Why not! Here's how you do it.
You will need:
- Heat n bond Ultrahold. (This is the key to the no-sew part of the
flower!) You will find this at a
haberdashery store – bricks or online.
It is made by Thermoweb. Heat n’ bond is the product name and the ultrahold is in the red pack. It is fabulous! Buy some.
- Hair clips – you will find these at a
large haberdashery or a craft store.
- Fabric scraps – a few coordinating
patterns
- Button – either a covered button kit or a
cute button. Here I have used covered
ones because I love the effect. You can buy a little kit with 5 buttons for
around $3.
- Sharp sewing scissors. Not the kitchen chicken shears and not the
kids paper safety scissors. Good
scissors that are only used for
cutting fabric are a really useful investment!
Freestyle draw 2
flowers onto the paper side of a piece of the Heat n’ bond.
I like to use 5 ‘petals’. I make my main flower about 8 - 10 cm wide –
that is about 3 – 4”. Have a doodle
first and you will surprise yourself.
For inspiration - Unniko, the quintessential freestyle flower design
from Marimekko.
I use a crayon or lead pencil to get some 'grip' on the paper. I then play with the shape I create as you can see in the picture.
You won’t see it as this
paper film that gets peeled away. Draw a second
flower - smaller in size and will give the clip its layered look. I know this is simple to some - but to other people - this is the step that stops people from doing something like this. As you can see from Marimekko - less than 'perfect' IS the point!!
Select
your fabrics and place the flower shapes over the fabric – on the reverse side of the fabric & iron
with a dry heat.
Use 2 different and coordinating fabrics. I like
to use a nice print on the back of the flowers too. You see this when it is in the hair and it
gives a really nice finish. Iron for a few seconds only and don’t get any of
the Heat n’ bond on your iron or board cover as it is an adhesive and it will
make a mess. Trust me on this!
Once
the piece is cool, cut out the flower. Here is the tip for easy ‘fussy cutting’... move the flower shape
around in your hand – don't move your scissors around the shape! Much easier and a great finish rather than trying
to manoeuvre sharp scissors around a small curve. Check the shape from the front of the flower and trim until you are happy.
Peel
off the heat n bond paper. Underneath it will be milky looking - or kind of shiny
– this is the adhesive that we will adhere some more fabric to!
Place your cut 'gummy' flower shapes onto the reverse side of your coordinating fabric. Then iron
the flowers to adhere. Make sure the flower fabric print side is right side up or you will make a huge mess with the adhesive!
After the fabric
cools and has some 'body', cut out the flower again.
This time you are cutting the 2 layers of
fabric. If you do this on your lap whilst watching tv, be careful not to cut
through your clothes. Don’t ask me how I
know about this…!
Now
we have our flowers ready to attach.
If you are using covered buttons , select a coordinating fabric scrap and cover your button. If you are using a standard button then,
Secure your button to your top layer flower with a few stitches.
Then attach the second layer through as well.
No need to change thread. Just
keep adding the layers to attach! (I
know this negates the ‘no – sew’ aspect – but sewing on buttons is good for
you!) I use a double thread.
If you are using the flowers for hairclips, then attach the clip securely now. Once again, no need to cut the thread and restart - just keep sewing through the layers. This way you can keep your ends neat too.
Voila! Congratulations, you have made a lovely
little flower hairclip.
There are lots of uses for your gorgeous hairclips…
A flower garden with a tongue poking garden fairy!!
To make the tank top, I use single layer flowers and a variety of small coloured buttons around the neckline. I sew into the edge ribbing to avoid holes forming in the knit fabric. I also sew them so they are slightly bunched together for a ruffled effect.
These flowers can be sewn to a coordinating fabric hairband. There are some great tutorials for these at Blue Bird Studio and here for Heather Baileys. There are loads more out there. I have also been clipping the hairclip to Darcy's existing headbands. As seen in the photo at the very top. She loves doing this! It allows a very independent 5 year old some accessorising action that she can create - as opposed to putting on a necklace - which still needs Mummy's help.
Of course, you could use a brooch back - available at craft and haberdashery stores - and sew the flowers to the brooch back instead of a hairclip and wear it as a brooch, attach it to your handbags, etc!
Loads of possibilities. Go forth and sew your own Fabric Flower Garden.
By the way, you still time to enter my 'And what's not to love about a giveaway?' giveaway! More here...
