Hand made flower petals tutorial

I've had some requests to do a tutorial for the flowers on my revamped wedding dress.  Obviously I am thrilled to oblige! 

The most important thing is that you use a man made fabric - I've used cream satin for these although I've been experimenting with polyester blouses from my local charity shop and they work a treat (and it's a funky way to recycle too.) 

Here's what you'll need:
man made fabric
Candle
Bowl of water
Tweezers or jewelery pliers

Cut your fabric into circles.  Don't worry about getting them symmetrical and perfectly round - they'll look much more 'natural' if you do them free hand (and life's way too short to stress over perfection.)

Take your tweezers or pliers and grasp the fabric close to the edge.

 

Carefully singe the edge of the fabric over the candle flame. 

This can take a bit of practice - you just want to melt the edge fibers without scorching them.  I find that rotating the fabric quickly over the flame seems to work well. You'll find that as the fibers melt, the edges will curl up - just like a flower petal.

The water is on hand in case you get a bit singe happy and the fabric 'catches' -it's only happened to me once but that was enough!

As John said when I was making them - 'that's such a rainy day activity' and he's right, it's quite zen after a while!

I've done lots of cream because I like the simplicity of them but I suppose you could do whatever colour you like to match your colour scheme. I've seen little boxes of flower petals selling for £6.99 and you could make your own for a fraction of that (especially if you use charity shop finds.)

I'm going to sprinkle them on my tables at the party but I've also made flowers out of them by stacking them one on top of the other and securing with a few contrasting stitches in the centre.  You could also use little beads too to add a bit more bling.

Comments

[Katy]

That's such an entertaining tutorial! The flowers remind me of one of those retro bathing caps..in a good way.

[eternallyeve]

What a wonderfully simple project! THank you for sharing it.

[Holly]

These are really pretty and look easy to make, thanks for the tutorial!

[Elizabeth]

Thanks so much for the tutorial! I would never have guessed that the edges were fluted using flame. And I love the idea of using thrifted polyester blouses; what a way to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. :)

[Marie]

How ever did you come up with this idea? Never in a million years would I have thought to hold fabric over a candle. I thought for sure they were difficult to make, i.e. lots of hand stitching. Giggle.

[MJ]

I never would have thought of singing them! Neat idea, thanks for sharing! My friend is getting married at the end of August and was asking me to think of something for decorating the tables...I think we have a winner!

[fancypicnic]

These are adorable - what a great idea. Fab tutorial!
I'm bloglinking you so that I can come back for another read. Good to have found you.

[Twiggy]

Very pretty, I've tagged you!
Twiggy x

[Vicki]

This is great, thanks for the tutorial. And this makes me appreciate the work on that cute little dress even more. Wow
vicki

[CanCan (Mom Most Traveled)]

Wow! I'm not seamstress, but you explained and illustrated this so well, I feel like even *I* could do it!
:)

[Dorthe]

I have made a book, how to make many kinds of flowers with fabric and a candel - interested - look here
http://www.dokla.dk/default_en.htm

Regards Dorthe
(sorry my english)

[Shacara]

Thankyou so much for this. A mystery solved. You're very generous to share this. Great tutorial! I'm going to have fun making these!

[Shacara]

Thank you so much for this tutorial, very generous of you. I'm going to have fun making these! Thank you again.

[Sonia]

hey there, I loved your singed flowers..would like to try them out soon..thanx for sharing!!

[Term Papers]

Its very attractive artificial flower's, I am very thankful to you. There is much important information about that how to make this flower I like it so much.

[cheap ed hardy]

but you explained and illustrated this so well, I feel like even *I* could do it!

[Aubree]

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[Alicia]

Muy interesante. La verdad es que no conocía esta técnica. Muchas gracias.

[Flowers Japan]

Some times things created artificially appeal more than the Natural ones. Your Floral designs are just like that, Colors full of variety and finishing at its extreme.

[soft cialis]

I'm just amazed at how much snow you have...tomorrow is the 1st of February and we're still 'snow less' for the winter...I don't know what's happened, but I'm not complaining..though it does look nice.

Glad you had a nice time browsing the stores for inspiration, spending your birthday certificates and building burgers!!I'm just amazed at how much snow you have...tomorrow is the 1st of February and we're still 'snow less' for the winter...I don't know what's happened, but I'm not complaining..though it does look nice.

Glad you had a nice time browsing the stores for inspiration, spending your birthday certificates and building burgers!!

[send flowers to germany]

but you explained and illustrated this so well, I feel like even *I* could do it!

[sharleen flowers2world.com]

Thanks for the article.
What a wonderfully simple project!

[Send Flowers to Philippines]

that's mick mouse job..
i have also done it ...
you also can try it's Really enjoyable..

[Korea Flower Delivery]

Really like this website, this really helps and very useful.

[ed hardy]

Just wanted to say HI. I found your blog a few days ago and have been reading it over the past few days.