.:Tutorial Tuesday - Zipper Flowers:.

I've been seeing zipper flowers pop up all over, and figured it was high time I gave it a try! I love how funky and different these are!

What you need:

- zipper (you can find them at most craft/sewing stores, but even Wal-Mart has a decent selection. This zipper was from Wal-Mart for $1.50)

- needle and thread

- felt

- hot glue/gun

- clip

- ribbon

- bling! (optional)

You'll want to double up your thread on your needle for added security.

Start by making a straight stitch along the bottom of your zipper with the teeth up. You can vary the length between stitches to however ruffled you want it to look. I'd say mine was about 1/4-1/2".

I had also cut off the zipper as close as I could to the pull; I didn't choose to include mine for this flower, although I have seen some cute ones with the pull left on!

When you get to the end, start pulling on your thread to get it to curl around and ruffle. You can pull with your hands to adjust it how you want.

The zipper I used was only 9 inches long, so I stitched on the other side of the zipper to use the entire thing.

Stitch along the bottom of the second side and pull it around as well.

I then put in a few stitches in some hidden spots to secure it and tied it off.

Next I cut a circle of felt to glue the flower to before attaching it to the clip. I also dabbed a few drops of glue underneath parts of the rosette to secure it.

Add your bling and attach it to your clip!

Finished! Can you imagine how cute on a baby's headband? It's even great for YOU to wear!

My friend and I also gave this petaled kind a try. First you want to cut your zipper into smaller pieces - about three inches or so each. I did six petals.

Then you are going to stitch along the bottom of each petal. I used white thread on this black piece so that it would show up, but for my real petals I used black thread. Your first few stitches you want to be further apart, and then a few smaller stitches in the middle, and a few more longer stitches again at the end. (My stitches aren't perfect as you can see, but it doesn't matter!)

Pull your thread to pull the petal around. Attach the two ends with a few stitches.

Do this for all of your petals. I then used a smaller, colored zipper to make a rosette.

Next I hot glued my petals around the rosette. You could also stitch them on if you wanted.

Then I cut out a felt circle and hot glued the flower to it, and of course, added some bling!

Put it on a clip or a pin and you are ready to go!

Here are a few other flowers I've made so far.

What are you waiting for? Go buy some zippers and get started!