I remember when I was a kid, my mother had the prettiest flower arrangement in the living room that I was never allowed to touch. It was made of brightly-colored, nylon fabric flowers that got their shape from super-thin wire. They were delicate and intricate and arranged beautifully in a vase.
The memory of that flower arrangement came flooding back to me last week when I spotted a book called The Art of Handmade Flowers: Step-By-Step Instructions for Over 70 Beautiful Nylon Creations.
This easy-to-learn craft uses simple tools and inexpensive materials, combined with interesting techniques, to achieve stunning results. With the new colors and materials available these days, the possibilities are endless!
The basic materials needed are various wires, floral tape, nylon stocking material, and nylon thread. Some of the advanced techniques require acrylic paint, batting, and glue. Because nylon flower making is just being reintroduced in the U.S., supplies can be hard to find in local craft stores, but for an online solution, check out NewSheer.com, which stocks everything you’ll need.
Because the flowers are made from regular nylon that’s just like what your everyday stockings / pantyhose are made of, you can even use old or torn stockings to make these flowers. Boring brown probably won’t make very pretty flowers, but keep an eye out for colors like white, pink, or black, and if they get a run in them, don’t trash them just yet!
The book The Art of Handmade Flowers
- make a wire loop
- wrap wire loop with nylon
- shape loops into petals or leaves
- attach flower and leaves to step
- arrange flowers and leaves
From there, the book takes you through tons of examples of various flowers, and shows you the steps required to make each one. Filled with colorful photographs, the book is an inspiration to flip through. Here are some of my favorite flowers from the book. Aren’t they just gorgeous?
16 comments so far:
nice work
I want to buy your book, can you write to me at my email id where I can purchase it.
Maria
Hi Maria. This book can be purchased at Amazon.
Thank you for the amazon tip
they are very beautiful
Can you please tell me where i can buy these colorfull stocking in US?[I am new to this place, living in atlanta]
Hi Ann, welcome to our site and to the US! I have not seen the nylon flower supplies in any local craft stores, but they carry a huge variety at NewSheer.com, so check them out.
Hi,
I want to buy these nylon loops from a local store in atlanta(because i want to buy very few as i am trying out for the firrst time, otherise the shipping cost more than the materials ] and when i went in search of it, i found these nylon loops(similar ones, as hobby lobby doesnt have any online sample) in hobby lobby,
Can you please tell me whether it is the same one? Because it looks small to me.
Thanks in advance
Please use the link below
http://www.craftsetc.com/store/item.aspx?dep=50&cat=2&subcat=8&IsOnSale=0&IsFeatured=0&IsNew=0&ItemId=48970
Hi Anna. I have never worked with those nylon loops, so I don’t know if they will work or not. They seem pretty inexpensive though, so you could give them a try and see? Let me know what you find out.
hello mam,
all the Flower you have made is very nice. Even i am interested in trying these . But i don,t know where will i get the Nylon Fabric. I am from India(Bangalore), If you have any idea guiode me through
Hi Chinmay. You can find the nylon and other supplies to make these flowers at NewSheer.com.
Hi Chica,i am from N.Ireland, love these flowers but can not get the nylon,if i buy from newsheer.com,it costs me a fortune to get it shipped over,any sugestions.Thanks, sal
Sorry Sal, but I haven’t seen this type of nylon for sale anywhere else
Any chance you could find some colorful nylon stockings at the store that you could cut apart and use?
love your flowers would love to make some
hi am trying to start makeing nylon flowers l have look online to buy the nylon but dont seem to be able to buy only on newsheer but delivery cost is hi so could you tell me if there is anywere in nottingham
Sorry, Ruth, but I’m not aware of any other sources. Try searching online to see what you can find!