DIY Flower Belt/Crown

I’ve been doing my Christmas shopping and on a kids’ clothing website I came across a flower belt that I knew Annie would flip for. Unfortunately, when I went to buy it, it was sold out. I really, really wanted it, and after checking every day for two weeks for the item to come back in stock (it didn’t) I finally decided to just make it for her. Once I figured out how to make the flowers, it was very easy to put the whole thing together!

To make one, you need:

Twill tape
Fabric (this is a 100% cotton quilter’s bundle I picked up at Jo-Ann)
Thread
Needle
Measuring tape
Scissors
Fabric-marking pencil

Cut your twill tape. Since this is for Annie, I cut it at 36 inches. She’s a 4T and that was the perfect length for her (you want to be able to tie it in a bow around the child’s waist), but depending on who the belt/crown is for, you will want to adjust.

Next, you need to cut your fabric strips. My quilter’s bundle of fabric came with five coordinating colors. I wanted my flowers to have different colors, although I think one solid color would look really great, too. To make each flower, you’ll need three strips of fabric. The strip that will make the bottom of the flower should be about 20 inches long and 2 inches wide, the middle layer should be about 16 inches long by 1.5 inches wide, and the top layer should be about 10 inches long by 1 inch wide. I say “about” because it doesn’t have to be terribly precise. The threads of the fabric will fray a bit, it’s all part of the look.

Sew along one edge of your first fabric strip. The stitches should be big.

Once you reach the end of your strip, pull the thread so the fabric curls and bunches up.

Pull the thread tight, and then tie it off so it doesn’t unravel.

Your fabric should be curling on itself, so shaping it into a rosette will be easy! Once it’s the shape and size you like, sew a few stitches to keep the flower in shape.

Make more rosettes with all your fabric strips – you should have nine total, three of each size. See how nicely they fit within each other?

Once you’ve fit each flower in place, sew them together.

Spread out your twill tape and place your flowers on it, figuring out where you want them to go. I wanted my flowers to overlap a bit.

Sew each flower onto the twill, making sure to really tack them down securely.

So pretty!

Annabel could not WAIT to put the belt on. “Mommy, I am a flower princess!”

OMG I can’t even. She is ridiculous.