5 Tips for Making Rolled Fabric Flowers

I just can't get enough of these fabric flowers! I have been making many of these lovelies lately and wanted to share my tips on how to get very good quality results.


Tip #1: Know your glue!
Your best bets are hot glue or fabric glue, such as Fabri-Tac.
Know how long it takes to dry/stick, how fast it comes out, strength, etc.

Tip #2: Practice your twist and roll.
I like to "warm-up" before I start making these flowers. Each fabric type and size will behave differently. The way you twist will determine the look of the flower. By practicing, you can get an idea of what your flower is going to look like before you glue.
See what I mean...

Same amount of fabric...different rolling methods.

Tip #3: Hide your glue = Glue from the back.

Use tiny dabs of glue and a sweeping motion toward the back of your flower. This keeps your glue strings in the back. And dot just enough to get your fabric to stay as your build your flower. You will reinforce it when you are done.

Tip #4: For the felt backing, glue in one spot first.

Position your felt circle on the back where you want it to be glued. Since these flowers are not perfectly circular, your felt should mimic the shape of your flower. Hold the felt in place with your thumb and glue one side down with a dot of hot glue. Now your felt circle doesn't shift out of place and the messy back is covered. Then when that is dry, glue-like-crazy the rest. Also, instead of gluing to felt as I go, I start with a knot and roll my fabric around the knot until I get the flower going. Then I cut the "tail" off my knot when it gets in my way.

Tip #5: When you're done go back and glue some more.

Peel the layers (like you are flipping book pages) and find your weak spots that need a dab of glue. When you find a spot that needs glue, peel it open so you can get your glue nozzle way in there. Squeeze it in and get out of there with a clean sweep.

I prefer to use the Fabri-Tac as I roll then I follow up with the hot glue for the final gluing and back. Though I don't always do that. The only reason is that I am impatient and I hate burning my fingers : )

Leave me a comment...was this helpful? Did I miss something?

I am addicted to making these, you know. So the faster I can make them, the better !

Happy crafting!

--Kate