Mother's Day. Prom. Weddings. Graduation. Spring is a time of celebration. At Benzie we are celebrating the end of a fabulous year with one Maker Team and the start of another. Maker Team member Sarah of @happycamper_nyc is bringing her contribution to the party with her last Maker Team tutorial: a Felt Wrist Corsage. We can't think of anything more fitting for the season!
There’s something extra special about flowers you can keep forever - especially when they’re handmade. This felt flower wrist corsage is a sweet, wearable little bouquet that’s perfect for celebrating life’s happiest moments. This project is full of soft textures, pretty colors, and those tiny details that make handmade pieces feel so meaningful.
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Time: 1 1/2 Hours
Additional Supplies:
Petal and Leaf Template (click to download)
Velcro
Measuring Tape
Directions:
1. Select the felt colors that match your special occassion. The pictured example uses a pink, white and green color scheme.
2. Start by making two small Roses using a spiral technique. Cut a square of felt approximately 2 1/2 x 2 1/2". Cut around the corners to make a soft, circular shape.
Cut into felt in a circular motion to create a spiral from the outside moving inward. Try to keep "rings" about 1/2 - 3/4" wide. You’ll be left with a small circle at the end that will be the base of the Rose.
3. Starting at outer edge of spiral, begin curling felt inward. Keep those first couple of curls tight, so Rose will have a nice, full center. After a couple of turns, add a bit of hot glue to secure your work.
4. Continue rolling, adding hot glue every few curves to keep shape. Rose bottom should remain flat and top should angle outward.
5. At end of spiral, the inner felt circle will curl into place at bottom of Rose. Secure circle in place with hot glue.
Repeat Steps 2-5 to make a second small Rose.
6. For the larger, center Rose, glue together individual overlapping petals to form the flower. Cut out four of the smallest petals from the template (or freehand), six of the medium petals, and five large petals.
7. Curl a small petal in on itself to form a cone shape for center of the Rose. Secure with hot glue. Wrap a second small petal around first going opposite direction (like a hug) and secure with hot glue.
Continue adding and gluing petals one at a time, going from small to medium and alternating placement to keep Rose shape balanced.
8. For large outer petals, take one large Petal and cut a small slit about 1/4" into side. Slightly overlap cut edges and glue to create curved petal shape. Repeat for remaining four large petals.
9. Hot glue large, formed petals around outside of Rose. Space them evenly so finished Rose is balanced.
10. Jasmine sprigs are made using floral wire, allowing them to be shaped for the corsage. Use cutting tool to cut floral wire into 4" sections. Use template to cut five Jasmine flowers from White felt.
11. Make a tiny snip in center of each flower and insert one end of floral wire through hole. Add hot glue to center to hold floral wire in place. Before glue cools, gently press and fold Jasmine flower closed. Hold until set. Repeat for remaining four Jasmine flowers.
12. Use template to cut five small Leaves from light green (Zucchini) felt. Add a small amount of glue to end of Leaf and pinch around opposite wire end to shape and secure. You’re aiming for bottom third of Leaf to be around the wire. If any hot glue squeezes out as you’re forming the leaf, peel or cut it away once cool. Repeat for remaining four stems.
13. Once you have five stems - with a Jasmine flower on one end and Leaf on the other - twist three stems together to form Jasmine sprig.
Fold Leaves upward and adjust to sit naturally among flowers. Twist remaining two stems together to create a second, smaller Jasmine sprig.
14. Use template to cut seven medium Leaves from dark green (Meadow) felt. These are to fill any gaps between flowers. You may need more or less Leaves depending on your arrangement.
15. Add a small line of glue to one end of Leaf, then quickly pinch edges together to create shape. Hold until set. Remove any visible glue once cool. Repeat for remaining medium Leaves.
16. Use Willow felt ribbon (or 3/4 x 8" strip of felt) to create corsage bracelet.
17. Hot glue corsage elements to bracelet in following order:
- Jasmine sprigs: one going each direction out from center
- Large Rose: center, hiding ends of Jasmine sprigs
- Two Small Roses: on either side of Large Rose
- Leaves: add to fill gaps, tucked beneath flowers for most natural look.
You can trim the glued ends of the leaves a bit to shorten them, if needed, for the most natural look. The leaves should help create a full, balanced look overall.
18. To finish, attach a small piece of Velcro to one end of felt bracelet and a cooresponding strip of Velcro on opposite end, to create adjustable closure. I recommend adding a few stitches to keep Velcro secured to felt. Alternatively, you can use a piece of elastic sized for the intended wrist. Make any final adjustments to the corsage components and you're done!
Just like that, you’ve made a little bit of happiness to wear on your wrist. Play with different color combinations or palettes to match the moment, and gift it to someone special - or keep it for yourself. Why not? Whoever wears it will love having a piece that’s as lasting as it is lovely.
Thanks to Sarah for designing and writing this tutorial! You can see more of her work on Instagram @happycamper_nyc and on her website. Stay tuned for more tutorials from the Benzie Design Maker Team!
