Fabric Wedding Bouquet

This is the perfect wedding bouquet; it will never wither, you can keep it and pass down for generations, it's cheap to make and you can even make it out of the same fabric as your wedding gown to match perfectly. You can make it in any fabric you want: felt for a more folklore style, jeans for hippie and maybe black and red velour for a gothic wedding?

I have made mine a bit vintage with ash rose and olive green silky fabric and some lace trims. You only need small amount of fabrics and  trims. You could also use some vintage trims from your family or add a detail from your parent's or grandparent's weddings.

Step 1: Things You Will Need

*some kind of fabric for the roses-30cm and leaves and bottom part - 25cm
*a styrolit cone, mine was about 20 cm high
*short pins
*lace and trimmings for decoration (I didn't use everything on the photo)
*fusible interfacing (something that will stiffen the fabric if you're using thinner fabric like I did)
*sewing machine (you could do this by hand though)
*some kind of glue, I used a glue gun (make sure to use a glue that doesn't dissolve the styrolit)
*scissors, needle, thread

Step 2: Start Making a Rose

Cut 7cm strips from the pink fabric, using the width. Cut in 3 parts which will give you about 7x50cm strips.
Take one of the pieces and fold long sides together, wrong sides facing. If you want to make it easier for yourself (that I dodn't in the beginning) do this:

Adjust your sewing machine to a long stitch and a loose tension. This will make your fabric crincle while you sew which is exactly what we want here. 

Start coiling the fabric from one end shaping a rose. Sew little stitches by hand to keep it from unrolling, sewing through all layers as you go.

Step 3: Make More Roses

Start by making about 9 roses - you can always make more if you come up short. I made 9 in the beginning and then had to make 3 more. The bottom of the roses don't look to beautiful, but it doesn't matter - it won't show anyway. No rose will look the same which will make them look even more natural.

Step 4: Making the Leaves

Draw a leaf shape on scrap paper. Make the size as big or small as you want. You could have 2-3 bigger ones or several smaller. I used 5. When you're happy with the shape trace it on fusible interfacing 10 times. Make sure to add seamallowence. Iron the interfacing on the green fabric. Cut around and pin right sides facing. Leave a little more fabric where you plan to leave an opening to turn through (you can see what I mean in the bottom of the picture. Leaving some excess fabric in your opening will make it easier to sew together). Sew around leaving a small opening and turn your leaf to the right side. Iron the sides and sew the opening by hand. 

Step 5: Cover the Cone in Fabric

Round the top edges of the cone with a knife. Take the remaining piece of green fabric and wrap the cone in it. This is a bit tricky I admit, but be patient. Use the small pins and pin around where needed.

Step 6: Glueing on the Roses

Try arranging the roses on the cone until you see approximately how it will look. When you're happy with the arrangement use a glue gun to glue them on one at a time. 

Step 7: Covering Up the Edge - Optional

Depending on how you will arrange your leaves you might want to cover up the edge of the cone with a silk ribbon. Adhere with a glue gun. I did this with my bouquet, but noticed it wasn't neccessary as the leaves covered this anyway.

Step 8: Pin the Leaves in Place

Pin your leaves in place with the small pins - evenly spaced. Use as many pins as you need. I used one in the bottom corners and two where they overlap.

Step 9: Add Lace and Trimmings

Leave it as is or if you want you can decorate it some more. I used one piece of lace around the whole bouquet and tied into a knot leaving two long tails. Pin this in place as it will slide down. Pin a piece of organza/silk ribbon and a pearly trim to the top of the knot. Make a bow from your last piece of lace and pin over the knot. Finally take a decorative brad or charm and attach to the middle of it all.

Step 10: Ready to Say "I Do"

Here's the wonderful view the bride will have walking down the isle.

I hope you liked my tutorial. Please leave a comment if you make a bouquet of your own. I'd love to hear from you.

/Katarina