Long Stemmed Fabric Flowers

So the last few weeks have been overwhelmingly filled with busyness.  And this week is no exception.   Criminently this time of year always about does me in. 

However I thought I'd pause and blog a little tutorial.  All of the fabric flowers out in blog land just kill me.  They are all so fabulous.  I wanted to add a bit of fabric flower goodness to my studio.  I've had these on the brain for quite some time and I finally got around to creating them.  I think spring inspired me.   So here's how they turned out…

1 dozen long stemmed fabric roses!

Now my studio is wearing a smile.  Now If only I could keep it clean. Hmmm….

So here is how I made them.

1. Cut fabric (selvage to selvage) in 5" strips.  (approximately 5"x 45" long strips).

2. Fold strips in half lengthwise (wrong sides together) and press. Your strip is now 2.5" x 45-ish" 

3. Trim off selvage edges (finished edges).

4. Open up strip.  Sew a gathering stitch along the pressed seam. Fold back into  place. 

5.  Now to cut the petals.  Scallop the open ends of the strip.  Each scallop is approximately 2.5 inches.  If you make a small mark at the open end every 2.5 inches it will help guide you as you cut.

6. At one end make what I'll call a tail.  It's about one inch wide by at least 4 inches long.  (See photo, because I'm dreadful at writing directions) 

7.  To make things easier, I then use the first one and place it on top of another strip and use it as a pattern to cut the scalloped edge.  These don't need to be "perfect."

8.  Now back to the sewing machine.  Sew the open ends (scalloped edges) together.  I like to use a contrasting thread, but you can do what ever you please.  (FYI… I was silly and still had my machine set for a gathering stitch on the photo.  I guess you could do that, but it looks better as a regular stitch.  So disregard the stitch length in the photo).

9. Now take your tail and tie it around the end of a stick.  Make sure the end of the tail is pointing upward from the stick.  (Not pointing downward). Again… see photo.

10. Now wrap the tail around the top of your stick.  As you wrap come up at a strong angle, and then down in the opposite strong angle.  This creates a "point." (Play with it before you actually glue it, so you make sure you get the right look, and so the end of the stick is completely covered). Glue in place.  And there is the center of your rose! 

11.  Now carefully gather the remaining fabric.  Be ginger with it, you don't want the string to break.  Tie the thread together once gathered. 

For a closed rose…

12.Have your glue gun handy.  Add small dab of glue  on stick and wrap the fabric around it.  Repeat until you have wrapped the entire strip of fabric around the stick.  (Try to keep the glue on the "inside" of the rose… so you don't have any showing).

For an open rose…

-Follow steps 1-11

12. With glue gun handy, add a glob of glue to the stick and wrap the fabric around the stick.  Wrap the fabric 1 to 1.5 times around. 
13.  Now with your glue gun, pull a line of glue out from the stick, onto the fabric (about 1/2 inch… it's not a perfect science).  Follow with your fabric.  Hold in in place so glue dries.  Then continue.  

 When you can see that you will have just enough to wrap the remaining fabric around the stem,  tapper your glue line in towards the stem.  Follow with the fabric.  Then glue the last of the fabric tightly against the stem.  And there is your open rose!

Lovely!  

I experimented placing my roses in two different vases.

A classic cylinder vase.  

And a long rectangle vase.  

I'm crushing on the rectangle.  I added extra sticks with fabric leaves.  Perfect for the island/workspace in my studio.  

Alright,  so once upon a time I said if I'm making one I might as well make two and have a giveaway.  It appears my offer still stands.  So I'm giving away ...
1 Dozen Long Stemmed Fabric Roses
(Vase not included... you'll have to add that yourself;)
So leave a comment to enter.  Let's see… if you don't know what to write, tell me your favorite flower.  

I'll close the giveaway on sunday, and post the winner monday.  Hooray for free stuff!

This giveaway is now closed;)
Update: I occasionally will have flowers like these for sale on etsy.
Here is a link ...
MY ETSY 
Update #2: I have a tutorial for these without the stems... for a hair clip or brooch.  Here is the link.
Roses without the stems.