How to Make Shabby Flowers – Use Old Lace, Linens, and Buttons

Learn how to make shabby flowers for a wedding a special occasion or to use in decorating. Use old hankies, vintage damask napkins, or dresser scarves, pieces of tattered of lace or crochet, and maybe even one of Grandma’s old buttons or brooch. Shabby Flowers have been around for a little bit so this technique is not new or original.

Let me show you how easy it is to make these adorable shabby chic flowers. Because I had so much fun making these, I really wanted to show you how to make your own shabby flowers.

Just in case you are like me and sometimes get bogged down in the written instructions, I have made you a few video tutorials, of course. The video links are included below.

I would absolutely love it if you pinned this.

Warning: this is an image-heavy post.

Let’s get started.

Here are the instructions on “How to Make a Shabby Flower”.

For this one, which is the large one used on the flower girl’s basket, you will need:

1. 4 – 4″x4″ squares of muslin, or osnaburg (looks homespun) or an old linen. For shabby edges, tear the fabric.
2. 2 – 2.5″ circles cut from a heavier fabric. I used canvas. This is for the base.
3. 12″ of lace gathered up to 6″ (I used pre-gathered lace 1″ lace and then gathered it again)
4. 1 – 3″ square of crochet
5. 1- 2″ inch square of lace
6. 2 – 2″x3″ osnaburg strips
7. 2 – 1″x3″ muslin strips
8. 1 – 2″x10″ osnaburg for the rose in the center. If you don’t want to make the rose then that’s the place for a special button or brooch.

First: Fold the 4″ squares in half and then shift the fabric so it is slightly of center.

Find the center of the fold and bring the right side over.

Bring the left side over, too. Note: it is not a perfect, flat triangle. Shift the fabric a little bit so that it is not completely flat.

Next: Pin or stitch in place. I stitched in place.

Stitch through all 4 of the points. You can use hot glue but I prefer stitching. It makes a softer flower.

3. Take the 12″ piece of gathered lace and gather it a bit more.

I used a long, running or basting stitch.

Pull the thread until the length of the gathered lace is 6″ long.

Bring the ends together to form an open circle. Secure with a couple of stitches and a knot.

Repeat as above with the flat lace,

except this time draw the thread tight and close the circle.

To make the rose, please watch the VIDEO. Or if you don’t want to make the rose, you can also use an old button or a brooch.

4. Attach the circle of gathered lace as shown above.

Stitch or glue in place. I stitched.

5. Now you are ready to layer and stack all your pieces together one on top of the other.

Stack the 2- 2″x3″ pieces this way and that.

Next is the 2″ square piece of lace.

Now layer the 2 – 1″x3″ pieces of fabric, this way and that.

Add a piece of crochet.

It can be tattered. I cut this piece from a damaged vintage table runner.

Add the last piece of lace that you gathered tightly.

Stitch through all the layers, several times. Secure with a knot.

6. This step is to add the rose, button, or brooch.

I used the rose and I stitched thru several of the petals to make sure that it would not come unraveled.

That turned out to be a good thing because one of the little flower girls got upset and dumped out her flower petals and then threw her basket down. And then she just sobbed.

Let me tell you that if it is something that you can keep from unraveling – DO IT!!! Because at a wedding there can be a lot of unraveling and not just a fabric rose. Emotions are running high! Expectations are high! And if you don’t have a wedding planner the details can be overwhelming. I think maybe even with a wedding planner the details can be too much.

So, plan ahead. Be prepared for the unforeseen. Be patient and kind and tender-hearted. Remember what is really important.

This flower is almost finished. See how the one on the left is star-shaped. We want it round or let me say that I wanted it round.

The Final Step: Carefully trim the edges to a round shape.

You want to be careful so that you don’t cut into the lace. But if you do, guess what? It’s okay!!! Because they are shabby.

In the May the 4th wedding I made shabby flowers for the Flower Girl Baskets,

for the Bride’s grandma,

Wrist Corsages for the Bride’s maids, (Click on the image above for the VIDEO on how to make the little shabby flower)

for the Flower Girl Baskets. Click the image above to watch the VIDEO.

and for the Bride’s Garter. Click the image to see the VIDEO.

I have to admit I maybe went just a tattered bit overboard. But they were just tOo much fun to make. And the vintage ivory really helped to soften the BLACK LACE DECORATIONS.

As a mom to 3 grown sons, I have had very little to make or do for their weddings. This was an adventure in creativity for me. It was also not so much about the MAKING as it was about being able to bless Baby Bird and His Lady. I can’t wait to show you the rest of the pictures.

Please come back and hang out again. I hope you have enjoyed this lesson on how to make shabby flowers. And I also hope that you are inspired and will have a chance to try this tutorial. If you do I would love to see your results.

Share this with your friends on Facebook or Pinterest!

Ephesians 4:1-6 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” ESV

’til next time,

Nathalie