Chiffon Flowers - Accessories Challenge Submission

I've known for a while what I wanted to do for this challenge ... pretty, soft flowers for my hair (or my daugters), or to clip on clothes like a brooch.

Now, I've made fabric flowers before but always with a woven or knit fabric. Those are cute but a little stiff. Also, before I've never sewn them - most of the flowers (maybe all?) I've made before were made with either my hot glue gun or Fabri-Tac (best stuff ever).

So, my challenge to myself was:

make a pretty flower;

that is soft;

that does not involve glue; and

is made from something other than a wove or knit fabric! 

Enter the Chiffon Flower! Woo-hoo, it worked!

a perfect pair these two are

Way back when, Dana Made It posted this skirt (the Can Can). And, I just about died over its cuteness. I mean I loved it! I was all sorts of ready to whip out one of these bad boys; I even bought the recommended Nylon Chiffon online (hmmm, in 8 colors). You know where I'm going with this, right? Somehow or another, the beautiful chiffon arrived and I had already moved on ...and I never made the skirt! {Sidebar, maybe I should make these for Thanksgiving...the girls would love them I bet!?!? After all, I did buy two shades of brown, black and white!}

I'm looking at the date of Dana's post (Nov 2009) and that means that I've been sitting on this Chiffon for nearly two years! I came across it recently when I was trying to clean up / out  my craft closet (to make room for more fabric) and had one of those a-ha moments! This could be the perfect fabric for flowers. 

I tested and tested. I practiced sewing and practiced gluing them and eventually came up with some flowers I love! :) Dare I see another addition in my future? Perhaps. 

 

These two flowers would have been cute on their own, but I attached them to each other and now that, I love. They make a good pair. 

Here are a couple other experiments: 

Enter the collage of the BIG black and white one. I may add a button or bead or bling to the center...I think it needs something.

big black and white chiffon flower- love those layers of fluffiness

I wish I was ahead of the 8-ball enough to have taken an appropriate photo of myself wearing this little flower, but I'm on day 4 of hair and I didn't have to work today - so I look a hot mess. So, here's my day 4 ponytail instead.

it works perfectly on a ponytail - it curves around it just right!

Oh, and want to see a fail? I tried adding a layer of tulle to the Chiffon Flower and it didn't work for me. I think it's too poofy and it's a little stiff. In tulle's defense, I did a double layer of tulle, so I think I'm going to give it another chance and try a single layer next time. If it works, I'll let you know. :)

tulle failure

All in all I'm THRILLED with the Chiffon Flower and if you are too, give me a vote up there!

Happy crafting ...