Life is lovely: funky flower pin tutorial

i am really excited about these! i have been making them for a little while and always get compliments.

i've been asked to teach this for my ward's super saturday and i wanted to share the tutorial with you.

what you need:

-fabric strip 3"x 44"

-fabric covered button (size 75 or 1-7/8") and pusher tool

-fabric to cover button (cut a circle about 3" in diameter) * i like to use contrasting, but you could use the

same fabric as the strip.

-felt (any color, cut a circle about 3" in diameter)

-needle and embroidery thread (optional)

-1" bar pin

-iron

-hot glue gun

-sewing machine (gathering foot optional)

first, you are going to take your 3"x44" strip of fabric and make a ruffle. there are about million ways to do this, but the quickest, and easiest way for me is to use a 'gathering foot' on my machine. they cost about $8 and just do a nice ruffle... no pulling, or breaking thread involved.

you want to sew right down the middle of your strip, all 44 inches.

halfway done...

here's what you end up with...a ruffle about half the length of the original strip.

next, take your strip and fold it in half, lengthwise. doesn't have to be perfect, in fact imperfections add to the funk!

iron it as you fold.

*now switch your machine foot back to the regular foot if you need to.

take your felt circle (which will be the back of the pin) and your ironed ruffle. starting with one end of the strip starting sewing in a circular fashion. best to start out close to the outer edge of the felt circle to ensure you have enough room to wind around making the layers of the flower. you can make them as close together or far apart as you want just remember that you want the fabric covered button to cover the ending stitches, so sew slowly and carefully if you need to.

here is what you end up with...you can snip all your threads now.

now we'll work on the pin. technically you could just glue the pin. personally i like the look of the stitched pin better. so do whatever you like best. if you stitch it, start from the center of the right side of the flower (where the button will be glued). it will get covered by the big button anyway so you won't see the stitches! yay, clever!

also i take a small piece of felt scrap and cut a small rectangle to cover the pin bar...anal i know, i just think it looks more professional.

this is the back all done. *note: doesn't have to be perfect. that is part of the handmade charm:)

ok, flip back over to the front. assemble your button following directions on the package. you can usually get these at any quilting or fabric store. some craft stores carry them too. i've seen them at hobby lobby and jo-anns. i order them here on etsy in bulk, better priced too. *just make sure you get a pusher tool if this is your first time. the pusher tool is a white rubber thing with a blue thing and they fit together to mash the fabric, button and back together. it's pretty cool.