Handmade Felt Flower Tutorial

Alright alright, a tutorial already! For this flower you will need a strong needle, embroidery floss and a coordinating button, felt (I use a softer, by the yard, felt as it's easier to work with and not as stiff as the small craft store sheets of felt) and scissors.

First you will need to cut 5 "U" shaped petals, they need to be fairly large since you will be folding them at bases to sew them together.

Next, I like to add a cute running stitch around the outside of the petals, there's no need to tie little knots if you just wrap the first stitch around the edge. This running stitch is purely decorative and not structural so that's why I don't bother to knot it at the ends.

Picking up the first petal fold it in half lengthwise and grab the base of it.

Pinching the base of the petal at the fold, wrap the two edges back around so that it is folded yet again and hold on tight.

Poke the needle through all four layers of the fold and pull tight. For this stitch I do have a knot on the end for structure. To maintain the tight base of the petal I wrap the stitch around the end of the petal and pull tight again.

Here's a close up of the petal with the stitch wrapped around the edge of the petal. I know it's hard to see but it's there.

Without knotting or snipping the threads, repeat the process for the next petals, pulling them tight next to the previous petal and repeat the wrapped stitch. In this pic I left the stitch loose so you can see how it wraps around the edge of the petal base. I have these tight enough so that if you lift them up they almost seem like they are one piece rather than two.

Here's what it looks like when you've added all 5 of the petals. As you continue with the petals and pulling them tight they will naturally start to form the flower shape because the outer curves of the petals will push away from the others.

Next, without knotting or snipping the threads wrap a stitch around and through the first petal that you stitched tight. I try to tuck the threads behind the petal before I pull it tight so that it remains hidden on the back of the flower. Pull tight so that the flower center is not loose. You want it tight enough so that a button will easily cover the bases of the petals.

Here's what it should look like once you've "closed" the flower and pulled your final wrapped stitch tight. Do not trim your threads yet, and do not snip that long thread to the needle, just get your button!

To sew on the button, start from the back of the flower and each time you poke through the button make sure that you are sewing through a different part of different petals. This will help secure the button and flower center and will add extra "pucker" to the final flower. Finish your flower by sewing a knot to the back of your flower and trimming any visible thread ends. You really should have many visible at this point.

And VOILA! Cute handmade flower! These are super cute on cards, scrapbook pages, sewn to your favorite tote, a cute addition to a child's sweatshirt or hat. The possibilities are endless!! And they are totally washable!