Tuesday 17 September 2013

1940's Fabulous Felt Flowers!

Warning!  This is yet another post dedicated almost entirely to those pretty little petals of felt that make me giddy just thinking about them! :o)

I have been desperate to write this post and have been willing my hands to snip and stitch faster and wishing that boring things like cleaning and ironing didn’t get in the way!!  You see, I have bought a rather wonderful new pattern booklet.  Just take a look!


Doesn’t look much, right? But trust me when I say that it really, really, really is!!  This pattern, this coveted and much sought after pattern, was featured in one of my Needlework Illustrated magazines.  I had been trying to track it down for a long time but had never found it; until now!!!

At the Rufford 1940’s event, I was talking to a fellow trader, (the reader of my blog that I mentioned in my last post) and we were discussing felt flower patterns.  It turned out that her husband had an Etsy shop and for sale in said shop, along with an amazing collection of patterns, was the very Dryad leaflet!!  Small world, don’t you think??

Anyway, I bought the PDF pattern and as soon as it arrived, I set to work!  It’s a slow process though as the corsages are very time consuming and, let’s be realistic, home life doesn’t just stop because I have a new pattern!

There are 12 patterns in the booklet but they aren’t all to my taste so I started on those that appealed the most.

First up, a neat little bunch of “gay golden marigolds”, all in autumnal shades which, given the change in the weather, is rather fitting.


Next we have a rather large pair of chrysanthemums.  The original pattern called for all white flowers and middles, but the white felt wasn’t holding its shape very well so I used some original 1940’s felt instead.  This one is destined to adorn my winter coat!


A favourite of mine is the rather spring like bunch of little daisies.  These were tricky little blighters to do as there are 10 in the bunch and it was hard to show each one off.  It was also hard to find 5 colours that went well together and I certainly wasn’t convinced by the original suggestion of scarlet, golden yellow, primrose, royal blue and white!


The poppies are, quite simply, divine.  They were a joy to make and have already proved popular.


Next, some more red flowers, this time in the form of some larger daisies.  I stuck to the pattern this time and used the colours they suggested.


The penultimate bunch is a rather neat little trio of rosebuds. 

And finally, my absolute favourite, if somewhat large, the amazing bunch of anemones! 


And if you haven’t had enough already, here is one last snap, all 7 pretty posies clustered together!


Aren’t they pretty?!  Unlike so many of the corsage patterns from the 1940’s, the instructions in the Dryad leaflet are actually clear, and the pattern pieces neatly worked out and easy, if rather time consuming, to assemble. 

If any of you crafting lovelies want to give these felt fancies a go, you will find the leaflet here, on LittleJohn2003's Etsy shop.  The service they provide is A1!!  The pattern has been digitally enhanced and is as clean and crisp as the day it was made.  Great time and effort has been put in by the seller to ensure that the pattern is in tip top condition and I received my pattern within an hour of placing the order (if you are overseas, please allow additional time due to time zone differences). 

If you don’t craft, but would still like to own such a pretty piece, then please head over to my Etsy shop, here, where you can place an order :o)

22 comments:

  1. WoW! They are wonderful - I have that little book too, which I picked up at a bootfair!
    Julie xxxxxxxxx

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    1. Thank you Julie xxx what a lucky boot sale find :-)

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  2. Ooh, they are lovely! I think the poppies are definitely my favourite. I might get round to making some of these one day :)

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    1. Thank you Ginny. Well worth giving them a go :-)

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  3. I love to make these myself aswell! I did a post about it, too (http://misslindsaylane.blogspot.nl/2011/11/felt-wartime-jewellery.html)

    But yours are to die for!

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    1. I just took a look on your post! Yours are beautiful and your cardigan is amazing!!!

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  4. Ooh, they look lovely altogether don’t they?! I also have the original of this booklet in a bound book- I picked it up cheaply about 6 years ago. I loved making the anemones and marigolds, but haven’t made the poppies yet- think I’ll have to get out the felt again! :)

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    1. Ooh, I saw that book online, fleabay I think, and it was ridiculously expensive! I shall keep hunting though. I loved making the anemones too, they are just too pretty! Definitely get that felt out again, would love to see what you make xx

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    1. Thank you, and thank you for your order :-) x

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  6. I neeeeeeeeeeeeeeed those poppies in my LIFE!!!!

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  7. These are beautiful and would make gorgeous Christmas presents - I've popped over and bought the leaflet which gives me the perfect excuse to go out and buy some lovely felt! Thank you x Jane

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  8. Your corsages are beautiful, I had to pop over to your Etsy shop and buy those poppies!

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  9. I've by chance recently discovered your lovely blog, your makes are really gorgeous. The poppy corsage is beautiful and perfect to wear for Armistice Day.

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  10. Oh Lucy- they really are special! And thanks for linking the leaflet- I've been looking for a set of felt flower instructions!

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  11. Really lovely as are all your brooches :) x

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  12. Oh wow, gorgeous! Hard to pick a favourite but I think I like the poppies, anemones and marigolds best. I bet these are selling like hot cakes!
    x

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  13. Wow these are amazing! It's difficult to know which ones to pick as a favourite! I think the roses are beautiful though, all of them are a great present. You know these are definitely going to last longer then 7 days! XxxX http://thesecondhandrose.blogspot.co.uk

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  14. Golly all of your brooches are so beautiful! I am so in l love with my poppies brooch, its so perfect and beautifully made, can't wait to put it on my jacket its are going to look amazing!! xx

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  15. I think I've told you before ,but I find your work delightful and clever hesta

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  16. Your brooches are amazing !!! Such of work !!! Bravo !!

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