Repurposed Skirt & Felt Flower Tutorial!

So for realsies, realsies, there are about ten million other things I need to be doing right now. I am uber-sleepy because of this rain (it always makes my eyes puffy), yet I’m not quite awake even though I've had my cups of coffee and have been awake for hours now. I hope I don’t ramble, but I'm sure I will. Scroll down for the tue... I promise it's there. :)

Anywhoodle, two things today. I made another repurposed item this past weekend! :) A skirt for my daughter.

It was a skirt from my sister in law, but it was too long for my tastes. I like a skirt to hit me right at the knee, while my SIL is more of a Charlotte York-Goldenblatt -- she prefers more of a mid-calf. Very ladylike on her, very frump-a-dump on me.

I loved the fabric and wanted to reuse it, so I just cut it apart & made a very full skirt for Veronica. She loves to twirl around in it.

I just love the embroidery.  Wht can't I ever find fabric like this in stores??  Le sigh.

Item #2 is my rolled felt flower tutorial.


I’ve seen these for paper, but not felt, so here goes my version. I’m not inventing anything new here, so some of you may have undoubtedly seen this same kind of tute somewhere else.


Get 2 colors of felt. The red is for the flower, the white is for the center/stamen. Cut each piece into a circle (my flower is about 8” wide, stamen is about 1 ½” -- the bigger the circles, the bigger the flower will be so adjust accordingly). You can be precise and use a plate or a cup for a template, but I just wing it. I’m a rebel.

Also, I generally use three strands of embroidery floss for all of the stitching on these. Color doesn’t really matter since you do not see any of the stitches on the finished product.

For the center/stamen - You’re basically making a yo-yo & stuffing it. Make a running stitch along the outside edge of the circle. (I used orange thread so you could see it easier. Also, because it was the color thread I had on the needle.) Using a half a cotton ball or a little polyfill, stuff it up.

Pull thread taut to close the yo-yo.

Secure the closure by stitching a few times like so:

Done with the stamen!

For the flower: Cut the red felt like a cinnamon roll; you are trying to cut the circle into one long strip, so keep the width as even as possible. It’s not a huge terrible thing if you don’t; nature isn’t always symmetrical, either. :) 

Get the center of the "cinnamon roll" & tack it down. It’s ok if the tack is visible since you’ll be covering it with the stamen later.

Back view

Front view

Make a running stitch along the inside/shorter edge of the strip all the way to the end.

Gather as much or as little as you’d like. I love a more smooshy looking flower so I gather it quite a bit. You'll notice that the flower already begins to take shape due to the gathering.

Secure the back.

Add the stamen to the center. I generally use two stitches in a T shape (one set of titches top to bottom, one set side to side) & pull, pull, pull those bad boys tight to secure the stamen down.

Done!!

I hope you guys enjoy! Send me pics if you make any. I think these could be used for any number of things -- hair clips, brooches, shoe clips, pinned onto a little ribbon belt (ooh, that would be adorable). The sky’s the limit, so show me what you make & I’ll put it up. Bye for now!