Easy DIY Leaf Brooch from Scrap Fabric

You can make your own DIY leaf brooch in minutes today. You really don’t need anything special. In fact your are upcycling scraps that you may well have thrown away.

Get creative and add any embellishments you like. I love adding small beads but you could also add sequins or buttons, etc. Make one to match every outfit you want or perhaps make them as gifts for your friends. You could gift them in a gift bag like this.

As these leaf brooches use scrap fabric they are perfect for the Sustainable Craft Challenge Blog Hop for December. The theme for the challenge this month is ‘last minute gift’. At the end of the tutorial you will find all the other last minute gift ideas . I really recommend taking a look!

This page contains affiliate links meaning I earn a little commission if you use those links at no cost to you. I only recommend brands I use and trust.

You will need:

• scraps of felt
• scraps of fabric
• leaf template sheet
• toy filling or similar
• thread (I suggest embroidery thread)
• brooch fastener or safety pin
• beads, buttons, etc (optional)

Prepare your Leaf Pieces

Download your leaf template sheet. Alternatively you could draw your own leaf template or find one online. Once you have your template and you are happy with the size of it then simply print it out. If you are using my template sheet then you have the choice of 4 different leaf shapes. You need to cut out the 2 matching shapes. If you want a larger or smaller brooch then print out the template larger or smaller.

Use the large leaf template to cut out 2 felt leaves. Then use the small template to cut out the fabric leaf shape.

Create your Leaf Brooch Design

Take one of your felt leaves and the fabric leaf. Place the fabric leaf on top of the felt leaf where you would like it. Take a length of embroidery thread and thread up your needle. Tie a knot in one end of your thread. Bring it up through the base of the fabric leaf. Form a stitch along the centre of the leaf. Repeat all the way along the centre using ‘stem stitch’.

While you are doing this, at regular intervals, add in stitches out to the side of the fabric leaf. You are forming veins on the leaf and holding the fabric leaf down onto the felt leaf. Yes, your fabric may fray but it will only fray a little and will add to the charm.

Now is the time to add any other embellishments that you want to include. I have added beads, as I often do, at the ends of the veins. If you are adding beads just make sure your needle passes through them okay. If you have a lot of thread left leave it in place. If not, fasten it off on the back of the leaf.

Attach your Brooch Fastener

Attach your fastener of choice to the back of the other felt leaf. NOTE: It is worth taking the time to check you attach it to the back of the leaf. Place your 2 leaves on top of each other to check you use the correct side.

Many fasteners can be glued in place if you prefer but I prefer to sew mine on. I have used a safety pin so I just sewed along the whole length using small stitches so that it could not slide around. If you are using a brooch fastener you may well have some circles to sew in place.

Assemble your Leaf Brooch

Place your leaves together so that the wrong sides are facing each other. By that I mean that the brooch looks complete, if a little flat!

Sew around the edge of the felt leaves using a small running stitch. This will hold them together. Before you reach all the way round stop and add a little filling (or whatever you are using). If you don’t have toy filling you could use old yarn or fabric scraps cut small.

Once you are all the way around finish off your running stitch on the back of the brooch. Then pass the needle through the brooch and cut off the thread. This will just stop your thread pulling through and coming undone.

Congratulations you have finished your first leaf brooch. Now, why not go back and try the other templates with different colours?

And next…

As promised here is a selection of fabulous DIY gifts to make that won’t take you too long!

• Crochet Sleeping Bag for a Tiny Toy
• Unwind with Lavender Bath Salts
• Crochet Christmas Holly Scarf
• No Sew Ribbon Gift Bag
• Christmas Berry Cordial Recipe

Remember to pin this tutorial on Pinterest so that you can find it later!