I've gotten a lot of inquiries about the flower pin cushion on my banner (now replaced by a spiffier version). Yes, I made it- using a tea cup as a template! Here is the tutorial so you can make your own!
You'll want to start gathering up your scraps and create a garden of these little guys! Each day this week, I'll be posting a new application for these flowers! They have so many more uses than just holding pins!
What you'll need:
Scraps of fabric, enough for 10 tea cup circles, pen, needle and thread, pins, your tea cup, a little stuffing
The mouth of the tea cup that I used is about 3.5" in diameter, but feel free to use larger or smaller cups. You can even try an alluminum vegetable can to produce a slightly smaller flower or a cereal bowl for a super-sized bloom!
The fabrics that I used for the flowers currently on my banner are from Anna Maria Horner's Good Folks collection. This collection reminds me of an old family album: each fabric, like each photo, is different, but share the same faces. They each tell a story on their own, but you know they're meant to be together! Can't wait to see her new line, currently in the works!
Anyway, on to the tutorial...
1. Use your tea cup to trace 10 circles onto the WRONG side of your fabric scraps and cut them out.
2. Choose 4 circles to use for the petal fronts and 4 for the petal backs. Place them in pairs, right sides facing, and pin.
3. Using a 3/8" seam allowance, stitch around the circle, stopping about an inch from where you started. Trim the seam allowance to 1/8" except at the space you created.
4. Reach inside the space and turn the petal right side out and press. Repeat with the remaining petals.
5. With the opening at the bottom, fold the left and the right sides of the circle in a bit as shown. Put a single cross stitch at the base of the petal to hold the fold. Repeat with the remaining petals.
6. Create the center of the flower by making a yo-yo with one of the remaining circles: Fold the edge of the circle down about 1/4" and with your needle and thread, sew a running stitch along the fold, gathering as you go.
7. Stuff the yo-yo with the stuffing until firm. Pull the thread to gather the circle till closed. Put a few stitches across the bottom to hold it closed. Knot off and clip the thread.
8. Create another yo-yo with the remaining circle, but this time do not stuff it- just press it flat.
9. Put your flower together. Snip the points of the petals off just below the cross stitch. Layer the petals and stitch through all layers at the center.
10. Hand stitch the flat yo-yo to the back center of the flower.
11. Stitch the stuffed yo-yo to the front center of the flower.
Now, you didn't know you had a green thumb did you?
Remember to visit me everyday this week for new ways to use your blooms!
~Leigh Ann~
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