How to Wet Felt a Poinsettia Flower

No flowers say Christmas quite like the Poinsettia but did you know that the Poinsettia's main attraction is not the flower but its leaves. The yellow parts of the Poinsettia are really the flower buds. The red Poinsettia is the most popular colour followed by the pink and white

More Poinsettia pot plants are sold than any other pot plant at Christmas. Around 34 million are sold every year. In warm climates such as South Africa and Mexico, they grow into small trees. The Poinsettia exudes a milky substance which many believe to be poisonous but they are not. If eaten they are likely to cause stomach discomfort and irritation.

• A Poinsettia Template as is shown below
• Green Merino Wool Roving
• Yellow Merino Wool Roving for the centre of the Poinsettia
• Red Merino Wool Roving for the Petals. Merino Wool Roving is the perfect choice for this Poinsettia. It felts easily and holds its shape very well. It comes in a variety of colours and can be purchased in small or large quantities.
• Contrasting Red Mohair Wool for the veins on the Petals
• Red Silk Fibres which can be used for Embellishment
• Bubble Wrap
• A Bamboo Blind
• Thin Wire which can be used for the Petal Frame and to attach the yellow 'flowers' with
• Hot Soapy Water

• Cut a length of thin wire and fold it in half and twist the wire together as shown below.
• The size you cut the wire should be determined by the size you would like the leaves to end up.

• Cover the Wire with thin strips of roving as shown.

• Maintain a slight ragged edge to make the leaves look a little more natural when they are completed.

• Add a thin layer of Wool Roving to the Frame.
• A thick layer will make the leaves look clumsy.

• Draw the Template using three different sheets of paper.
• Start with the largest Template and grade them downwards in size so that the finished article will have a 3D look.

• Begin tracing the Flower using the wet Mohair Wool and the image below the Bubblewrap as your guide.

• If you put the paper template under the bubble wrap you will see through it sufficiently to follow the lines below. This will keep the template dry.

• Keep on rotating the flower as you roll so that the petal shrinks the same amount in all directions.

• Begin by making the felt balls.
• They should be fairly small to reflect the actual size of those on a real Poinsettia.

• Rinse the items in hot and cold water.
• Press the Petals
• Begin assembling the pieces as shown below.

• Use a sharp needle with a large hole to thread the wire through
• Push the needle into the ball and then fold the wire in half as shown below.

• Complete the stem by wrapping a thin strip around all of the wires.
• Rub them with hot soapy water to complete the felting process.