Friday, October 30, 2009

Scrappy Patchwork Flower

**This tutorial is intended for personal use only.**

Fabric scraps. What to do with all of those fabric scraps. I am willing to bet that most of you have them, and lots of them too. It is very fulfilling when a project can be put together using scrap pieces of fabric. This would mean that it would cost you next to nothing to make, and who could argue with that these days.

I needed a package topper for a small gift and decided to create a simple flower in lieu of a bow. The first place that I look for small pieces of fabric is in my scrap drawer. What a wonderful assortment of prints awaited me.


For this flower, I used nine, 1-3/4-inch square pieces of fabric. With a scissor, round both corners on one side of each square.


With needle and thread, take a running stitch along the square edge of each petal. After all petals are on the thread, tie both ends of the thread together to form a circle of petals.


Take another scrap piece measuring approximately 3/4" x 7". This will act as the flower center. Remove threads from one of the 7-inch sides until you have 1/4-inch of fray. With needle and thread, take a running stitch to the non-frayed edge. Gather and tie both ends of the thread together to form a circle. Sew a button or two to the center, and sew the piece onto the center of the circle of petals.


It is pretty just as is...


...or add velvet leaves for an extra special touch. Add a pinback to the back of the flower if you wish. Voila! A very pretty and very easy package topper/flower pin.


Make a bunch of these to coordinate with the wrapping paper you intend on using this holiday season. Modify the size of the petals to make it larger if you would like to have something more dramatic. You can also make a couple of petal rounds, one about an inch in diameter smaller than the other and layer it for a fuller effect. Wouldn't they be gorgeous done up in red and green or burgundy and gold? Hang them on the Christmas tree or on a holiday wreath. Whatever makes you happy. A fabulous something for almost nothing, and that has to be a good thing!

Take care!

Aloha!


P. S. Hint of the day: Never stand on a swivel chair when tending to a paper jam in your printer high up on your computer desk. You risk falling and breaking something, such as the tip of your baby finger. Ask me how I know.

28 comments:

Kaye said...

Love the tutorial on the flower from the scraps. You are soooo talented and thanks for sharing. I am going to try to make them to decorate the gifts. Thanks again

Barb said...

What lovely fowers....thanks so much!!

Annieofbluegables said...

Very pretty. So glad to see you back. It's been a while, I was hoping that thief blogger didn't dampen your spirits.
Keep creating and smiling, you are beautiful.
~a

Annieofbluegables said...

PS, sorry about your pinkie. I love your tip of the day.
~a

arkie said...

How pretty!

Stephanie D said...

Oh, Lettie, just what you didn't need--a broken pinky. Hope it was your non-dominant hand.

The flowers are so cute! Do you use a stiffener of any kind to keep the petals looking so nice?

Wacky Woman said...

Oh these are very cute. And, thanks for the tip on rolling chairs. Never stand on a folding table when the leg isn't locked either. You can break an ankle that way I hear.

Tilly Rose said...

Ooh I love your flower!! Thanks for your tutorial
Hugs Karen x

Jenn said...

What a great post and the flower seems so simple to make and yet so pretty! Thanks, Lettie!

bruercsi said...

Super sweet and easy!

Odette said...

Hola, un saludo afectuoso desde Chile para ti, me encanta venir a ver las cosas hermosas que haces, muchas gracias por compartirlas, todo bello.
Abrazos
Odette

sweetiepie said...

This is super cute, Lettie, and a great idea for a package topper. I hope your finger feels better real soon.

Take care.

Rumi said...

Much nicer than a ribbon bow on a package! Thanks for the great idea to use up our scraps in such a fun way!

emy said...

Ciao Arlette!!!
Grazie per il tutorial!!
Bacioni!

jeanette h said...

have only just found your blog and just love every thing on it, hope your pinky isnt to sore,very talented in deed thanks for sharing

Unknown said...

How cute! That turned out great.
Sorry about your pinky. I broke a pinky once too.

PrimAngel said...

Love love love the flowers and hope your lil finger heals quickly!!

HUGS and Thank for sharing
Nanc

Anonymous said...

Yay - I love the flower - what a great idea for a present topper.

Sborry to hear about your baby finger - hope it heals quickly - ouch :(

Annette said...

Owie! I hope your finger stops hurting soon. The flower is so beautiful!

Divânia's- trabalhos manuais said...

Lettie......i loveled!!!Thank's....Hugs from Brazil!!!!

Divânia www.flickr.com/photos/divania_nogueira

JG said...

What a cute flower to make and add to a wrapped gift!

Suze said...

Very pretty flower. Thanks for sharing. Sorry about your pinky. Hope it heals quickly.

Jeanne said...

Thanks so much for the idea! The flower turned out very cute and my girls love purple.

Kristin said...

That is absolutely gorgeous!

Colleen MacKinnon; Penny Rugs and More said...

oh Lettie! don't stand on the swivel chair dear girl! Paper jams always make me check my footing! I think we have near to the same life....

Take care, Colleen

Janine said...

I hope your baby-finger is getting well soon.

Endless Collectabilities said...

These are adorable! I just love your tutorials ... you do such a good job explaining and you know just what pictures are needed.

Sonia said...

Awesome!! Am short of more words to praise right now, though..lol!