vintageflowerloomkit

Some beautiful photographs taken by Lauren at a workshop I did at The Curiosity Shoppe in San Francisco last year. The  flowers in the first photo were made with linen bookbinding thread and the second photo is a mix of different strings and raffia.

 

marc jacobs raffia flowers

look how cute these raffia flowers look on the accessories from marc jacobs resort 2011 collection.

(images via style.com and marie claire)

new package design

The kits are back and I have redesigned the packaging. I got to thinking that the previous packaging was wasteful since it was a plastic bag. I think the best part of this new design is that everything comes in a natural muslin bag that is great for storage or crafting on the go.

 

 

flower loom tutorial - here's how to make a basic flower

For this how-to I’m using a vintage Studio Twelve “Multi-Fleur” loom. It’s about 3 ½” across and has 2 rows of pegs. The pegs are numbered 1-12 going counter clockwise. When you are first learning it’s probably a good idea to follow the numbers but honestly once you get the hang of it you don’t really need to.

You can use yarn, ribbon, string and even wire on a flower loom - but for a real 60s-70s look you'll want to use raffia. I love the look of the vintage “Swistraw” – especially the colors and textures . But the synthetic raffia now marketed as gift ribbon is basically the same thing. The raffia I used for this tutorial is from Rafft Ribbons. Paper Mart offers a less expensive option. Just make sure it's synthetic and not paper raffia as paper raffia tears. Natural raffia I have found is too thick. Try experimenting with different materials- you never know what you'll come up with!

STEP 1
Start with 36” tail and secure material in the notch near peg #7. Working counterclockwise wrap your material around each of the outer pegs. You work in a "figure 8" as you wrap the material around opposite pegs (1 to 7, 2 to 8, 3 to 9, 4 to 10, 5 to 11). Each time all the way around the loom creates 1 layer. Go completely around 2 to 3 times (i.e. 2 - 3 layers).  Secure end in notch leaving an 8” tail.

How to wrap the material around the pegs in a "figure 8".

The first layer

STEP 2
Repeat step 1 except do the inner pegs with a different color. 1 - 2 layers is good. This time you only need to leave 8” tails.

The second layer.

STEP 3 - THE BACK STITCH
Using a long sharp craft needle w/ a big eye and thread the 36” tail (from step one). Come up at space 11 and down through space 12, up space 1 down space 12, up space 2 down space 1, up space 3 down space 2 and so on until you go all the way around. Make sure you go in between the petals and do not pierce the material.

Detail of back stitch.

Completed back stitch.

STEP 4 - SLANT STITCH
You should have ended up at space 1 from your previous step. Go over 3 spokes to the right and go in between the petal and come back up at space 12 (2 petals to the left), over 3 spokes and down through the petal. Repeat all the way around and complete the final stitch by going under the first slant stitch to create a continuous look.

  Detail of Slant Stitch

Completed Slant Stitch

STEP 5
Turn loom over and secure by knotting tails and snip off excess. Gently remove flower from loom.

This is what the flower looks like right after you take it off the loom.

STEP 6
Fluff the petals as desired.

Fluffed flower!

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial! This shows you how to make a basic flower. I think it's always best to get the basics down first. You will then be ready to play around with different ideas and have some fun. There are many ways to use a flower loom and tons of options and variations.

I would also like to point you in the direction of the amazing Knitting -and website where you will find some more advanced flower loom tutorials that should be of help. 

If you want to know how to make the "poof" center scroll down and watch the Martha video.

Feel free to print this tutorial out. I do ask that it's kept for personal use only. Thanks!

(almost) everything you ever wanted to know about raffia

The question I am most asked is where I purchase the raffia that I use to make the flowers. Here are a few tips and recomendations:

~Raffia is available is natural, rayon (synthetic) and paper. The synthetic raffia works the best on flower looms because it is smooth, strong and has an even texture. I have not had success using natural raffia because it has too many slubs (thick and thin areas) and paper raffia tends to tear too easily.

~Raffia is available in matte and shiney (sometimes called pearlized) finishes.

~It is generally sold in 60 feet or 100 yard spools.

~My favorite source for raffia is Raffit Ribbons - the colors are to die for and the quality is top notch. That said it's not cheap but well worth the splurge.

~Paper Mart offers a much more reasonable option. The color range is more limited and the quality can be a little so-so at times but it does work just fine.

~I suggest that when you are first learning to use a flower loom don't use raffia that's expensive or vintage. In the beginning you might make a lot of mistakes so it's better to use something that's cheap.

~Vintage raffia is my favorite - I love the colors and textures. In the 60s and 70s raffia was sold in 24 yard skeins and marketed as a craft supply. It was sold under brand names such as Swistraw, Ribbon Straw, Hi-Straw and Strawtex.

~You can sometimes find vintage raffia by searching either Ebay or Esty. Or you might be lucky enough to run across some at your local flea market, antique mall or thrift store.

 

string, yarn and some wire

You can use lots of different materials on a flower loom. Yarn is probably the most popular. Here are a few of my experiments - I'm liking the string.

watch me teach martha how to make a flower

I was a guest on the Martha Stewart show last year. I had a lot of fun. And to answer any questions that must be running through your mind:  Martha was super nice to me and I have absolutly no "dirt" to report. Everyone who works for her was amazing and totally professional. Oh how I wish her hair and make up people could come to my house every morning. I have to say that the high point of my day was when Francesca and Sharkey (Martha's absolutly adorable french bulldogs) ran into my dressing room and started licking my legs.

You can view the segment here - wait a couple of seconds and an arrow will appear on the image of the flowers - then click on "watch video".

a little vintage inspiration

When I purchase vintage craft supplies from places like Ebay or Etsy I sometimes get a few "extras" in the package. Many sellers will also throw in some of the craft projects that the original owners of the craft supplies made.

A few flowers made using flower looms have come my way. In bit and pieces I collected enough to assemble on this board that I keep near my worktable.  I just love that they have survived and that I can see firsthand all the different ways that they can be made.

And here's a close up shot. Feel free to print this out so you can have a little vintage inspiration close at hand while you are making flowers. Please click here to download. For personal use only please!