Sally Gulbrandsen Feltmaker: Her tutorials & techniques are as individual as she is — unique, experimental and always interesting.

Xmas With a Poinsettia

Some Fun Facts about The Christmas 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.

Close up Detail on the Poinsettia

Things You Will Need for This Tutorial

• 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

Close up Image of the Wet Felted Poinsettia

Step 1—Make the 2 Green Leaves

• 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.

Making the 2 Green Leaves

Cover the Wire with the Green Roving

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

Covering the Wire Frames with Green Wool Roving

Maintain a Slight Ragged Look

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

Wire Leaves Covered in Wool Roving

Fill the Frame

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

Fill in the Center of the Wire Frame with Wool Roving

Both Leaves Covered in Green Roving

Wet the Leaves with Hot Soapy Water

Cover the Leaves with Bubble Wrap, Wet and Rub

Neaten the Edges of the Leaves

Neatened Edges

Cover with Bubble Wrap and Wet the Surface

Leaves Fully Felted

Completely Felted Leaves

Step 2—Draw the Flower Template

• 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.

Draw the 3D Petal Templates

3 Templates Sketched in 3 Sizes

Step 3—Make the Flower

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

The Template Sketched in Mohair Knitting Wool

Put the Templates Under a Piece of Bubble Wrap

• 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.

Use a Continuous Length of Wet Soapy Mohair Yarn

Draw the Outline of the Flower Using the Mohair Yarn

One of the Outlines Sketched in Wet Mohair Yarn

Fill the Petal Using the Red Merino Roving

Petals Filled with Merino Wool Roving

Add Veins Using the Mohair Yarn

Wet the Fibres with Hot Soapy Water

Cover the Wet Petals with Bubble Wrap

Rub the Wet Surface with Your Fingers

Remove the Bubble Wrap

Neaten the Edges

Cover the Flower with Bubble Wrap and Rub

Roll Petals Inside the Bamboo Blind

1 Completed Layer

Hint

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

3 Petals Completed

Step 4—Make the Flower Centre

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

Knot a Thin Piece of Yellow Roving

Wet the Knot

Roll the Balls

Rinse the Balls in Hot and Then Cold Water

Step 5—Assemble the Flower

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

Threading the Wire

• 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.

Threading the Wire

The Assembled Components

Push the Wires Through the Top Layer

2nd Layer of Petals Added

3rd Layer of Petals & Leaves Being Assembled

Twist the Green Wire Around the Center Wires

Cover the Wire in Green Roving

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

Cup the Petals & Shape The Flowerr

Xmas Flower / The Completed Poinsettia

Future FeltingTutorials!

Felting with an Electric Sander

© 2016 Sally Gulbrandsen

Comments

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on January 28, 2017:

BODYLEVIVE

Good to hear that you found this Tutorial useful and helpful. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

BODYLEVIVE from Alabama, USA on January 28, 2017:

Great job, easy to follow directions. I love Poinsettia, just can't keep them long after Christmas!

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on November 18, 2016:

Suzi HQ

It is great to see you back gracing on one of my pages. I hope you are well! I am delighted that you like this Tutorial and that you feel that you have missed something. Thank you for stopping by to comment. It is appreciated.

Suzanne Ridgeway from Dublin, Ireland on November 18, 2016:

Hi Sally wow, how fascinating! What I have missed from you, apologies my friend. I had no idea this is how the felting is achieved, how clear and easy you make it with instructions and photos. I love poinsettia thanks so much and congrats on a fab hub!

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on November 16, 2016:

I appreciate your stopping by to Comment Devika and I am glad you liked this one. Hope you are having a terrific day.

Devika Primić from Dubrovnik, Croatia on November 16, 2016:

You thought of everything in detail and an interesting way to have this creative idea for Christmas. I like it!

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on November 12, 2016:

AliciaC

I think it is a project which most people could complete:) So glad you found the Tutorial simple to understand. Your feedback is valued and appreciated, thank you.

Linda Crampton from British Columbia, Canada on November 11, 2016:

The poinsettia is beautiful, Sally. What a lovely flower to make for Christmas. Thanks for sharing the instructions and your technique. I think this is a project that I could complete.

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on November 09, 2016:

FlourishAnyway,

That was good of you. I like your suggestions, thank you so much.

FlourishAnyway from USA on November 09, 2016:

I'm back to vote. I can imagine flowers that adorn holiday candelabra or are used for holiday place settings (napkin holders).

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on November 09, 2016:

MsDora

Nice, that gives me something to go on for a future tutorial. Glad that you liked the Poinsettia. Have a terrific week MsDora.

Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on November 09, 2016:

Sally, I voted for scarves but so far I've loved everything I've seen. I love the poinsettia and I love your version of it. Great unique decoration for the Christmas tree.

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on November 08, 2016:

Blond Logic

I loved making this flower. There is something so satisfying about making something so pretty with just a few fibres and a little hot soapy water. I appreciate your stopping by to comment. Thank you so much.

Mary Wickison from Brazil on November 08, 2016:

Excellent tutorial and the perfect one for the upcoming holiday season.

Mary Wickison from Brazil on November 08, 2016:

Excellent tutorial and the perfect one for the upcoming holiday season.

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on November 08, 2016:

SakinaNasir53

It is a pleasure to have you come and visit one of my pages. So glad you enjoyed the Tutorial. Thank you so much.

Sakina Nasir from Kuwait on November 08, 2016:

Beautiful hub! Loved your tutorial. Very well explained. Great job Sally. I would love to try this out. Looks so creative! ☺

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on November 08, 2016:

purl3agony

Great to see you back Donna. Glad that you liked this one and just in time for the Xmas Hols as you say. Have a great week.

Donna Herron from USA on November 08, 2016:

Hi Sally - Love this new project and it's perfect for the upcoming holidays! So beautiful and your photos make this tutorial so easy to follow. Thanks for sharing another great project!

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on November 08, 2016:

Thank you very much Billy, a happy Tuesday to you too today.

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on November 08, 2016:

Passing this along to the crafty ones in my family, Sally, and saying, as I always do, a job well done, my friend.

Happy Tuesday to you!

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on November 07, 2016:

FlourishAnyway

Thanks for the thumbs up and the great comment. I have altered the paragraph. Not sure why this sometimes happens and as for the poll, I did not tick the box to close it so it should now be open again:)

FlourishAnyway from USA on November 07, 2016:

How beautiful and festive! I would've voted in the poll but it's closed for voting. Also, one paragraph (starts with "In warm climates" was duplicated). I could imagine this on stockings, hairpieces, and all kinds of things. Well done.