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Make It: Quilted Flowers

How to Make Flowers Using a Vintage Flower Loom

September 18th, 2008 in other crafts, patterns & designs

cathy callahan, contributor

3 users recommend

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

Fluffed flower!

Photo: Cathy Callahan

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I get lots of ideas for projects from vintage craft books and magazines. One day I ran across a copy of Swistraw and Flower Looms written in 1972 by LeJeune Whitney. As I looked at the pictures, I just fell in love with the flowers made on a small round loom using “Swistraw”—a brand name for a synthetic form of raffia.

Of course I just couldn’t wait to get started but soon found out that the supplies were no longer being produced. I then embarked on a mission to seek them out. One thing led to another, and I ended up with so many supplies I started assembling kits that I sell at craft fairs. So many people tell me that this craft brings up happy memories of their moms, grandmothers, or aunties making flowers on a loom.

For this how-to, I’m using the “Multi-Fleur” loom. It’s about 3-1/2 inches across and has two rows of pegs. The pegs are numbered 1–12 going counterclockwise. 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, synthetic raffia, ribbon, string, even wire. 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.

STEP 1
Starting with a 36-inch tail, secure the 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 one layer. Go completely around two to three times (i.e., two or three layers). Secure the end in the notch, leaving an 8-inch 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. One or two layers is good. This time you only need to leave 8-inch tails.

The second layer.

STEP 3 Backstitch
Using a long, sharp craft needle with a big eye, thread the 36-inch tail (from step one). Come up at space 11 and down through space 12, up space 1 and down space 12, up space 2 and down space 1, up space 3 and 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 backstitch.

Completed backstitch.

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 the loom over, secure by knotting the tails, and snip off the excess. Gently remove the flower from the 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!

SPECIAL OFFER:

I have few kits in my etsy shop. And just because I love all of you CraftStylish readers so much, I’m going to include one of my flower brooches when you purchase a kit now through September 30. Just convo me at the time of purchase.

UPDATE: WOW - I CAN'T BELIEVE IT - THE KITS ARE ALMOST SOLD OUT! A big thanks to all of the Craft Stylish readers who made a purchase from my shop. I will have more kits very soon, but it will take me a couple of weeks to gather everything together. I will still honor my offer and give a raincheck to anyone who would still like to purchase a kit. Please convo me through my etsy shop and I'll add your name to the "waiting list".

Or you might want to check with in your crafty mom, grandmother, or auntie—she just might let you borrow her loom!

You can see me make a flower here in this video tutorial.

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posted in: other crafts, patterns & designs, vintage, flower, loom, 70s, 60s

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Comments (8)

trishdarling writes: I love the Bloom Loom! I sometimes make flowers with it for my knit hats! Posted: 9:26 pm on September 22nd

BeadSpinner writes: What a fun and inspiring gadget! I could see using various fibers/yarns or colored wire with beads. The possibilities are endless. Thank you for sharing! Posted: 1:36 pm on September 20th

cathyofcalifornia writes: thanks everybody!

i had so much fun doing this post. am so thrilled that you all are wearing clips and brooches made with the looms. Posted: 12:13 pm on September 19th

LindaPermann writes: these are so cute. i love to make them with my yarn scraps.

and if anyone has a hard time finding a vintage one, most craft stores still sell these under the name of "bloom loom". Posted: 7:40 pm on September 18th

MichaelaMurphy writes: I am so pleased to have purchased a kit at Renegade San Fran last summer! BTW, Jen Worick and I are headed to the Puyallup State Fair and I am going to wear my hair flower-she'll be so jealous. Thanks for this awesome how to! Posted: 6:40 pm on September 18th

kaytet writes: i love these!
i was wearing my loomed flower hairpins yesterday! Posted: 5:31 pm on September 18th

susanstars writes: I love your loomed flowers, Cathy - I'm wearing one of the brooches you made right now! :) Posted: 4:05 pm on September 18th

vicky_north writes: These are so great Cathy. Everyone here in the office wants to try this now. We might just have to buy ourselves a kit and make some flowers. Posted: 3:56 pm on September 18th

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