I love the fabric flower headbands that you see popping up now….but I am super picky about the way the flowers are rolled. I was determined to find a way to make them in a shabby chic style but with minimal sewing! Here’s my tutorial on how I make mine:
Materials Needed:
Fabri-Tac or other tacky fabric adhesive
Chenille Pipe Cleaners
Felt
Head Band
Glue Gun
Fabric Scraps
To make a flower, first I start by connecting two chenille pipe cleaners together. I’ve found that two make the perfect size flower:
For each flower you need a 20″ x 2″ fabric scrap. Start by putting a long bead of Fabri-Tac along the strip:
Starting at one end start rolling the fabric around the pipe cleaner. The key is not to roll to tight or too perfect….just kind of haphazardly roll your fabric up:
If you run out of fabric before you get the pipe cleaners covered just add another piece in as you go:
Once the pipe cleaner is covered with fabric, start at one end and begin rolling the flower into a spiral shape, adding in a small bead of Fabri-Tac every few inches as you go:
You’ll develop your own technique for rolling as you go….I have kind of a roll, roll, then twist technique to make mine look a little fuller and shabby:
As you get to the end of your flower, tuck the “tail” under the flower with a dab of Fabri-Tac and use a small clothespin to secure. Let the Fabri-Tac set for about 30 minutes.
I like to mix all different textures of fabrics….one of these flowers was a cotton gauze, one part of a upcycled golf shirt and another was some floral knit.
You can make ribbon “leaves” by twisting pieces of ribbon, secure with a pin, and add a dab of Fabri-Tac:
Once all of your flowers have had time to set, add a large amount of Fabri-Tac to the bottom of each flower but keeping about 1/4″ to 1/2″ away from the edge of the flower:
Place your flowers down onto a piece of felt in the shape that you prefer:
Add in your ribbon leaves between the flowers and felt before the glue has a chance to set, adding more Fabri-Tac if needed:
My favorite part? I like to “mash” all the flowers together for about a minute so that they don’t look too perfectly round and so that they form into one another. With the pipe cleaners inside and the Fabri-Tac they will retain some of this “mashed” shape once you let go:
One your glue has set, carefully trim the felt around the flowers so it isn’t visible when the flowers are right side up:
Take your headband and determine where you want it placed and using a disappearing ink pen, mark either side:
Add hot glue along the entire length of felt……
….and press your headband into place:
Your finished no-sew fabric flower headband! It might take some practice until you get it just right but you’ve got to start somewhere!
A perfect addition to any outfit:
A fun way to experiment with different knits, fabrics and textures!
WOW! That is a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
taidye original
Thank you so much for sharing this! I can't wait to try it myself!
What a great idea to use pipe cleaners – so much easier than sewing it all together. Can't wait to try this out!
Love, love, love this!
Love it! Love the idea of using a pipe cleaner to help roll the flower around.
Love this! !!
I have tried at least 20 different fabric flower tutorials and have not been successful. This has been super frustrating being as last year people were beginning to adorn all these cute shirts and bags with them and I couldn't figure it out.
This pipe cleaner idea…..might just be the key. I'll let you know. If *I* can figure it out then you'll know your tutorial was a winner for sure.
This is SOOOOO cute! I will definitely be making some! And I just bought some new fun fabric!! YAY!
This is adorable! I was making headbands for my niece just this morning. I will have to try this one!
Shared on FB love it!
Very nice!
TFS!
Lynn
The key with this is the pipe cleaner. Thank you so much for doing this tutorial.
never wouldve thought pipe cleaners! Gonna try that next time
Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [20 Nov 01:00am GMT]. Thanks, Maria
I will have to try this. I've attempted a couple of other shabby flower tutorials and haven't really liked the results. Yours look adorable!
just brilliant!!!
I looks beautiful! I loved it!
Love, love, LOVE!! And the pipe cleaners are genius!!
I linked to your tutorial over at Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-no-sew-rolled-fabric-flower-headband/2010/11/20/
–Anne
ohhh¡¡¡ lovely, thank you for the tuto
xxoo
Awesome tute! Love the pipe cleaner idea. Thanks!
I made a few of these yesterday–they turned out great, and my daughter feels like a princess. Thanks for the tutorial!
i saw this tutorial on craftgossip! Really cute idea i will def be making some of these ^__^
http://bellakates.blogspot.com/2010/12/tree-skirt.html
Here is my attempt.
Oh great, its beautiful art works. Thanks for your sharing.
Just like to share with you a famous quote…
"The voice of parents is the voice of gods, for to their children they are heaven's lieutenants. " — Shakespeare
You can get more famous quotes at
Hi Ashley, I'm a big fan of your blog! I featured this tutorial recently on my blog here: http://founditmadeit.blogspot.com/2011/01/fabric-roses-tutorial-roundup.html. Thanks for keeping me motivated!
-Katie
founditmadeit.blogspot.com
I love this! I will defintely using this! Thank you for the idea!
Thanks so much!! I have been looking at these headbands on etsy and cant justify spending the money. I am expecting a little girl in September and WILL be making a ton! Thanks again!
This was EXACTLY what I was looking for! Thank you SOO much for posting this!
Wonderful! I was just looking at inspiration for my next Blythe doll project, but it seems like I will be making one for myself! Thanks!
I’m doing a little series of sewing classes at my home leading up to the Christmas season. I’ve also been posting a link to the best online tutorial that I can find for the items we make in case someone can’t come to the class. Would you mind if I use your tutorial for my class in November. I’ll link to your blog in general as well as to your specific tutorial. This one is so well written!
Thanks for this super duper tutorial. I linked to it from my blog to show others the how-to. I’ve never tried the rolled flowers with the pipe cleaners, but my guess is that its easier than without… so I’m going to have to buy some pipe cleaners one of these days!
lov these … I just had to share …thank you so much Ash !!!
Thanks for posting a great tutorial. I have been wanting to incoorporate flowers like this on my purses! You did a great job! Thanks so much!
this is AMAZING! the flowers look perfect! I’ve tried to make other fabric flowers and they just have’t worked. These are perfect and so cute., plus they are super easy. I love them! thank you 🙂
This is by far the easiest way to do these. Can’t wait to start! Tried several different ways but just never happy with them.
Thanks Ashley! As usual, very clever!