A Blooming Tutorial (from a Winner of the Tote Bag Challenge!)
September 16th, 2008 in sewing, patterns & designs
Erin Brumfield, contributor
1 user recommends
With a few hairpins, this flower makes a great accessory!
Photo: Erin Brumfield
Stumble It!
Facebook
DIGGHere is a tutorial for the blooms on my blooming tote that won the Tote-ally Crafty Bag Challenge! As promised, I have provided step-by-step instructions so you can bring some blooms into your life. You are just 11 steps away.
What You'll Need:
- Sewing machine (don’t worry, it can be done by hand)
- Thread
- Needle
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
- Iron and ironing board
- 3 to 10 different fabrics (including one thick material)
1. Once you gather all of the needed materials including fabric, which can be coordinating, completely random, or just the scraps you have lying around, cut 6 to 10 triangles out of the material. These should be isosceles triangles approximately 4 inches tall and 3 inches across the bottom.
|
Your triangles will be approximately 4 inches tall and 3 inches across the bottom. |
2. Next, set out your triangles in the order that you wish them to be in the flower. Lay out every other one upside down so that they will create a rectangular shape all together.
|
Every other triangle will be upside down. |
3. Pin the triangles together one at a time, sewing two together then adding another. Use a 1/4-inch guide on your machine. This will allow your triangles to fit together nicely. However, don’t worry about perfection. Imperfection creates more interesting and creative blooms.
 |
Pin your flower pieces together as you sew. |
4. Once all of the triangles are sewn together, iron your creation. Fold this in half hot dog style with the right side outward and pin. Don’t iron after this step!
 |
Fold your triangles in half and pin. |
5. Trim the ends so they are even.
6. Sew the future bloom by allowing the folded side to be 5/8 inch. (For larger blooms, add more triangles and lengthen the width when it is folded over and the size of the thicker fabric.)
 |
Sew the future bloom. |
7. Cut away the excess material by leaving about 1/8 inch of fabric past your seam.
 |
Trim the excess material. |
8. Get out your thicker material for this step. You can use decorator fabric or stabilizer. For this I used some upholstery fabric I had lying around. Cut a 4-inch x 4-inch square.
 |
From the thicker material, cut a 4-inch x 4-inch square. |
9. You will be hand-sewing from here on. Starting in the center of your square, sew on the end of the sewn side of your bloom. As you work from the middle of the flower outward, pleat your bloom as you go. Sewing around very closely to the inside will allow your bloom to stand up more.
 |
Your bloom will stand up more by sewing very closely. |
10. Once at the end, gather the fabric and sew through a couple of times. Next, trim off the excess thick material.
 |
Cut away the excess thick material. |
11. There you have your bloom. Next, add some buttons or embellishments to make it your own!
 |
Finish by adding some embellishment. |
After you make this project, show off your work to other members!
Post your project in the gallery
How to Make Cocktail and Dinner Napkins
Mary Ray | October 30th, 2008
How to Make a Yo-Yo Handbag
Diane Gilleland | October 17th, 2008
Fabric-Covered Buttons from the Flower Power Challenge
LollyChops | October 13th, 2008
How to Make a Recycled Necktie Scrap Cuff
Diane Gilleland | October 3rd, 2008
The Art of Fabric CollageAn Easy Introduction to Creative Sewing
Power Sewing Step-By-StepPower Sewing Step-By-Step
Comments (4)