Felt Flower Bouquet: Wire Stems, Leaves and Arranging

Loose felt blooms are charming on a table, but they only become a felt flower bouquet once each one has a stem, a few leaves and a place in an arrangement. The stem work is simple wire bending and wrapping, and it is the step that turns a handful of small makes into one finished object that can stand in a jar for years.

This tutorial assumes the flowers themselves are ready. Seven blooms in two or three types make a balanced small bouquet; if you still need to make them, start with the three constructions in the guide to felt flowers.

What You Need

• Seven finished felt flowers in mixed sizes, between 1 and 2 1/2 in (2.5 and 6.5 cm) across
• Seven lengths of floral stem wire, each about 12 in (30 cm); 18-gauge wire is a sturdy, widely sold thickness
• Green floral tape, or green felt cut into strips 1/4 in (6 mm) wide
• Green felt for leaves and for the small circles under each flower, about half a 9 x 12 in (23 x 30 cm) sheet
• Tacky craft glue or a low-temperature glue gun
• Small pliers with a round or narrow nose, and wire cutters
• Cord or twine, about 12 in (30 cm), and ribbon, about 24 in (60 cm)
• Scissors, paper and a pencil

Cut the Leaves and Base Circles

Leaves. Fold a 1 1/4 x 3 in (3 x 7.5 cm) piece of paper in half lengthwise and cut a curve from one end of the fold to the other. Unfold and use it as a pattern to cut ten to twelve leaves from green felt.

Base circles. For each flower, cut a green circle about 1 in (2.5 cm) across; a large coin makes a good guide. Snip a tiny hole in the center of each by folding it in half and cutting a notch no bigger than the wire. These circles cover the join between flower and stem.

Add Wire Stems to the Flowers

1. Bend a loop. With the pliers, curl one end of a wire into a flat loop about 3/8 in (1 cm) across, then bend the loop over so it sits at a right angle to the stem, like the head of a nail.
2. Thread on a base circle. Slide a green circle onto the wire from the straight end and push it up until it rests under the loop.
3. Glue the flower to the loop. Cover the loop and the top of the circle with glue and press the back of the flower onto it. Hold until it grips, then let it dry fully with the flower face down on the table and the stem pointing up.
4. Repeat for every bloom. Working through all seven at once gives the first flowers time to set.

Flat flowers such as daisies sit directly on the loop. For rolled felt roses, glue the loop to the center disc under the rose; the flat base gives the glue a wide surface to hold.

Wrap the Stems and Attach Leaves

1. Start under the flower. Floral tape is not sticky until it is stretched, so pull it gently as you go. Press the end against the wire just below the base circle and pinch.
2. Wrap on a slant. Turn the stem with one hand while the other guides the tape downward at an angle, each turn overlapping the last by about half.
3. Add a leaf. About 2 in (5 cm) below the flower, pinch the base of a leaf around the stem and wrap over the bottom 1/4 in (6 mm) of it. Add a second leaf a little lower on the opposite side if you like. Leave two or three stems without leaves so the bouquet is not crowded.
4. Finish the stem. Wrap to within 1/2 in (1.3 cm) of the bottom, tear the tape and press the end flat.

If you are using felt strips instead of tape, put a thin line of glue along the wire a few inches at a time and wind the strip over it in the same slanting way.

Arrange and Tie the Felt Flower Bouquet

1. Begin with the largest flower. Hold it upright in one hand. This is the center and the highest point.
2. Add the next two largest. Place them slightly lower, one on each side, turning the bunch a little in your hand after each addition.
3. Fill in with the smaller blooms. Set them lower again around the outside so the top of the bouquet forms a gentle dome.
4. Angle the heads. Wire stems bend, so tilt the outer flowers slightly outward and the center one straight up.
5. Bind the stems. Holding the bunch about 3 in (7.5 cm) below the flower heads, wind the cord tightly around the stems four or five times and tie a double knot.
6. Trim. Cut the stems level with wire cutters, leaving 6 to 7 in (15 to 18 cm) below the binding. Fold any sharp ends inward or cover the cut ends with a final wrap of tape.
7. Cover the cord with ribbon. Wrap the ribbon over the binding, tie a bow and trim the tails at an angle.

Variations

• Single stem. One large rose with two leaves and a ribbon bow makes a small gift in its own right.
• Posy without wire. For a flat bouquet to attach to a card or gift box, glue flowers and leaves onto a felt circle and skip the stems.
• Leafy filler stems. Wrap three or four leaves down a bare wire at staggered heights and tuck these between the flowers for volume.

Display, Care and Giving

Stand the bouquet in a dry vase, jar or bottle with a neck narrow enough to hold the stems together. No water is needed, and water would mark the felt and may rust the wire.

Felt does not wilt, but it does collect dust and can fade in strong sun. Keep the bouquet out of a sunny window, away from candles and heaters, and lift dust off with a soft, dry brush.

To give the bouquet, wrap the stems in a sheet of tissue or plain paper folded into a cone and tie it with the same ribbon, or lay the bunch in a shallow box so the heads are not crushed. More handmade presents, grouped by recipient and by how long they take, are collected in the roundup of felt gift ideas.