DIY: Flower crowns with Natasha

My friend Natasha Price, aka Alaska Knit Nat, is a master flower-crown maker. At my writing workshop over the summer on Yukon Island, she taught us all how to make them and it was a blast. Here we are:

Flower crown making.
Flower crown making.
IMG_2033
Here’s mine. (Note use of sea urchin :))

Since it’s costume season, she was generous enough to share her tutorial.

DIY FLOWER CROWNS

Screen Shot 2015-10-13 at 12.33.31 PM

Materials:

Directions:

Measure your wire around your head and cut the wire with four inches extra length.

Screen Shot 2015-10-13 at 12.33.49 PM

Tear off pieces of floral tape about six inches long. You’ll need several, but I usually tear off five at a time.

Screen Shot 2015-10-13 at 12.34.24 PM

Prepare your flowers and greens by leaving two inches of stem remaining. Trim away any excess leaves or buds.Screen Shot 2015-10-13 at 12.35.04 PM

Starting at the middle of the crown, lay a green against the wire and tightly wrap the tape around it, working your way down the stem. (If you want a full flower crown, start about three inches from one end and work your way toward the other end.) Add a new flower to the wire and position it to cover the first wrapped stem. Tightly wrap this stem with the floral tape. (See time-lapse video at the top of this post.)

Work your way down the wire, positioning the flowers and greens in a herringbone fashion. I usually wrap a green tilting toward the left, then a flower tilting toward the right, a flower tilting toward the left and a green tilting toward the right.

Use your best judgment to nestle greens and flowers together. Pay attention to the natural curve of each flower and place them so they are featured in a pleasing way.

When you have about three inches remaining on the wire, stop adding more flowers. Wrap the ends of the wire around each other so it fits your head well.

Screen Shot 2015-10-13 at 12.38.06 PM

Store in the fridge whenever you’re not wearing it. It should last for a few days.

Screen Shot 2015-10-13 at 12.38.21 PM

Natasha Price, aka Alaska Knit Nat, originally posted this tutorial on her blog, where she has loads of other great crafty step-by-steps.