Fabric Flowers and Fabric Origami

Fabric Origami and Fabric Flowers (Kanzashi Technique)

If you have been looking around on Pinterest and in Home Decor Catalogs, one thing that you will notice is pillows are taking on a 3 Dimension look.  More and more you are seeing flowers sewn on, buttons, beads, and even felt.  I love this new trend.  I have always loved making fabric flowers and I am one sewer that is very excited to see it as a new trend.

Fabric Origami has been around in the quilting circles for awhile.  Fabric Origami is not much different than our childhood favorite of paper origami, and actually most things that you make with paper, you can make with fabric, with a little ingenuity, a needle and thread and an iron.

Below are a few samples of fabric origami quilt squares that I made.

This is a hexagon shape with a fabric covered button.

Different folding technique than above.  This is very similar to the  little finger puppets that kids make.

On this sample, I folded the corners back to create a flower .

My favorite technique is Kanzashi.  I learned to make these by hand, however, Clover know sells a tool that helps you fold these quicker.  These flowers look beautiful on pillows, window treatments, as well as fashion accessories.

This flower is made out of beautiful silk fabric and I glued a  very unusual  button that I found.

I used two different techniques of Kanzashi, layered them and put a fabric covered button in the center.  I cut the squares large to create a bigger flower.

In the center of this I used a glass bead.

This flower is made from silk.  I had a very unusual mother of pearl flat button and I add a diamond  gemstone to the center.  I also alternated the front and back of the flower pedals.

On this Kanzashi, I used two different folding techniques , layered them and then added the little pearl button.

These are a great way for you to really create a lot of texture and add a little unexpected to your sewing projects.  I hope you will take the opportunity to learn these great techniques.  I will begin working on a tutorial and will post it soon.