A few posts ago you were updated on my bridal bouquet project, and I let you know that the tutorials would be forthcoming. As promised (being the good blogger that I am), I am here to deliver them in a series of posts rightfully named, “How Does Your Garden Sew.” (Haha, I love wordplay/I am a cornball.)
Part I: Garden Roses
Prior to starting any of these steps, you will want to make sure you have the right supplies on hand.
Supplies Used:
Garden Rose Photo Tutorial
*Note: If you want a fuller rose, you will want to use a longer strip of fabric (or two strips stitched together). Also, you can play with the strip width to create roses with longer petals.
*Note: You will also want to trim the unfolded tail end so that it is tapered and comes to a rounded end as you near the “petals” (similar to what a carrot cut in half would look like from the side). Cutting around the tail can be a little bit tricky and will take some simple maneuvering as you round each side of the “petals.”
*Note: Be careful not to get too close to the flame because it may ignite the fabric…the heat of the flame should be strong enough to seal the edges without touching it.
Hint: If you want your bloom to appear slightly closed, roll the petals in a direction so the the tops of the petals curve inward. If you want an open bloom, roll the petals in a direction so the tops of the petals curve outward. (Depending on your flaming method, your petals should have an affinity to curve to one side.)
So you have a bunch of roses…now what? Well you can stitch them to a sash, glue them to a barrette, or attach them to a wire for use in a bouquet. The possibilities are endless (well to some degree). But, if you are curious to see how I attached these pretties to floral wire, keep an eye out—that post will be coming soon! Overall, these are probably one of the easier flowers I made for my bouquet, and they are a breeze to make. I plan to play around with different sizes and colors to help fill out my bouquet and may use these as the main flowers for the bridesmaids bouquets.
What do you think? Easy project? Are you sewing any fabric flowers?
this is so cute! you are so talented. Too bad your far away or id ask you to come have a diy party with me! haha
use a different font for the how-to’s please…way too hard to read!
@kitzy: thanks for the tip! I will use a better font for the next ones or will just type the tutorial in regular text above or below the pics 
Sorry…I figured since I could read it it was fine :/ I also just noticed a ton of typos those darn t’s disappeared in the stitches lol.
these are beautiful!!! you explained it well, but i think it might take me just too many hours to make it worthwhile. think you have to have some skill too
I think I’ll add this to my giant list which must be completed next week. Shh…Don’t tell McGroom.
oh wow these are GORGEOUS. I really like them a lot
THey are beautiful! Please continue with different flower tutorials, it is so helpful! I am having a fresh flower bouquet but I intend to add a few fabric flowers for variety, and to keep as momentos when the real ones die!
Great tutorial, it’s so fun to see how your bouquet came together!
I tried this last night and let’s just say that “crap” is the best word I can come up with to describe the rose I made. Got any tips for the rolling part? Mine kept looking so bunched they didn’t look like petals, or got wrapped so tight they weren’t very big, or wrapped so badly they ended up making more of a tube than a flower pattern.
@cassied: I found that making sure each petal section was bunched enough at the bottom before each stitch was important…and to only stitch to the very base…it also takes some manipulation and practice…I am working on a bunch of these flowers this weekend and will try and work on a post better explaining the stitches. It really sorta does take a bit of trial and error to figure what works best, eventually you should find a happy medium and be able to create something that is just right…hmmmm maybe I can figure a video of sorts?
[...] I know, I know, it’s been a while since I posted anything to this series, but I’ve been busy with many a project and haven’t gotten around to anything other [...]
Mrs. Locket, Ithaca, NY Age and Occupation: 25, Research Technician Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, former Banker hoping to become an Officer of the Law Engagement Date: June 15, 2009 Wedding Date: September 2010 Venue: Heron Hill Winery About Me: I am a little bit of everything all rolled into one: A girly gal with rough edges---I love to get dolled up just as much as I enjoy throwing on some sneaks to toss a ball with Mr. Locket. My love for crafting and creating is quite apparent and I've been referred to as a Wonder Woman/Martha Stewart/Stepford Wife hybrid (yup, I'll take that as a compliment). I adore sewing, photography, sculpture, good eats (mmm tapas), baking, snugging and oh, pretty much everything in between (there's not much I dislike). I am super excited to be planning our vineyard wedding and couldn't be happier to be marrying Mr. Locket. We are a quirky, fun-loving couple residing in our college town with our two pups Maple and Molly. We love to go on hikes, visit our local dog park and to bask in the beauty of many of the local falls and gorges. We are an indecisive pair, but together we somehow manage to make up our minds (it's the easy stuff that's tricky).
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