July 21, 2011
Tutorial: Japanese Kanzashi Fabric Flower
Today we are making beautiful Japanese Kanzashi folded fabric flowers. This is our own interpretation of this artful fabric origami where we choose linen as our primary material.
What is Kanzashi?
Kanzashi flowers are a Japanese art form that are traditionally made with honotai silk to give them a dazzling color and lovely texture. However, many modern versions of these delicate flowers are created with a wide range of fabrics.
Kanzashi are typically worn as decorative hair ornaments in traditional Japanese hairstyles. Brides and geisha participating in tea ceremonies to this day can be seen wearing this elegant accessory. In fact, the style and manner in which kanzashi are worn indicate a geisha's status.
Some people even collect kanzashi because they possess a unique beauty and are significant to historical Japanese culture.
You can embellish your Kanzashi in whatever style suits your taste. Feel free to experiment with a variety of fabrics to achieve different textures. Coordinate colors to match different occasions or celebrations. Adding a button or decorative jewelry to the center is another way to jazz up your flower.
Now that we know a little bit more about Kanzashi, we can begin our craft! Remember, creating a beautiful Kanzashi flower requires some practice (and patience!). Keep trying and you will get the hang of it in no time.
There are a many different methods to making these flowers. Today, we will cover just one way to make Kanzashi. After you master this method, you can experiment with other petal forms, sizes, and techniques.
Materials:
- Ten 3" squares of linen fabric
- An iron
- Needle and thread
- Pins
- Scissors
- Buttons
- 100% Linen IL019 Fabric
Kanzashi Tutorial:
Begin with a square of 3" fabric. I recommend starching and ironing your fabric before, as it will be easier to work with and leave you with a neater finished product.
Fold this square in half diagonally. Hold the triangle with the open end pointing up.
Fold the bottom left corner up to the center peak.
Then fold the bottom right corner up to the center.
Flip your fabric over and fold the outer corner in (left and right) so that they meet in the center.
Fold your fabric in half.
The folded corners should be tucked in.
Pinch the folded fabric together. Put a pin through the petal, making sure to go through the smaller triangles, to secure it.
Clean up each petal by trimming off the base. To do this, just cut straight across the bottom fold.
Repeat with all of your 3" squares.
Now that your petals are clean and ready to go, thread your needle. I like to double up on the amount of thread for more reinforcement.
Pull the threaded needle through the first petal near the base.
Do not knot your thread at the end. Instead, leave about 5 inches to work with later. Thread all the petals in the same spot.
Some extra tips:
- Make a smaller flower to glue on the center of your flower for more dimension. Just cut the squares smaller (for example, 2" squares this 3" base).
- Choose a different shades or patterns for even more style.
- Add a button to the center to complete any Kanzashi.
Other Ways to Use Your Kanzashi:
Kanzashi are traditionally worn as hair ornaments, but you can use them in so many other ways.
- Attach a flower to a purse for a fashionable vintage look.
- Sew flowers to the bottom of a scarf.
- Stitch a flower onto a knitted hat or to the brim of any hat.
- Attach a flower to a pin and wear it as a brooch.Decorate pillows by attaching flowers to them.
- Make a flower arrangement for an adorable centerpiece. Sew flowers along a piece of grosgrain ribbon for a unique garland.
- Use them instead of a bow on gifts.
*Have fun making Kanzashi flowers! Remember, they take just a little bit of practice, but you'll love the results. Let us know how your flowers turn out and what you like to decorate with them. Visit our Facebook page for more crafts, ideas, and more.
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19 Comments on Tutorial: Japanese Kanzashi Fabric Flower »
July 21, 2011
Saritha Machado @ 6:29 am:
Very cute flower craft.I want to try.
Solveig @ 7:03 am:
Fabulous ideas!
I'm already thinking to put a jeweled button in the center.
Susan Cottrell @ 10:36 am:
You forgot to explain how to attach the buttons.
nicole novembrino @ 1:34 pm:
Thanks Susan. The button is an optional addition that you can attach with glue (hot glue works well) or sew on.
