Pretty Pansy Fabric Flowers

Freshly cut flowers are always nice -- but fabric flowers can be cherished for years to come.

The blossoms here attach to brooches or pins that you can wear as adornment now and keep as mementos for years to come. Crafts editor Silke Stoddard designed these pansies so they can be made from nearly any kind of cloth -- and since you need so little to make them, they're a great way to use up scraps. They'll look just as pretty clipped to your clothing as pinned in your hair -- or simply placed on your bedside table.

Snip, Sew, Ready To Go: - A variety of fabric weights -- lightweight organza, linen, various cottons, velvet -- will work, but the thickness will affect the drape of the petals and the fullness of the flower. You may want to adjust the length of the strips: Cut longer for sheer fabrics, shorter for heavier.

Sources: - Mark-B-Gone marking pen, by Dritz, $4.25, onlinefabricstore.net
Detail scissors, by Martha Stewart Crafts, $15, michaels.com

What You'll Need

Materials

Instructions

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    Print template; cut out. Cut a 2-by-36-inch strip of fabric with detail scissors. (For a smaller version, cut a 1 1/2-by-30-inch strip.) Trace template on it with pen, repeating along the length. Cut out.

  2. Sew a running stitch several inches along bottom, 1/4 inch from edge. Every 3 to 4 inches, pull thread to gather; secure with a double stitch.

  3. Spiral strip tightly to create flower shape, securing with random stitches. When it's completely rolled, stitch through all layers to secure.

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    Cover stitched back with a small disk of fabric. Sew to desired pin.

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