We’ve all got buckets of scraps floating around our sewing rooms and stations, so here’s a great way to use them up. These adorable and versatile rose bouquets are made from 12wt thread on a serger, and they’re so simple and fast to whip up you can easily turn them into gift toppers, kids’ toys, or cute little decorations.
Before we begin, you will need 6 to 12 scraps of fabric depending on how big of a bouquet you want to make.
These scraps should be trimmed to a length of about 8” by 5”.
These scraps of fabric will be the stems of your roses so we’re going choose green fabric for ours. You can use any colour you’d like to make a beautiful multicoloured bouquet that suits the occasion, season, or make it in your favorite colours!
Fold and press one long edge of a scrap over about a half inch. Do this for each of your scrap pieces.
Apart from your serger, the only other thing you’ll need is some 12wt thread, and we have the perfect recommendation for threads! We’re choosing these two 12wt threads called Accent™ and GlaMore™. Accent™ is a 100% rayon that carries a glossy lustre that looks amazing as lace and is also really soft and flexible to the touch.
You can find Accent™ threads at a shop near you, or online here: https://shopwonderfil.com/product-category/accent/
With contrasting strands of rayon woven with one strand of metallic, this stunning thread called GlaMore™ will add the wow-factor wherever it’s stitched into. GlaMore™ will give your lace rose just the right amount of shimmer and shine without being too glitzy! You’ll want to use the heavier 12wt thread because it will fill in the gaps better than a thinner thread will.
You can find GlaMore™ threads at a shop near you, or online here: https://shopwonderfil.com/product-category/glamore/
To begin, set up your serger for a 3 thread wide overlock stitch and thread your serger. Every serger is different, so make sure you check your machine’s instruction guide on how to thread it properly. In this instance, I’ll be using one cone of GlaMore™ on the lower looper, and two cones of Accent™ in both upper loopers.
We’re recommend that you use your left needle for this project and make your cutting width as wide as you possibly can.
Take one of your scrap fabric pieces and position the folded edge along the stitch line. Turn the hand wheel to form a few chains and then begin sewing along the edge until you reach the end.
You can keep sewing to add a little tail, then place your next fabric piece and continue serging that one too. Do this until all your fabric pieces have their first row of serging on them.
Cut to separate your scraps from each other. When you’re ready to begin the second row, locate the mark of your right needle position. You can use this mark as a guide to position the edge of the fabric.
Stitch again down each edge following this mark until all of the fabric pieces have their second row of serging.
Do this again a third time so each piece has three rows of serging. Sew carefully as if you sew off your path and miss the previous row of stitching, you’ll end up with a hole in your rose.
Now for the fourth row of stitching, it’s a good idea to shorten your stitch length from 3 to 2 and do two more rows of stitching. This will start to give your lace a rippled look to create a more realistic rose.
Serge along the edges again, making sure to catch the previous chains of serging as you go along.
After that, we’re going to once again decrease the stitch length from 2 to 1, and do two more rows of stitching until the edge gets a rippled look.
Trim the serged edges of your pieces so there aren’t any stray threads coming off. Now tightly roll the fabric from one end to the other. You’ll see your rose slowly coming together.
Fold the fabric in half on itself again and hold it tight with some wonder clips or pins.
In your sewing machine, load the top and bottom thread with a regular sewing thread. We recommend using DecoBob™, a very fine 80wt cottonized polyester that will blend into the fabric so it won’t show up as much.
You can find DecoBob™ threads at a shop near you, or in our online shop here: https://shopwonderfil.com/product-category/decobob/
Sew a line of stitching through the center of the stem. Don’t forget to back tack at the beginning and end of your stitch to secure everything and ensure it won’t unravel in the future.
Do the same to your other pieces. All together you’ll have created a beautiful bouquet.
If you’d like a couple of ideas on other ways to incorporate this beautiful craft into other DIY’s we’ve hunted down a couple of fun ideas for you to use this craft with!
You can use this super cute and free headband pattern and secure the serger lace rose onto it. The bow would make the perfect leaf shape for your rose to sit on top of! https://www.coralandco.com/blog/2015/12/knot-bow-headband-pattern-and-tutorial-easy-diy-headband-for-baby-and-toddler-2.html
You can also make a smaller serger lace rose and create a beautiful little fabric brooch to wear while we wait for spring to roll around here at WonderFil headquarters. http://lc.pandahall.com/articles/1184-diy-a-nice-pair-of-fabric-and-felt-flower-brooches-with-beads-and-buttons.html
And this is just the beginning of ways that you can use these flowers! You can use them as a decoration in your sewing room, as gift toppers, make them into a door wreath and much much, more!
If you’re going to make this beautiful little craft for yourself, be sure to tag us on social media using the hashtag #wonderfil so that we can share it! You can find these threads and more in a shop near you, or on our online shop by visiting www.shopwonderfil.com. You can also sign up for our free newsletter to receive more educational sewing tips, tutorials, and free patterns. Register by clicking here! We’ll see you again next time!