by Carole Meisenhelter

Created on: January 24, 2010   Last Updated: February 14, 2010

I’ve seen these realistic fabric flowers on many blogs of late; while they’re so popular, and running  “hot” for those of us who just love to create, I thought to share this simple technique. The method in making them has been around for many years, perhaps used mostly by those within the fine millinery industry.   So often we see photos in the  “fashion pages”  of local newspapers or glossy magazines featuring stylish women, dressed in knock-out clothing, topping it all off with a striking hat adorned with full-blown simulated flower blooms.

The basis of these flowers is made with organza material.  Try colors that blend well together, with some rich-toned,  to add depth.  I first purchased just 4 inch (or 10 cm.) strips of three differing colors to try my hand at making these organza flowers.

What you’ll need:

Cardstock to make a circular-style template.  You can if you like cut “petal-shapes”  into it.

Organza

Scissors

Long-nose tweezers

T-light candle (and a bowl of water on stand-by as a precautionary measure)

Fluffy- fibred  yarn for centers

Needle and thread

Beads

Cut a template from your cardstock approx 3.5 – 4 inch diameter.  Hold it over your material and just cut a rough circle from your organza.  You certainly don’t need it to be a perfect circle at all, and if you cut off-track here or there, it really won’t matter.

With the singeing/burning process,  this will in fact ‘smooth off’ any rough edges,  and make for a natural looking petal.

Cut out several (or however many you wish),  circle shapes from each color organza.

Notation:  Whenever using flame to fabric, always work in a well-ventilated area.

Holding the petal with long-nose tweezers,  direct the petal edge towards the edge of flame but not “into” the flame.  Nudge the area more over the top of the flame; this seems to be most effective.  Don’t let the fabric touch the flame at any time; this is important, else it will surely ignite the material.  That’s what the bowl of water is for, if it should happen to you.

As the edge of the petal heats up, it will start to melt and meld the edge of the petal nicely.  Just keep moving the petal around steadily to finish this process.  Some parts may melt further than other parts. 

When you’ve

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