Country Craft {D.I.Y Tutorial} Plaited fabric vase...

 

So, I know you've all been busy stitching and embroidering the felt flowers which I showed you how to make recently.

Well, I now have a tutorial on how to make a lovely fabric vase to put them in and make a cute display.

 

 You will need:-

Cotton fabric offcuts- I just used some fat quarters I had lying around. You can use similar fabric, the same fabric or even contrasting fabric

Tape measure

Scissors

Matching thread

Pins and needle

A jar (if you are going to put real flowers in), or florists foam blocks

 

How-to

These directions are for making a pretty fabric pot about the same size as shown in the photos. It measures about 5 inches in height. You can use more or less fabric depending on the size and width of the pot you woud like to make.

1. Tear or cut strips of fabric, each strip 3 cm wide (1.2 inches) and 56 cm (22 inches) in length- about the width of a fat quarter. You can use longer strips of fabric, which would make things easier, but I'm working with fat quarters. To make the same sized pot as I have, you will need about 18 strips altogether.

2. Take 6 strips and attach them together using running stitch, to make one long length, measuring 167 cm long or about 66 inches.

Repeat with another 6 strips and again with the final 6 strips. So you now have 3 strips of fabric, about 167cm long.

3. Next, take the 3 strips and, right sides face up, place one on top of the other. Around 2 cm from one end, join the strips together by working a running stitch along the top.

4. Use a safety pin to attached the stitched end to a sofa arm (I just used sticky tape and attached the stitched end to the table). This holds one end in place whislt you plait. Plait the strips together working from the stitched end down. Make sure you keep the plaits tight and neat. You don't want them too loose as the vase will have no strength in the walls.

Here's a quick reminder on how to plait...

 

 5. When you reach the end, pin to hold the plaits in place and work a running stitch 2 cm from the end, through all the thicknesses like you did at the other end. Remove the safety pin. You now have one long plaited strip of fabric.

6. Take one end of the plait and curl it around on itself to create the centre of the base. Pin in place then continue coiling the plait and pin again. Slip stitch carefully to keep the coils of teh plait in place and remove the pins. Continue coiling, pinning and slip stitching and unpinning until the base is the size you require. My base was about 8 cm (3 inches) in width.

 

7. Once the base is the size you require, coil, pin and slip stitch the work up and awy from teh base to make the sides. If you are using it as a cover for a jar, it's handy to work around the jar.

8. When the sides have reached your required height, turn the raw edge of the plait to the inside of the vase cover and slip stitch to secure.

9. Insert glass jar (if you haven't already) or if you are using florist foam block insert it to the bottom of the plaited jar. Insert your embroidered felt flowers into the foam, or for real flowers, fill the glass jar with water and voila!

You can make these plaited jars as big or as small as you like. It's a great way to use up those scraps you have lying around.


As usual, would love to see what you came up with. Any questions etc, please leve a comment and I'll try and help as best I can.

 

-Bronwyn...

 

           

Comments

[Says Wieke van Keulen]

Beautyful. Thank you for sharing. What a nice blog you have!