Introduction: Ribbon Flower

Some sewing experience recommended but it's easier to make than it looks.

Step 1: Supplies

What you need:

Ribbon (Any type of cloth ribbon will work. The type that you can curl with scissors won't work)
Sewing needle
Sewing thread


If the ribbon has wire in the edges, remove the wire once your pieces of ribbon have been cut by simply pulling the end of the wire straight out. If the wire isn't already sticking out, push the edge upwards till a small part of the wire is sticking upwards. This small part can be bent down and pulled out.

I usually use ribbon that is 1.5 inches wide, in which case the length of the pieces should be about 3 inches.


Step 2: Making the Petals: Fold

Roll both corners down toward the middle till they meet in roughly a 45 degree angle. Roll these as tightly as possible given that they tend to come loose while you sew them.

Step 3: Making the Petals: Sewing

Weave the needle through the ribbon making sure that the needle is through the two rolls. Pull the string tight (the ribbon will scrunch together).

Wind the sewing thread around the base, or stem of the petal and thread the needle through the base again. Knot the thread and repeat steps 2 and 3 till you have the desired number of petals. I usually use 7 but that depends on the how full and wide the petals are.

Step 4: Putting the Petals Together

Sew through all the bases of the petals so that they are all threaded on one string.

Connect all the petals in a ring by sewing back through the first petal. Then wrap the thread around the bundle of petal stems and sew straight through the base several times through varying points around the base.

Step 5: Finishing the Flower

Spread the petals so you can see the center. Sew through a petal and one across from it to better stabilize the flower. Try to keep all of your stitches close to the center while still making sure that you are sewing through the actual petals.

The easiest way to cover your stitches in the middle once you are done, is to cut a piece of ribbon into a circle and sew a circle about a quarter of an inch from the perimeter. Then pull the string so that it makes a small pouch. The opening does not need to be entirely closed. Wait to knot and cut off the thread and needle because this thread can be used to sew the pouch in place.

Hold the pouch in the center of the flower, making sure all of the frayed edges of the ribbon are tucked underneath. Sew the pouch to the flower so that it covers up all of your previous sewing in the center. The easiest way to sew on the pouch is too sew around the perimeter.

Step 6: Done!

And you are done!

To make things more interesting, you can use the back of the petals instead of the front or even sew two flowers on top of each other. You can also trim the petal stems with scissors and use thread to sew over the edges.

These flowers can be left as is, or you can sew or glue them to pins or add them as decoration to hats, headbands or clips.