Eco-friendly Felt Brooch Tutorial

Here we go:

Supplies; I sheet (your choice color) recycled felt, Tacky or other craft glue, stick pins, scissors, thin cardboard ( I used an old cereal box), hot glue gun, brooch back or safety pin, (optional - 3 or 4 inch square of green felt)

Time; roughly 2 hours

First step is to cut your felt in to three different sizes of petals.

I used 15-20 large petals, 12-15 medium petals, and 10 small petals. Try to make your cuts count on the felt, you don't want to run out! After all your petals are cut, trim a circle approximately 3 1/2 inches across. This circle will be the base to your flower. Time to glue! Taking your tacky glue, run a bead along the straight edge of the petal. Then fold the petal along the bottom, over lapping the sides. (see image, below). Then place your pin into the fold to hold the petal while the glue dries.

I stacked four to five petals on a pin while they dried. Continue gluing and folding until all of your petals are pinned. While the glue dries we move on to the back of the flower. Using your felt circle as a guide, cut another circle into the thin cardboard. Glue the felt circle to the cardboard circle using your tacky glue.

Now you can attach your brooch back to the unfelt side of the circle using hot glue. If you are using a safety pin, I recommend sewing it to a small strip of fabric and then hot gluing.Once that is complete we are ready to start adding pedals. I only remove the pins from the size petal I am working with to avoid mixups. Starting anywhere along the circle place a bead of hot glue approximately 1/4 inch in. Press your first large petal in at the base. Continue gluing and placing the large petals closely together around the circle.

Once all the large petals are set begin placing the medium petals in directly behind the base of the large petals. This is where you may discover you have more medium petals than you need, it varies on how closely you are putting them. After the medium, the small petals. I usually place the small petals in more of a spiral pattern than a circle. This, I believe, is more natural. After your petals have been glued, and the glue has cooled, wear with pride!

I'm in the process of trying to figure a smaller version to be worn as a hairclip. I think it would be lovely! Send me pictures of your finished brooches!