How to Make a Brooch

Brooches are a great fashion accessory, because they are reminiscent of classic style, but they can also be distinctly modern. Buying brooches new from the store, though, can quickly become very expensive. Cut down on the cost by reading the following article, which contains directions on exactly how to make a brooch yourself.

1. Make a brooch from felted wool.

    

2. Purchase felting wool in a variety of colors.
   • Felting wool can be found online or at any number of brick and mortar craft stores.
3. Place wool on a plastic surface or countertop.
4. Wet the wool using soap and warm water.
   • If desired, mix different wools at this stage. The colors will combine and create new colors and patterns.
   • When you can't stretch the fibers any more, the wool has felted.
5. Stretch the wool using the palm of your hand. Add more water as necessary.
6. Rinse gently with water to remove any remaining soap.
7. Dry felt pieces overnight.
8. Layer felt pieces as desired and sew together.
9. Sew on buttons, beads, or gems as desired.
10. Glue or sew on a pin back.
11. Create a beaded safety pin brooch.
12. Purchase 1 large safety pin and 10 to 14 small safety pins.
13. Open 1 small safety pin and attach beads across the length as desired.
14. Pinch the end of the safety pin with jewelry pliers. This ensures the pin won't accidentally open and spill the beads.
15. Repeat for the remaining small safety pins.
16. Open the large safety pin.
17. String all small safety pins with beads along the length of the large safety pin.
    • Wear the handmade brooch on a coat lapel, scarf, hat, or handbag.
18. Design handmade brooches from rickrack.
19. Cut your desired length of rickrack. There should be at least 12 loops on the top.
20. Fold the end of the rickrack over and tack in place.
21. Sew each loop together across the bottom loops of your rickrack. They should fold together like an accordion.
22. Fold the end of the rickrack as you did in the beginning.
23. Sew the end of your rickrack to the first 1 or 2 loops. You should be left with what looks like a circle.
24. Stitch the inside corners of the rickrack loops together. Work on the back side of your brooch.
    • This will help keep the center together and, overall, make the brooch more taut.
25. Choose a button in a complementary color to your rickrack.
26. Sew the button into the center of your rickrack flower. Tie off on the back of the brooch.
27. Cut a circle of felt just smaller than your rickrack flower.
28. Add a pin back to that circle of felt.
    • Place it near the top of the circle. Sewing it in the middle will cause the brooch to sag when wearing it.
29. Stitch the felt circle to the back of your rickrack circle. Conceal any frayed or unsightly edges under this felt circle as your sew.

     

• If the ends of your rickrack begin to fray, either tape the ends or brush lightly with a non-fray substance. The ends won't show when finished.

• Use a needle that is durable enough to puncture thicker material. A thin needle could snap if forced through tough or thick material.
• Don't rush when waiting for your felt to dry. Only start to make your own brooch with the felt when all the water is completely gone.

• Rickrack
• Needle
• Thread
• Scissors
• Button, beads, or gems
• Felt
• Pin back
• Hot glue gun
• Safety pins (large and small)
• Jewelry pliers