Maybe you don't have the cool hands to keep live flowers or want to bring the outdoors in, for whatever reason, making flowers out of felt is a simple and fun process. Make several flowers or a bouquet with the roses, lilacs, dahlias, hydrangeas and peonies below.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Making Roses from Felt
Step 1. Select the felt you will use
To make roses, you will need to cut large circles with felt. Choose the color you want, and consider adding shades of green to make the leaves match the flowers.
Step 2. Cut the felt
To start making roses, you will need to use circular felt pieces. The shape doesn't need to be a perfect circle, so you can either trace a round object or simply draw a circle by hand. Make a circle with a diameter of 10, 2–25, 4 cm depending on how big the rose you want to make.
Step 3. Create a spiral
Use scissors to make a spiral out of your felt circle. Start at the edge and spiral inward until you reach the center of the circle. Use the scissors and cut a wavy pattern along the edges of the circle, so that you now have a flat, snake-like spiral.
Step 4. Roll the spiral
Start at the outer edge of the spiral and begin to roll inward. Pinch the spiral base as you roll to make the flower base. After the spiral is perfectly rolled, it will produce a beautiful rose shape.
Step 5. Sew the flowers
Turn the flower over and use thread and needle to sew the flower so it doesn't open. Make a knot at the end of the thread and add a few stitches to hold the rose layer in place. Make another knot, done!
Method 2 of 5: Making Lilac Flowers from Felt
Step 1. Select the felt you will use
For this pattern you will make several small felt flowers and attach them to a single sheet of felt as a base, just like real lilacs. For a traditional lilac look, use cream fuschia or lavender felt with matching yarn.
Step 2. Cut out the floral pattern
Start making the flowers by cutting out lots of small circles from felt. Cut 5-15 circles about 2.5 cm in diameter. You will also need a large circle as a base. The size of the base circle depends on how many flowers you want to make, it should be enough to fit all the small circles without showing the edges.
Step 3. Cut out your flowers
With the circles cut out, you can make lilacs. In each circle, cut out a fat “+” shape that looks like a lilac flower. Try to use as many circles as possible with as little fabric as possible.
Step 4. Sew the florets
Arrange the lilac buds on top of the large circle you prepared. Use a needle and thread to sew each flower to the base using an "x" shape in the center of the flower. Stack flowers to form a realistic texture and look.
Step 5. Finish your flower cluster
Once you've sewn all the florets, make a knot with the thread and trim off the excess thread. Add more flowers if desired, otherwise enjoy your beautiful lilacs!
Method 3 of 5: Making Peony Flowers from Felt
Step 1. Select the felt you will use
This method of making peonies requires long, thin strips of felt, so use a long piece of fabric. You can use any color you want.
Step 2. Cut the felt to the size you want
Your felt piece measures 3.75 cm wide, any length you want. The longer the felt you use, the bigger the flower will be.
Step 3. Glue your felt piece
To create the illusion of petals, you will need to make circles from the felt pieces you made. Fold the felt in half, apply glue along the edges of the fabric along the cut. Hold the edges together until dry, forming long, narrow square folds.
Step 4. Create the petals
Use scissors to cut small petals on the felt piece. Cut notches the width of the fabric (from the top, not from the bottom with the glue) at a distance of 0.5 cm. You now have a few dozen small circles glued to a single felt piece at the base.
- You can cut the felt straight down or at a small angle for a variety of petal shapes. Try both to see which one you prefer.
- Experiment with the spacing between the pieces, as this will result in petals of varying sizes. For intricate flowers, cut notches that are close together. For thick flowers, space the notches further.
Step 5. Roll your flowers
Start at one end and begin to roll the felt piece inward along the glued bottom edge. When rolling, apply glue inside the felt so that the flowers stick together. When you get to the end, add glue to strengthen the flower.
Step 6. Finish your peonies
When the flowers have all been rolled up, you're done! To make the flower stronger, add a few stitches in addition to the glue used to glue the flowers together. You can add some felt if desired to complete the flowers.
Method 4 of 5: Making Dahlia Flowers from Felt
Step 1. Choose the best felt
Dahlias require a lot of small parts, so you'll need lots of felt. Make sure you have enough fabric to make it. Use the colors you want to make the flowers, and use shades of green to create the appropriate leaves.
Step 2. Cut the pattern
Dahlias have three layers of petals, so you will need to cut three pieces of felt in several sizes. Cut 16 rectangles measuring 1.25 x 5.1 cm, cut 10 rectangles measuring 1.25 x 2.5 cm, and 7 rectangles measuring 1.25 x 2.5 cm. You will also need a circle base of 7 diameter, 6 cm.
Step 3. Cut the petals
To form the petals of the dahlia, draw a pointed shape on the rectangle. Draw two dots in the middle of the long side, and add two more dots length from the top. Cut the diamond shape.
Step 4. Adjust the shape
Use scissors to shape each petal into the correct shape. Round the edges of the two ends near the pointed top, and cut the distance between the petals to form a horizontal base. Now you have a bullet-like shape.
Step 5. Shape the petals
On each petal, apply glue and fold the sides together until they meet in the middle. This will leave the top of the petal open, with the edges curled up and folding in the bottom center of the petal. Do the same for all the petals.
Step 6. Combine the petals
Glue the largest petals to the base of the circle by applying glue to the back (near the bottom) and glue to the base about 0.5 cm from the edge. Continue gluing in circles until all the petals come together.
Step 7. Add your second layer of petals
Use medium size petals to create a second layer for your dahlias. Apply a small amount of glue behind the petals, and glue them at 0.5 cm from the base of the first layer.
Step 8. Glue the last petal
Use the last smallest petal, and glue it in the last row 0.5 cm from below the base of the second layer of petals. You now have an open center in the felt circle.
Step 9. Finish the dahlia flower
Add buttons, beads, brooches, or small felt glued to the center of the dahlia. In addition you can glue or sew the green leaves under the flowers. Your flower is done!
Method 5 of 5: Making Hydrangea Flowers from Felt
Step 1. Select your felt
Hydrangeas are made of small pieces that are glued together, so make sure you have enough felt to start your project. You can use several colors in one flower.
Step 2. Cut the pattern
To get started, we'll need 6 flower shapes out of felt. You can cut them to any size, with the larger ones being the larger flowers. Cut each flower into a flower with 5 petals with curved edges (remember the flowers you drew as a child). Also cut small circles at least 2.5 cm in diameter; increase the size of the circle for larger flowers.
Step 3. Fold the two petals
Take each petal and fold it in half, adding a little hot glue to the center of the flower. Since there are 5 sides to each floret, the edges won't be flat and that's okay. Do not glue the petals all the way to the sides, as you will need to leave the petals open at the edges.
Step 4. Fold your petals
With all the petals folded and half glued together, fold them in half a second time. You will have petals that are shaped like little pyramids. Use a little glue in the center of the petal to keep the shape from changing, but don't glue anything else.
Step 5. Merge your petals
Glue the ends of each petal to the small circle you cut out. The flat part of the petals will match and you will get a beautiful hydrangea. Add felt leaves for an added touch.
Step 6. Done
Tips
- For a long lasting flower, replace the glue with needle and thread and sew the flower.
- Add a safety pin to the back of your flower to make a brooch that you can pin to your clothes, bag or headband for a pretty look.
- Make several types of flowers to make a beautiful felt arrangement.