Wendy McNeil @ 4:21 pm:
Nicole have you done any other Japanese crafts? this flower looks great and quite simple
Kay Stanton (australia) @ 5:13 pm:
love getting the craft projects. I share them with all my crafty friends down under. Doing them in japanese prints look great. thanks
Gretchen Kelley @ 6:09 pm:
Love the flower. Tried to make one this aft. Not sure how much to cut off of each petal. Seem to be having trouble getting flower to take shape after sewing together. Please add a few more directions. May I suggest to others that you line up the petals with same side up before starting to sew together. I accidentally added one petal backwards when momentarily distracted. Oh well!!
Marlaine @ 6:10 pm:
do you have any idea of when this style of flower was first used…like historically?
Pat Miller @ 7:01 pm:
How very pretty. I'm already planning to make some and then teach my sewing group how to make them. Pat
Pat Miller @ 7:03 pm:
Question: m mWhat weight linen did you use?
Bethany @ 9:54 pm:
Marlaine, the first Kanzashi (hair ornaments) were rods or sticks used 14,000 to 300 BCE. It doesn't say specifically when the fabric kind started. If I had to guess I'd say it tracks the development of geisha around 1600. They seem to wear a lot of them and have different styles for each season/holiday. If you know Japanese, there is a link to another site in the references of the Wikipedia article which might?? give us more info.
They call this kind Tsumami Kanzashi - literally, 'folded fabric hair ornament'.
"Tsumami kanzashi are made from tiny (usually 1") squares of silk which are folded into petals using origami techniques. Flowers are made from these folded fabric petals and may contain anywhere from five petals to 75 or more, depending on the particular flower made. A 'hana kanzashi' is a cluster of these flowers, and may or may not include bira-bira and/or long streamers of tsumami petals, fashioned to look like hanging wisteria petals. Generally, hana kanzashi are worn in pairs, one on either side of the head, often with a complementary kushi and/or with several individual flowers scattered about the hair." - Wikipedia
July 22, 2011
nicole novembrino @ 11:09 am:
@Wendy- I haven't tried many other Japanese crafts, other than basic paper origami. I do love all things Japanese though!I'll try to find more Japanese crafts for future posts.
@Gretchen- Just cut the extra triangle at the bottom off. This will be the open end, not the folded top piece. Don't worry you are having trouble forming the flower after sewing. That is more of the more tricky steps! Just gently tighten your knot until all the petals come together nicely. You might have to adjust them with your fingers so they lay just right.
@Pat- I used IL020 for these flowers.
@Bethany- Thanks for your wonderful explanation of Kanzashi!
July 27, 2011
Margarida Porto @ 4:26 am:
Adorei o tutorial. Já fiz algumas flores para enfeitar minhas almofadas. Obrigada.
Beijos
I loved the tutorial. I've done some flowers to decorate my cushions. Thank you.
Kisses
August 3, 2011
Lisa @ 10:19 am:
I just discovered your blog today, via your web site, must say it is surprisingly wonderful, love your photos and subject choices. More interesting than typical sewing blog. I subscribed via RSS feed. Thank you for flower idea, I am making a summer dress for my niece and this is perfect.
August 20, 2011
countryswan @ 9:48 am:
I am going to decorate a birthday gift with these glued to the wrapping. these are sooooooo delightful. THANK YOU for sharing!!
September 7, 2011
printable coupons for hancock fabrics @ 5:44 am:
I enjoyed every step of making a kanzashi flower.. It was really nice idea. Thanks for posting it
January 21, 2012
Carole @ 8:29 am:
Love getting the projects! It made me look!
Keep them coming!
Thanks
February 12, 2012
Ana Maria @ 5:28 am:
Hace tiempo estaba buscando algo asi para mis bandas tejidas. Pero la textura de la tela que se usa, importa?. Me encantan las manualidades. I was looking for something like this to use in my crocheted headbands. Does it matter the texture of the fabric u use? I love crafts!!
February 17, 2012
Sue @ 3:37 pm:
Thanks for the instructions for the flowers. I will try to make one this evening. I appreciate the time it take to do the instructions