'll do some tooled flowers for that project.
Good Luck,
Lee