DIY Felt Tulips - tutorial and pattern

Today I'm taking a break from all the notebook covers I've been sharing lately to show you the gifts I made for my son's teachers this year: felt tulips. 

Last year we made flower keychains for the female teachers and initials keychains for the make teachers. This year, after much brainstorming, we decided again on flowers for the ladies. Still under discussion what to make for the gentlemen (my kids have classes until June 26th, so I still have some room for maneuver). 

Apart from teacher gifts, these tulips obviously work wonderfully for birthdays, party favors, Mother's Day, etc, so this is a tutorial you'll definitely want to bookmark.  

Materials needed: 

• the tulips pattern - download here
• bits of felt in various colors (felt scraps are great for this
• wooden sticks (I used barbecue sticks)
• sewing thread in matching colors
• polyester filling
• glue (optional)
• bits of ribbon (optional)

 

How to?

First use the pattern to cut two tulip shapes. 

 

Sew them together - I used a blanket stitch - leaving a small opening at the bottom. Fill with the polyester filling. 

Before sewing the opening shut, insert one end of the wooden stick in. You don't need to insert it all the way to the top of the tulip, but make sure at least 2-3 cm are in, so that it stays in place. Add a drop of fabric glue if you want. 

Sew the opening, making sure you add stitches as close to the stick as possible.

Your tulip is ready. If you're making a bouquet, you may want to leave it as is. If you're using it as an individual gift, add a piece of ribbon and tie a bow just below the bottom of the tulip, for a prettier finish. 

Now make a zillion of these and have fun!

Happy Monday!