frayed fabric flower: tutorial

I saw some fabric flowers in someone's hair on the fashion blogs I was looking at yesterday. They looked pretty easy to make so I tried it while I was bored at work. They came out cool!

*Note: For the tutorial I only used 2 each of the large and medium squares, so the pink flower is less full than the white one. I used 3 for the white, and sewed in some individual lace petals to give it a vintage, fluffier look.

Step 1:
Get a scrap strip of fabric 1 1/2 to 2 feet long and about 4 inches wide. If it's wrinkled, don't bother ironing it.


Step 2:
Make a square by folding the edge of the fabric and cut it out. Do this 3 times to make 3 large squares.


Step 3:
Make the strip of fabric skinnier by about 1 inch.


Repeat step 2 on the skinnier fabric to make 3 medium squares.

Step 4:
Make the strip of fabric skinnier again by about 1 inch, and cut out 2 small squares the same way as before.

You will end up with 3 piles: 3 large squares, 3 medium squares, and 2 small squares.

Step 5:
Stack the large squares on top of each other, and fold them in half. Fold them again to form a smaller square.


Cut a petal shape from the square, leaving the folded point intact. Try to make the petals as fat as you can. Do this for the medium and small squares too.


They will look like this when unfolded:


Step 6:
Layer the petals alternatively, so that the petal on top is covering the previous layer's gaps. The largest should be on the bottom, and the smallest on top.



Step 7:
Sew the layers together. Make an "X" in the middle to prevent the petals from shifting positions.


Step 8:
Sew a button in the middle of the flower.

Step 9:
Crumple the flower in your hand to fluff and fray the edges.

Step 10:
Wear it! Sew a bobby pin to the back and wear it in your hair, or use a safety pin to attach it to clothing or a purse.


Voila!