Friday, June 28, 2013

SHOP: Re-Purposed and Recycled Fabric Flowers

 It feels good not to have to throw something away. Instead, I have been reusing, re-purposing, recycling clothes, scraps of fabric, etc... and making sculpted fabric hair flowers! What a beautiful way to create less waste.




HOW TO: Loopy Flowers

What you will need: 

-3/8" ribbon in various colors {8 pieces of each color you want. For this: 8 pieces of Purple @ 2.5 inches; 8 pieces of Green @ 2 inches; 8 pieces of YellowGold @ 1.5 inches} You can add as many layers as you want.
-Lined Alligator Clip {or other clip of your choice}
-Hot Glue
-Needle and Thread
-Center Accent{s}


 1} Measure and Cut all ribbon to size. {For this Flower: 8 pieces of Purple @ 2.5 inches; 8 pieces of Green @ 2 inches; 8 pieces of YellowGold @ 1.5 inches} You can add as many layers as you want as long as you keep your sizes in succession. Larger flowers can start at 3 or 3.5 inches, then gradually taper your layers down from there. I don't recommend doing the inside loop any smaller than 1 inch.


2} Heat seal all ends.



3} Double thread your needle and knot end.




4} Collect one piece of ribbon of each size, layer biggest to smallest and thread needle through. 






5} Loop opposite ends of ribbon over and thread through.








6} Repeat the same process until you have all 8 "petals" completed.


7} Once all 8 "petals" are complete, pull thread tight and knot together with beginning thread.



8} Here is what you "flower" should now look like. Next you can  hot glue your center accent{s} that you have chosen.




9} Attached your flower to a lined alligator clip or other clip of your choice. If you plan on using a French Barrette I recommend lining the top of the barrette with a coordinating ribbon color since the metal will show through the spaces in the bows.





10} After you bow is finished and mounted, you have the option of starching the entire bow {with spray on shirt starch}, this helps to keep the petals in their desired shape without a lot of flopping around during wear. Simply lay the bow on a piece of foil or paper towel, gently spray with starch, allow to dry. Voila!