pleated fabric flowers TUTORIAL

make these adorable fabric flowers!

fabric flower
there’s how i make pleated fabric flowers! you can makes these pleated fabric flowers in all sizes. here’s how:

fabric tube

1. cut a strip of fabric to be 2 inches by 24 inches. fold in half and sew wrong sides together.

2. get coordinating thread and a needle ready.

3. start at one end and fold the bottom {the edge with the seam} over to create a pleat. pinch with your fingers to hold in place.

4. sew a single stitch through the pleat to hold in place.

5.  make another pleat next to the first pleat and sew a single stitch. repeat until you’ve made a “circle”.

 

6. continue making pleats behind the first circle or layer. on the second layer, make the pleats slightly farther apart. *do not stitch layers together yet* don’t worry if you’re pleats aren’t perfect! it adds to the character of the flower.

7. should look something like this.

8. when you’ve reached the end of your fabric strip, wrap layers and arrange how you want it to look. by doing it this way, you can easily adjust the size of the overall flower a little big bigger or a little bit smaller

9. sew the layers together and tuck under the unfinished edges at the beginning and end of your flower and stitch in place.
-if this is the size of the flower you want {approx 2″}, then proceed to step 10.
-if you want to make a larger pleated flower, skip to step 12.

10. cut a small circle of matching fabric {or felt, whichever you prefer} and hot glue to the back.

11. add an embellishment to the center- jewel, bead, rhinestone, button, etc. using hot glue. the attach pin, clip or whatever you choose to use it for.

 

12. cut a strip of fabric 3″x18″ and repeat steps 2-5. {hide unfinished ends under pleats}

13. then layer the two pieces together and sew in place. then do steps 10-12. this makes approx 3″ flower.

as you may have noticed, i {heart} *flowers*. especially fabric flowers! so it was natural for me to incorporate a few fabric flowers into my master bedroom makeover to add a feminine touch. keeping Davis in mind, i didn’t go too girly. i thought these pleated flowers were a good fit…. and Davis approves!

fabric flower

14. for giant pleated flowers (8″-9″) like the one above i made for my Master Bedroom, you’ll want to repeat steps 2-7 with fabric strips measuring 4″x44″, then 5″x44″ and then two 6″x44″ strips. cut off any excess. then stack your layers starting with the smallest and hot glue or hand stitch in place depending on how you plan to use your flower. {like if you’re putting on a plate like i did, hot glue is just fine. if you plan to put on a pillow, you’ll want to hand stitch everything together}

happy crafting!!

***ADDED LATER: if you have a ruffler foot, here is a tutorial to make these flowers with a ruffle foot. ****

Linda
Hi! I'm Linda, the craft addict behind Craftaholics Anonymous®, a craft blog. Crafting is cheaper than therapy, right? When I'm not DIYing something, I can be found taxiing around our 4 crazy kids or working out. Or shoe shopping... because you can never have too many shoes! Happy crafting! ♥
Linda
Linda

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Comments

  1. 1
    slommler

    Your bedroom looks so wonderful. Love the black and yellow!! And thanks for the tutorial…those are fabulous!
    Hugs
    SueAnn

  2. 2
    Kim @ Cheap Chic Home

    Anything worth doing, is worth doing with fabric. I really love your version, the pleats are a nice change from a regular ruffle.

  3. 3
    Simply Domestic

    Love the flower you made. It looks just like the one on the target pillow. I love the pillows from Target, and have wondered how to make it for awhile now! Great tutorial!

  4. 4
    Erin @ Crafts and Sutch

    Very cool! Thank you so much for sharing!

  5. 5
    Goodnight moon

    I just found your blog and I am in blogging love! I absolutely love all your creativity! I will be stalking your blog for some ideas. Thank you for sharing all of your creations. This idea is fab!

  6. 6
    Kelli @ RTSM

    Those are so cute and way easier to make than I thought they would be! Thanks for the step by step!

  7. 8
    Fer

    I love the flower very much :D

    Very cool! Thank you so much for sharing!

    Fer.

  8. 9
    DB

    Those flowers are adorable! I've been looking for a good pattern! :)

    Thanks!

  9. 10
    Erin @ Crafts and Sutch

    Hey Linda! I wanted to let you know that I gave this a thumbs up on SU! :)

  10. 11
    Cindylu2u

    Thank you for this wonderful tutorial, your pleated flowers are fabulous!!
    Cindy
    miller896042 at bellsouth dot net

    1. 11.1

      kindly help me. I am so much love art and craft. I always tring on net to learn some thing. which can teach to others regards narendra vakte

  11. 12
    cá-cá

    Fabulousss bedroom!!!!

  12. 13
    Natalie

    I totally have one of those silver pillow shams that I got at goodwill for $1, except I use mine as a table runner!

  13. 14
    Debbie Mendes

    As always, thanks for sharing! I continue to share the love on my blog at inspiredhoneybee.blogspot.com!!

  14. 15
    Comudeco

    Precioso, muchas gracias por compartirlo. saludos

  15. 16
    Daiane

    Amo seus tutoriais são um show ! estou sempre por aqui vendo suas criações. um beijo
    casadadani.blogspot.com

  16. 17
    Jessiena

    Ooooh, love!
    I love flowers too, especially fabric flowers. I love the red polka dots.

  17. 18
    Don & Sarah

    I love that! Do you think I would be able to do it small in tulle to add as an embellishment to a sweater?

  18. 19
    Don & Sarah

    I love that! Do you think I would be able to do it small in tulle to add as an embellishment to a sweater?

  19. 20
    Leslie Waters

    Love the pleated Flower. I'm so glad there are people like you that figure things out so I can just copy them.

  20. 21
    Leslie Waters

    I love the pleated flowers. Thanks for sharing. SO glad there are people like you that figure it out and share with me.

  21. 22
    letterstoliney

    Thanks for sharing your great take on pleated fabric flowers! I have been looking for a tutorial like this for awhile to create a Target inspired shirt.

  22. 23
    Katie

    What a great tutorial! I can't wait to try this! I love your bedroom pillows!

  23. 24

    gorgeous;) your master bedroom is so inspirational!
    gina

  24. 25
    Ana S.

    love your bedroom. I didn’t get anything I got lost at the first step. I love the flower.

      1. Ana S.

        never mind after reading it over and over again I think I got it. thanks for replying back :) I think I will try. this is the problem I like to watch how to do things and learn different things but I never try them myself.

  25. Pingback: how to make fabric flowers | Craftaholics Anonymous

  26. 26

    I really like this method…think hot glue would work just as well as the sewing method?

    1. 26.1

      It would, Regina! Just might have to pick out a few hot glue strings, but should work just fine.
      thanks for stopping by!
      happy crafting,
      linda

  27. Pingback: Ruffled Begonia discount and giveaway

  28. 27
    Barb

    I found a wreath on your website that looks like a “denim” or burlap ribbon scrunched onto a wire ring and it has 3 red rosettes on it. I was wondering what you used for a wreath form – just a wire such as a clothes hanger? I want to make one – preferrably with denim!