Fabric Flower Bracelet

I have gobs of fabric scraps in my stash, leftover from previous projects. But, most of them are too small to do anything substantial with. I was watching iCarly with my nieces a few nights ago and she was wearing the cutest fabric flower necklace. I'm not a huge necklace girl, but I liked the concept. So I evolved the idea into this. I won't lie, it took a good hour and a half, but I'm a fan of how it all turned out...

First take some household items of varying sizes that can help you trace out some fabric circle. I used a baby bottle, a Salt City candle, and a spool of thread. Find a color scheme you like, and cut out the fabric circle.

Next, stitch around the outside of circle, being sure to stick close to the edge. If you want to be extra safe, you can even run a little fray-check around the edge of the fabric.

Once you've made it all the way around the edge, pull the thread tight until the circle forms a pumpkin-looking shape.

Push your needle through the center of the gathered top, and thread through the back where you can tie off your thread. I even did a few passes back through the top and back down to make it a bit more durable.

Continue this process with all of your fabric circles and press them flat with an iron. Once you've finished making all of your flowers, lay them out to find a grouping that works for your taste.

Cut a strip of wool felt that's wide enough to accommodate the grouping of flowers, and long enough to wrap around your wrist. Start sewing on your flowers. Stitch through the center, and continue to stitch small stitches around the outside of the flowers to make it stay in place. I let the outer flowers hang over the felt a bit so the felt is more hidden.

I embellished my flowers with vintage buttons that I found in a tin from my Grandma Tresa. But, I know most thrift stores have bins of buttons you can buy loads of for a STEAL!

The great thing about working with wool felt is, it holds its own pretty well. So, button holes are super easy. First wrap the strip of felt around your wrist and mark with a disappearing quilting pencil where you want your button hole to be.

Then, take a small and SHARP pair of scissors, and cut a straight slit where you've marked your button hole. No sewing is necessary for this step, but I did do a small stitch around the outside of my slit simply for looks.

Sew on your button. I prefer a button that is the same color as my felt, so the flowers, the REAL centerpiece of the bracelet, can take center stage.

And, ta-da! A little whimsical and feminine fabric flower bracelet. Now, do I keep this for myself? Or, give it to my little sister for Christmas... it's a true debacle.