DIY Fabric Thistles: Upcycle Fabric into Beautiful Thistle Flowers

Discover a fun and creative way to make fabric thistles using linen or denim. Follow our detailed instructions to create these stunning DIY flowers.

Thistles are beautiful and distinctive flowers, often associated with Scotland. As someone with a Scottish family and a deep love for thistles, I’ve always found their unique appearance fascinating. This might explain why I’ve incorporated many tartan crafts into my blog.

This tutorial will show you how to create beautiful fabric thistles using upcycled materials like old jeans and linen. This project is perfect for adding a unique and sustainable touch to your home decor.

With a polystyrene egg as the base and fabric for the petals and leaves, these thistles are both eco-friendly and charming. This simple no-sew denim upcycle project makes it accessible for crafters of all levels.

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Materials Needed

• Old jeans or linen fabric – It’s best to have fabrics in 2 contrasting colours, such as dark and light denim.
• Polystyrene eggs – other craft eggs would work, too.
• Fabric stiffener
• Floristry wire is about 22 gauge – or other craft wire.
• Thin wire
• Tacky fabric glue
• Scissors
• Thistle leaf template

Step-by-Step DIY Thistle Instructions

Step 1: Making the flower head: Cut a piece of the darker fabric about 6cm by 20cm. Then, fray it by pulling out the threads (just like I did with these denim tassels and fabric feathers). With the denim, pull out the white threads.

Step 2: Preparing the egg: Cut two circles about 3cm in diameter, one from each light and dark fabric. With tacky glue, stick the darker fabric circle to the top of the egg and the smaller one to the base.

Step 3: Create the Fabric Thistle Head: Take a polystyrene egg and use tacky fabric glue to glue the frayed fabric strip around the top. Cover about one-third of the egg, creating a fluffy, rounded top.

Step 4: Preparing the fabric: Cut the lighter fabric into a strip about 8cm by 60cm long. (If you don’t have a strip that long, you can use a few shorter strips.) Stiffen the fabric using a fabric stiffener by simply brushing it on. Fabric stiffeners will alter the feel of the fabric and stop it from fraying when cut.

Step 5: Making the spiky leaves: Once the fabric is stiff and dry, fold it in half lengthways and cut it into zig-zag strips to resemble the spiky leaves of a thistle.

Step 6: Glue these strips around the polystyrene egg, starting just below the fluffy top and working your way down. Overlap the strips slightly to create a layered effect. You can use pins to hold the fabric while the glue dries.

Assembling the DIY Fabric Thistle

Step 7: Form the Thistle Leaf: Using the thistle leaf template, cut out two leaf shapes (one back and one front) from stiffened fabric. Sandwich a thin wire along the centre of the leaf and glue it in place. This will allow you to shape the leaf for a more realistic look.

Step 8: Assembling the Fabric Thistle: Insert a piece of floristry wire into the base of the polystyrene egg. This will serve as the stem of your thistle. Attach the fabric leaf to the wire stem, positioning it below the spiky leaves.

Step 9: Cover the Stem: Wrap light fabric scraps around the floristry wire to completely cover it. Glue the fabric in place as you wrap it.

Step 10: Final Touches: Shape the leaf and adjust the petals to achieve the desired look. Your fabric thistle is now complete and ready to be displayed!

Experimenting with Different Fabrics for Your Thistles

I enjoyed making this denim thistle so much that I couldn’t resist crafting a couple more. One thistle featured different shades of denim, adding a unique depth and texture.

At the same time, another was made using scrap linen fabric in the traditional colours you’d expect to find in real thistles. But the creativity doesn’t have to stop there!

It would be fun to experiment with other fabric scraps, just like I did with my fabric mushrooms and poppy seed heads. You only need a small amount of fabric to create these beautiful thistles, making it an ideal project for using up those leftover bits you have lying around. Imagine the possibilities—a tartan thistle, for instance, would look amazing and add a distinctive Scottish flair to your decor.

For the best results, use fabric scraps that can be easily frayed. This small detail will ensure your thistles have that charming, fluffy texture that makes them special. Happy experimenting!

Conclusion

Creating fabric thistles is a fun and rewarding way to upcycle old jeans and woven fabrics. These charming flowers can add a unique touch to your home decor or be given as thoughtful, handmade gifts. By following this step-by-step tutorial and using tacky fabric glue, you can enjoy crafting beautiful thistles while contributing to a more sustainable lifestyle.

If you enjoyed making these fabric thistles, explore some of my other DIY denim flower projects. My collection includes a variety of stunning creations, such as denim roses, chrysanthemums, jean pom pom flowers, and sunflowers. Each tutorial showcases the versatility and beauty of upcycled denim, transforming old jeans into delightful floral decor.

Additionally, for those who love unique and quirky plant crafts, I’ve also made a denim snake plant that will catch your eye.

Check out all these other fabric flower tutorials and scrap fabric crafts. You’ll also find an AtoZ of denim crafts here.

You may also enjoy this fun DIY rainbow thistle decoration.