Silk flowers

Do you want to learn a new embellishment? How about a cute little silk flower complete with melted edges? Sweet then here we go!

You will need:

Silk **some silks do not melt but catch on fire instead so test a small piece before you begin.
Lighter (and I prefer to use a candle but you don’t have to)
thread and needle
buttons (if you would like)

Step 1: Fold the silk a few times so that you have a couple layers, this allows you to make more than one flower at a time. You don’t have to do this if you only want to make one flower. The cut one small circle this will be the center of the flower. Pin the small circle on the fabric and cut around it adding space, so you have a second slightly larger petal, like shown above.

Step 2: Repeat the stacking and cutting until you have as many as you like

Step 3 a: I like 3 layers but however many you want is fine, When you are done you should have something that looks like the picture above. Stacked circles gradually getting larger.

Step 4: organize your stacks to make your individual flowers. For me I made 3

**** ALWAYS USE CAUTION WHEN PLAYING WITH FIRE****

Step 5: Using your lighter or candle as I like to, carefully hold each layer close to the flame, to singe the edge. It will begin to curl up (or down depending on how you are holding it) carefully rotate the circle so the whole outer edge is melted. Just as a note some silks start to curl or melt just by the heat of the flame and do not have to get very close at all, others have to almost touch the flame before they start to curl.

Step 6: Do this to all of your layers and then re-stack them and you should have your flower.

Step 7: Choose a cool button (I like the irony of the flower in the center of a flower) and sew the button and the layers together.

Step 8: Have fun attaching your cool new flowers to tops, headbands or anything else. Except your husbands stuff… He may not like it as much as you.

Want to try a different look for the same flower?

Follow steps 1-4

Step 5: Hold the whole circle over the flame

Step 6: Carefully rotate the circle over the flame until you have something that looks kind of like a rice cake… (or for those of you who have now idea what the cardboard like diet food looks like, look at the picture above)

Step 7: Do this to all your layers and then stack them on top of each other.

Step 8: Attach them to a top, headband or anything else.

You can also mix and match colors and techniques and make a plain tee shirt a little something more. (let’s face it plain tees don’t stand a chance in my closet.)

Have fun a play!