How to make tattered fabric flowers

These decorative raggedy flowers are super quick and easy to make and can be used to add a shabby chic pop to all manner of things.  

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First of all, select your fabric. Choose something that’s going to fray. This is a great time to raid your fabric stash! I think denim works great, but it’s nice to add some color and pattern with cotton and linen materials.

Now it’s time to cut your circles. The largest circle determines how big your flower will be, then you need to cut another 4 (or more if you’re wanting fuller blooms), each slightly smaller than the other. I drew around some random round things, but to be honest, it really doesn’t matter how wiggly your circles are, everything’s going to get pretty freeform soon.

My makeshift templates 

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Now cut those circles out. Again, you don’t have to be very accurate.

 

Starting with the denimmake-art-life-blog-tattered-flowers-6

 

When you have all the fabric cut out layer your concentric circles.

 

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Secure the center with a few stitches.

 

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Now add a button.

 

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Next, you need to make  90° snips into each circle. My flower has a 3 1/2 inch diameter and the cuts are about 1/2 to 1 inch, and about 1/2 inch apart. Adust the measurement as the size gets smaller. Be careful not to clip too close together—you don’t want to end up losing your “petals” at the washing stage!

 

This picture shows how the cuts should look.make-art-life-blog-tattered-flowers-9

 

And this shows the cuts in the constructed flower.

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Now for the fun bit! Add them to a sink of hot soapy water and give them a good slosh around until you’re happy with the amount of fraying. Give ’em a rinse in clean water and a good squeeze, and lastly, lay them somewhere flat to dry.

 

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The end result!

 

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Now it’s time to get creative! Ahh, endless possibilities. What will you adorn with your tattered flowers…? 

 

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  Happy flower-making!

make-art-life-blog-Maria

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