How to Make Stunning Flowers from Yarn and Pencils | DIY Craft Tutorial

Materials Needed to Make Flowers from Yarn and Pencils

Making decorative flowers from yarn is an enjoyable craft that allows you to create gorgeous decor pieces to display in your home. The basic materials you'll need include yarn in your choice of colors, pencils or chopsticks, tape or glue, and scissors. Choosing the right materials is key to successfully creating stunning yarn flowers.

Yarn

Yarn is the main component for crafting handmade yarn flowers. You can use any type of yarn you prefer, including regular acrylic yarn, wool, or even chunky yarn for a fuller flower shape. The yarn colors are up to you too. Simple hues like red, yellow, pink or colorful variegated yarns will give lots of vibrant options for unique flowers.

Pencils or Chopsticks

You'll need something thin and cylindrical like a pencil, chopstick, or skewer to wrap the yarn around to form the flower shape. Standard yellow #2 pencils work perfectly. Chopsticks and skewers also craft well for this project. Wrap the yarn tightly around the base pencil or stick to help the yarn flower hold its shape.

Tape or Glue

Any standard tape like masking tape or scotch tape can be used to hold the yarn in place around pencil bases when shaping the flowers. You could also use craft glue, hot glue, or fabric glue if preferred for a more permanent hold.

Scissors

A pair of standard scissors will be needed for cutting lengths of yarns, trimming the ends of the yarn flowers, and other necessary snipping for the DIY yarn flower craft as you create various blooms.

How to Make Simple Yarn Roses

Making yarn wrapped flowers is an easy process that's fun for beginning crafters and kids. Let's look first at how to whip up pretty rose shapes from yarn and pencils or chopsticks.

Wrap Yarn Around Pencil Base

Start by taking your yarn and wrapping it around the pencil several times to form the base of the rose shape. Wrap near the tip of the pencil sticking out to craft the flower on one end rather than in the middle. Wrap the yarn tightly, keeping it smooth as you turn the pencil to cover it symmetrically.

Continue Building Up Layers

Once you have a snug yarn base, continue wrapping around the previous layers in the reverse direction to build up rose petal layers. Place the yarn smoothly and tightly together to shape the rose form. Use varying colors of yarn as you build up layers for a more realistic rose design if desired.

Shape the Rose Head

When your yarn rose is the size you want, begin wrapping the next layer of yarn more loosely so the petals flare out from the head, shaping into an open, fuller rose bloom. Trim any uneven petal edges gently with scissors into rounded petals.

Secure Yarn with Tape or Glue

Finish up your yarn rose by using pieces of tape or dabs of hot or fabric glue underneath to neatly secure the yarn layers in place to keep their form and help hold together the base of the bloom.

Crafting Yarn Carnations, Lilies, Sunflowers & More

While yarn roses may be the most popular shape, you can make all sorts of flower varieties with this craft. Follow the same basic wrapping concept while modifying lengths, density, colors and shaping for unique blooms.

Yarn Carnations

Carnations have layers of lightly ruffled petals. Use light, fluffy yarn wraps around the base leaving some gaps between the strands. Then cut the strands on an angle for a wispy, delicate carnation finish.

Yarn Lilies

Craft lilies by densely wrapping white or colored yarn around the base in long, narrow overlapping lengths. Curve some pieces out then in alternating directions for depth like curled lily petals.

Yarn Sunflowers

Sunny sunflowers are easy to craft too. Use yellow and brown yarn. Shape a round tight center with brown for the seeds then wrap a medium gauge yellow yarn in loosely puffy rows around like bold petals.

Extra Decoration Ideas for Yarn Flowers

Add Flower Centers

Glue a small bead, button or glitter pom pom to the center of your yarn blooms to accent like flower stamen centers. Varying the center decoration between flowers adds whimsical variety.

Attach Greenery

Cut leaf shapes from green colored felt or floral tape and attach them to flower stems with hot glue for added nature vibrancy. Try mixing leaf types and sizes for visual interest.

Add Shimmer

Brush the yarn lightly with clear glue then sprinkle the petals with fine glitter for a delicately sparkling flower detail. Metallic glitter offers a radiant shine.

Spritz With Perfume

Hydrate the yarn fibers and infuse natural fragrance by gently spritzing completed yarn flowers with water mixed with a few drops of essential oils like lavender, rose, vanilla or lemon.

Displaying Handmade Yarn Flowers

One of the best parts of dedicating time to making yarn flowers is seeing your handmade blooms on display. Here are some pretty home decor ideas to showcase your crafty floral work.

Bundle in Vases

Group collections of different yarn flowers in clear glass vases and jars around the home for quick and easy decor. Clustering the varieties makes charming statement arrangements.

Hang with Ribbon

Tie ribbons around flower stems then hang them with adhesive hooks on walls or embroidery hoops in bright bunches as floral art.

Adorn Wrapped Wreaths

Entwine and glue blooms into the center and around styrofoam or grapevine wreaths on walls and doors for custom wreath beauty all year long.

Top with Candles

Affix individual stem flowers with hot glue atop and around pillar candles for a pretty personalized candle feature when lit on side tables, mantels or dining tables.

The simplicity of yarn makes it a crafter's dream for creating stunning floral designs. Wrap bright spools around pencils and get creative shaping roses, carnations, daisies, tulips or any bloom your heart desires! Display in bundles, wreaths and more to enjoy their handmade charm.

FAQs

What type of yarn works best for making flowers?

Any type of yarn can be used including regular acrylic yarn, wool yarn, or chunky yarn. Go with what you have available in the colors you prefer.

Do I need any special tools or glue?

You mainly need yarn, pencils or chopsticks, tape or hot glue, and scissors. Basic craft supplies most people already have at home making this an accessible project.

How long does it take to make a yarn flower?

With some practice, you can shape a single yarn flower in 5-10 minutes. The more you make, the faster your technique gets allowing you to create a whole bouquet display arrangement in under an hour.

Can I shape other flowers besides roses?

Absolutely! Follow the same wrapping concept to form all sorts of blooms like carnations, lilies, sunflowers, daisies and more. Let your creativity run wild with different colors and shapes.