Brighten up a plain wool blanket with these striking fabric flowers finished with a selection of vintage buttons. Felt or other fabrics that do not fray could also be used. Stitch the flowers at the corners, or group them in clusters all over the throw. The flowers would also be great made into brooches or used as decorations for a hat or bag.
about 20 minutes per flower
1. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, iron fusible webbing onto the back of the coloured fabrics. Trace the templates onto paper and cut paper patterns for the large and small petal shapes and the overall flower shape. Cut a paper circle 3 cm/1¼ in. in diameter. Draw around the petal shapes on the back of the fabrics and cut out. You will need eight large petals and five small ones for each flower.
2. Using a needle and thread, make a few small stitches at the pointed end of the petal shapes to gather them slightly. Stitch eight large petals together at the pointed ends to make a flower.
3. Stitch five small petal shapes together at the pointed ends, as before. Sew the small petals onto the centre of the large flower. Finish by adding a button in the centre. Using the paper patterns from Step 1, cut out the required number of flower shapes. Using pinking shears, cut a circle for the centre of each flower in a different colour of fabric. Sew a circle to the centre of each flower shape and add a button to the centre to complete.
4. Arrange the flowers on the blanket. When you are happy with the arrangement, hand stitch the flowers in place.
