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How to Wet Felt a Poinsettia Flower for Xmas

Sally Gulbrandsen's tutorials and techniques are as individual as she is: unique, experimental, and always interesting.

Christmas would not be Christmas without a poinsettia.

Christmas would not be Christmas without a poinsettia.

Felted Poinsettia

No flower says 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 potted poinsettia plants are sold at Christmas than any other potted plant. 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 felt poinsettia

Close-up detail on the felt poinsettia

Things You Will Need for This Tutorial

  • A Poinsettia Template (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 of a wet-felted poinsettia.

Close-up of a wet-felted poinsettia.

Step 1: Make the Two Green Leaves

Cut the Wire

  • 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

Making the 2 green leaves

Cover the Wire With the Green Roving

Cover the Wire with thin strips of roving as shown.

Cover the metal leaf frames with thin strips of wool roving

Cover the metal leaf frames with thin strips of 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.

Wires covered in wool roving

Wires 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.
Filling the center of the leaves with green wool roving.

Filling the center of the leaves with green wool roving.

Both leaves filled with wool roving.

Both leaves filled with wool roving.

Wet the Leaves with Hot Soapy Water

Wet the leaves with hot soapy water

Wet the leaves with hot soapy water

Cover the Leaves With Bubble Wrap, Wet and Rub

Wet the surface of the bubble wrap for easier rubbing.

Wet the surface of the bubble wrap for easier rubbing.

Neaten the Edges of the Leaves

Neaten the edges by folding them over the wire and then put back under the bubblewrap

Neaten the edges by folding them over the wire and then put back under the bubblewrap

The edges have now been neatened.

The edges have now been neatened.

Cover With Bubble Wrap and Wet the Surface

Cover with bubble wrap and wet to make the surface slippery and easy to rub on.

Cover with bubble wrap and wet to make the surface slippery and easy to rub on.

Fiber has been fully felted

Fiber has been fully felted

Leaves completed and awaiting a rinse in hot and then cold water.

Leaves completed and awaiting a rinse in hot and then cold water.

Draw Three Sizes of the 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 3 Templates in graded sizes.

Draw 3 Templates in graded sizes.

Draw 3 matching templates in 3 different sizes.

Draw 3 matching templates in 3 different sizes.

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.

The largest template with some contrasting mohair knitting yarn used for making the veins of the leaves.

The largest template with some contrasting mohair knitting yarn used for making the veins of the leaves.

Trace the Flower With Wool

Begin tracing the flower using a continuous length of the wet mohair wool and the image below the bubble wrap as your guide.

Wet a continuous length of mohair yarn.

Wet a continuous length of mohair yarn.

Cover the outline of the flower with the mohair yarn.

Cover the outline of the flower with the mohair yarn.

A completed template traced in Mohair Yarn

A completed template traced in Mohair Yarn

Fill the Petal Using the Red Merino Roving

Lightly fill the petals with a fine even layer of Merino wool roving.

Lightly fill the petals with a fine even layer of Merino wool roving.

Fill the Petals with Merino wool roving.

Fill the Petals with Merino wool roving.

Add Veins Using the Mohair Yarn

Creating veins on the petals with Mohair Yarn

Creating veins on the petals with Mohair Yarn

Wet the Fibres With Hot Soapy Water

Wet the petals with hot soapy water.

Wet the petals with hot soapy water.

Cover the Wet Petals With Bubble Wrap

Cover the Petals with Bubble Wrap

Cover the Petals with Bubble Wrap

Rub the Wet Surface With Your Fingers

Wet the surface of the bubble wrap and rub gently.

Wet the surface of the bubble wrap and rub gently.

Remove the Bubble Wrap

Remove the bubble wrap and neaten the edges.

Remove the bubble wrap and neaten the edges.

Neaten the Edges

Neaten the edges with your fingers.

Neaten the edges with your fingers.

Cover the Flower With Bubble Wrap and Rub

Cover with Bubble Wrap, Wet with soapy water and rub well.

Cover with Bubble Wrap, Wet with soapy water and rub well.

Roll Petals Inside the Bamboo Blind

Roll petals inside a bamboo mat, with or without the bubble wrap.

Roll petals inside a bamboo mat, with or without the bubble wrap.

A completed layer.

A completed layer.

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

3 Layers of Petals which were graded in size.

3 Layers of Petals which were graded in size.

Make the Felt Balls

  • 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

Knot a small piece of yellow roving.

Knot a small piece of yellow roving.

Wet the Knot

Wet the knot and wrap the rest of the roving around the knot to form a tiny ball.

Wet the knot and wrap the rest of the roving around the knot to form a tiny ball.

Roll the Balls

Roll the Balls until they are firmly felted.

Roll the Balls until they are firmly felted.

Rinse the Balls in Hot and Then Cold Water

Rinse all the items in Hot and Cold Water and then 'Full' by throwing the against the kitchen sink. Iron the Red Petals Flat.

Rinse all the items in Hot and Cold Water and then 'Full' by throwing the against the kitchen sink. Iron the Red Petals Flat.

Rinse, Press and Assemble

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

Thread 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.
Thread a needle with the wire and sew through a length of wire, fold in half.

Thread a needle with the wire and sew through a length of wire, fold in half.

The Petals, leaves and Center Pieces of the Poinsettia.

The Petals, leaves and Center Pieces of the Poinsettia.

Push the Wires Through the Top Layer

Push the wires through the Top Layer as shown

Push the wires through the Top Layer as shown

Second Layer of Petals

Second Layer of Petals

All the layers plus the 2 leaves being assembled.

All the layers plus the 2 leaves being assembled.

Twist the Green Wire Around the Center Wires

The rear of the Poinsettia.

The rear of the Poinsettia.

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 and Shape the Flower

Cup the petals in your palm and then gently shape them into a pleasing shape.

Cup the petals in your palm and then gently shape them into a pleasing shape.

Xmas flower display with the completed poinsettia.

Xmas flower display with the completed poinsettia.

© 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 USA on November 08, 2016:

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

Mary Wickison from USA 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.

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