Introduction: How to Make a Giant Poppy Brooch

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About: Hi! I am Elisse - a pharmacy student, coffee addict,food lover, amateur photographer and an avid crafter. I love art, jewelry,macrame, embroidery but also science, chemistry and drug structures! My Instructabl…

Lately I have noticed the rise of the giant brooches.From basic T-shirts to elegant blazers,they sure elevate an outfit quite a lot.In this Instructable I will be showing you how you can create your own giant flower brooch - in this case a bright pop of red with a poppy!

Let's get started!

Supplies

  • Red satin fabric - mine was a dress I got from the thrift store
  • Scissors
  • Pliers
  • Mendable aluminium wire
  • Hot glue gun
  • Pencil
  • Brooch needle
  • Flower stamens
  • Paper
  • A lighter
  • Black ribbon

Step 1: Tracing and Cutting

Start out by tracing the rough shape of the poppy flower petals onto a piece of paper.You can use a reference photo but the shape doesn't have to be perfect.

Once done,cut the paper petal and use it as a template and place in on top of the fabric of your choice.Trace the shape and cut the fabric petal.

Step 2: Adding Structure

Next we need to add some structure to the petal.

Take the aluminium wire and cut three pieces with the pliers.Add some hot glue to each piece and glue onto the fabric.

Glue them equally apart and make sure non of the wire stick out of the petal.

Step 3: Gluing the Petals

Apply glue to the outlines of the petal and carefully lift it.Place it directly onto the big piece of fabric (in my case the dress) and apply slight pressure so that everything is glued.The wires shoud be sandwiched between the two fabric layers.Next,cut around the petal.

Finally burn any excess threads off with a lighter.

Your first petal is complete.

Step 4: Adding Dimension

Apply a small amount of hot glue in the middle parts of the petal and bunch up the fabric.This way there is some dimension and the petals do not look flat and lifeless.

Repeat the steps from Step 1 to Step 4 until you have enough petals.For my poppy I made 10.

Step 5: Start Gluing

Once you have the amount of petals you like start gluing them one by one until you have a flower.Apply generous amounts of glue and press everything together.

A tip I have is to place the petals however you like so that you know which petal goes on top of which before you start gluing.


Step 6: Smaller Petals

To make the poppy as realistic as possible we need to have different sized petals.

Repeat the same process from Step 1 to Step 4 with some adjustments:

  • Trace and cut a petal but this time make it a lot smaller since it's going into the inner circle
  • Add the wiring - only two pieces since the petals are smaller
  • At the end add dimension by bunching up the petals in the middle

Make enough petals and move on to gluing them.I made 4.

Step 7: Glue the Smaller Petals

Add some hot glue to the edge of the petals and glue them onto the flower.You shoud be left with a small hole in the middle of your flower.

Step 8: Make the Black Petals

Set your poppy aside and take the black ribbon.Cut a bunch of ellipse shapes and using a lighter get rid of the rough edges.Be careful not to burn yourself.

Add dimension by bunching up the middle of the ribbon and adding a small dot of hot glue to secure everything in place.

Step 9: Glue the Black Petals

Start gluing the black petals one by one.Make sure they are not separate from one another but rather overlapping.

Step 10: Make the Stamens

Using the same black ribbon make the piece where you will attach the stamens - roll it up in different ways until you like it.Again,it doesn't have to be perfect.Once you are done secure it with some hot glue.

Add a line of glue on the outside and place a handful of stamens.Let the glue dry and repeat this process until you have all the stamens attached.

Finally,cover the stamens with some more black ribbon so that the white stems are not visible.

Step 11: Finish the Flower

Cut off any excess black ribbon at the bottom and glue this piece to the hole in the middle of the poppy.

Turn the flower upside down and add glue around the edges of this piece so that everything is nicely secured.

Step 12: Cover the Outside

We are almost finished.

Take any circle shaped item you have and trace it onto the fabric.Cut out the fabric circle and glue it to the bottom of the poppy so that you cover anything that you don't want to be seen.That's why the size of the circle is up to you.

Step 13: Attach the Needles

Attach two brooch needles to the bottom of your poppy using hot glue and let them dry completely until you use your brooch.

Step 14: Wear It!

Now there is nothing left to do but to wear this unique piece of fashion accesory!

It is a statement piece for sure!