Sunday, June 21, 2015

How To: Constructing a Felt Boutonnière

Completed Felt Flower Boutonnière 1

Those felt flowers, leaves, and asparagus I made awhile back had a very specific purpose: three boutonnières and one focal boutonnière. My inspiration came from the following two images, both of which are lovely and involve an asparagus-like stalk.


I must say, the final pieces don't miss the mark by much:
Felt Flower Bouquets

  1. Gather Supplies: felt asparagus, five petal flowers, felt flower buds, split stitched felt leaves, felt peony, scissors, hot glue, needle, thread, felt to match the size of the felt leaf, clip and/or safety pins.
    Felt Flower Bouquet Pieces
  2. Determine your layout.
    Place a few more flower buds with hot glue
  3. Sew asparagus to leaf as invisibly as possible. I attached it slightly off center, with enough space at the bottom for a five-point flower to fit.
    Sew the asparagus to one side of the leaf back as invisibly as possible
  4. Sew first flower, two stitches through the center beads. I attached my first flower to the bottom of the asparagus.
    Sew the first flower to the bottom of the asparagus, two stitches through the gold beads
  5. Sew second and third flowers, similarly to the first. I attached the second flower to the leaf, and the third flower to the side of the asparagus.
    Sew the third flower to the side of the asparagus, 2 stitches through the gold beads
  6. Secure thread to back of leaf. I sometimes add a drop of hot glue to be extra secure.
    Secure thread on back of leaf
  7. Put a drop of hot glue at the bottom, back of a flower bud.
    Hot glue at bottom of flower bud
  8. Attach flower bud, with other flowers hiding its bottom/attachment point.
    Place flower bud with other flowers hiding the bottom stitches
  9. Attach more felt flower buds in a similar fashion until satisfied with the aesthetics.
    Place a few more flower buds with hot glue
  10. Cut and hot glue leaf backs (should be slightly smaller than the actual leaves) to the back of the bouquet. This will hide any stitches on the back of the leaf and also strengthen it all a bit.
    Hot glue a backing leaf to cover up any stitches and strengthen the leaf
  11. Cut felt squares, small enough so that you can slide the safety pin or clip through its width.
    Cutting the felt clip attachment pieces
  12. Place and sew the felt square to the back of the leaf. I like to double secure these stitches with a line of hot glue when I'm done.
    Placing the clip attachment Sewing the clip attachment
  13. Slide a safety pin or clip through the felt square on the back.
    Pins and clips through the backs of the boutonnières
  14. Done!
    Felt Flower Boutonnières
Completed Felt Flower Boutonnière 1
Completed Felt Flower Boutonnière 2

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