Fall Blossoms

HOW TO: Wool Flower Pins

Wanna show-and-tell you about a quick and easy project I did last weekend, Wool Flower Pins.




All you need to do this super easy project is:
- beautiful buttons (I used some sorta pricey buttons I bought from Britex Fabrics in SF ages ago but never used; they are stained wood); it helps if the buttons have a shape reminiscent of petals, but not necessary.
- wool yarn
- crochet needle, size 5.50 for chunkier stitches
- felt
- needle and thread of similar color to your wool yarn
- glue gun
- pin

Here's how to make them:
1. Crochet a very simple and basic chain stitch, leaving about two inches of yarn at the beginning of your stitch; stitch about 8 inches; knot off and leave about two inches of yarn hanging off of the end.


2. Using your needle and thread, start to layer your crocheted stitch on top of itself and sew together; you can either go in a circle as I've done with one of the periwinkle flower pins, or you can do a more chaotic, random layering as I've done with the other two pictured above; make sure you end the layering by threading the end of the chain stitch down through the middle of the flower, so that you end up with the two extra ends hanging below your flower, next to one another (sort of like the stems of the flower).

3. Insert the two "stems" of the flower through the button holes and tie a firm knot, clip the ends of the yarn off so that you have two small pieces left.




4. Heat up your glue gun. In the meantime, cut a piece of felt that will cover the yarn knot on the back of the button, but not extend beyond the edge of the button. Additionally, cut out a small heart or other shape to glue over the pin backing; I do this so that it's prettier on the back of the pin and you don't have to see ugly glue poking through the holes on the pin.

5. Once the glue gun is ready, spread glue on the larger piece of felt and place over the knot, pressing firmly for a couple of seconds to ensure all corners are securely stuck to the button. Next, spread glue on the back of the pin, place on the felt tab, press firmly. Once the pin is secure, but before the glue cools, press the smaller, cover piece of felt on it and press firmly to secure.

6. Let your pin dry for about 12 hours to ensure that it's definitely secure. And enjoy!