A rose is perhaps the most classic and beloved flower, adorning countless gardens, incorporated into art work across the centuries, and of course, as a token of love itself. They’re just pretty.
Wearing a rose pin infuses any outfit or accessory with a bit of softness and romance. There are lots of such pins for sale in stores, and at craft sites like Etsy. However, there’s a super easy way you can make rose pins, for a ridiculously inexpensive price. Below are a list of the things you’ll need, instructions, and some notes.
Clip a single rose from the bunch, severing it as close to the end of the stem as possible. There is usually a wire inside the plastic of the stem, so wire cutters make it easy. However, regular scissors will work as well-simply bend the flower back and forth and/or twist it a bit as you’re cutting through the wire.
The next step is the final step-I told you it was simple! Attach a large safety pin in and out of a portion of the plastic backing of the flower. It takes a bit of careful force and maneuvering to get it in and out of the plastic. The pin can now be clipped on to anything and worn.
Alternate instructions
Clip the rose from the bunch as described in the basic instructions above. Instead of attaching a safety pin, put a small amount of hot glue on a central part of the plastic backing of the flower, and apply a pin back. Let it dry. The pin is now ready to wear.
A huge selection of fabric flower bunches can be found at Dollar Tree. I’m not exaggerating when I say there is an entire wall to choose from. I have used a basic red rose bouquet, which had about a dozen flowers. So, between that and a gigantic pack of large safety pins I purchased at Dollar General for $1.79, it works out that the pin cost less than a quarter to make.
There are also sometimes “nicer” single roses and flowers to choose from at Dollar Tree, and of course at craft stores like Michael’s as well. They’ll be more expensive, but if you find something you love that will make a stunning pin, it’s still less expensive than the pins you find for sale pre-made. I recently saw a lovely bunch of high quality, black roses at Michael’s that would make very pretty pins.
If you don’t want to go the super easy route, but want a traditional pin back, they can be found in jewelry craft sections in craft stores, several in a pack, quite inexpensive. Although having a traditional pin back might be nicer, a good argument can be made for the functionality of the large safety pin. Because of it’s width, it can be hooked to a larger amount of fabric.
This is nice if you are using the pin to hold layers of a skirt or skirts together, or using it on heavier fabric, like a purse. The safety pin variety can even be used in home decorating-pinning curtains, tablecloths, or other fabrics artfully and functionally.
And of course, there’s no reason to limit it to just roses-there are lots of great fabric flowers that can be used. Just make sure to take a look at the underside of the flower where it attaches to the stem, to make sure there is a suitable area for applying the desired pin fastener.
A final note-be aware some very cheap (quality-wise) flowers are sometimes held together by the device of the stem, and once it’s severed with the scissors or wire cutters, the flower petals fall apart. I’ve never had this happen with roses, however.
