Pretty Bitty Blooms Tutorial

We have so enjoyed making our latest 'Make it' project, these pretty Bitty Blooms. It's an excellent project for using up scraps of both your favourite fabrics and felt!

There are loads of things that you can use them for...... scrap booking, hairbands, slides, brooches

bag charms, adding to cushions, key rings......

..... so if you needed convincing, not only are they useful, they are incredibly easy to make!

As always, the first thing you will need to do is print this pattern. To do so, highlight the picture above, then 'Right' click on your mouse, then select 'open in a new window' and then print using the keys 'CTRL' and 'P'

The pattern is entirely flexible and it is up to you as to how many layers you add to your brooch.  The only think that we would recommend is that the outer largest flower is in felt and the second flower is in fabric, then for the circles you can make up your own mind

For this brooch, we used inner circles 1,3 & 4

Now all you need do is sew the layers together and personally, which we think you can see from the photo,  we do not think now is the time for neat and tidy sewing.  We did a couple of circuits, but again, it's entirely up to you how many times you go around

You then continue with each layer, we find it easier to pull through the ends as you go

Keep going until you've finished sewing all the layers together, and Ta Da.... that's it a finished flower ready for embellishing. You can at this stage add buttons, maybe one at it's centre, some layered up or a few scattered randomly, or if you prefer leave them as they are!

 Now if you fancy turning this into a bag charm, you'll need to cut a second large felt flower and you'll need a swivel key fob with a split ring and some pretty ribbon

 

and all you need to do is sandwich the layers together, making sure that you tuck the ribbon in between the layers and then sew around the outer edge, ensuring that you catch the ribbon as you go

For brooches, again you'll need another piece of felt for the back, if you prefer a neater finish, cut a circle larger than your flower, sew your brooch pin to the centre.  For a professional finish, sew a small oblong of felt across the pin

 Then sew around the outer edge joining all the layers and neatly trim

For key rings, you'll need to sew your key ring to the back flower and then hand sew your layers together.

Here's some more ideas for you......

On these I added some simple hand stitching.....

 What ever you decide, have fun!

To accompany this project, we have put together 7 different  'Make it' Bitty Blooms project packs:

Caths Flowers -  candy coloured florals by the iconic Cath Kidston

Tilda - pretty pink, aqua and red fabrics by the Scandinavian designer Tone Finnanger 

Sugar Flowers - gorgeous bright florals by Japanese designer Lecien

4 Seasons -  stunning fabrics by modern designers including Michael Miller, Riley Blake, Tanya Whelan etc sorted into four different colour collections

  Each pack contains 15 little bits of fabric scraps, cut neatly by us into squares in 3 different sizes, ready for you to cut out your outer flower and inner circles.   5 pieces of felt in co-ordinating colours, 7 buttons and a selection of findings.

Enough in all to make at least 4 flowers and with careful cutting 5! 

You can find these

HERE 

These would be prefect for making as thank you presents for Teachers at the end of term, Party Bags , presents for friends.....

Finally, we hope that you enjoyed our project. We would love to see what you sew and create, so please do send us your pictures and we'll add them to our equally new and glossy customer gallery on our Facebook page.

Happy sewing!