Hosiery flowers

By Spotlight

Finally a use for those fashion-coloured hose that only ever went with that one outfit!

Final Result

Materials

• pair of clean nylon sheer tights or pantyhose
• 28/30 gauge jewellery wire or lengths of floral wire
• 26 gauge jewellery wire
• floral tape
• small beads
• faux leaf stems
• scissors
• wire cutters

Step 1

Cut 3 x 10cm squares from pantyhose. Cut 3 x 25cm lengths of 28/30 gauge wire (florist wire) and 3 x 10cm lengths of 26 gauge jewellery wire. With the 25cm lengths of jewellery wire or using the florist wire, make a loop from each length to desired size of petal, and twist the wire ends together to secure loop.

Step 2

Stretch a piece of the pantyhose over each loop, gathering at base of loop. Using a 10cm length of wire, secure pantyhose by twisting wire around base of loop tightly.

Step 3

Trim excess pantyhose, leaving at least 1cm of pantyhose below wire. Wrap floral tape around the base of the petal, enclosing excess pantyhose and wire.

Step 4

Cut 3 x 20cm lengths of 26 gauge wire and thread 15 small beads onto each. Make a loop enclosing beads and twist wire ends to secure.

Step 5

Beginning with beaded wire loops in the middle, place pantyhose petals in flower shape around beaded loops, and tightly wrap together with floral tape.

Step 6

Place two faux leaf stems on outside of flower and secure to flower with floral tape. Trim end of wires to desired length, then wrap wire ends with floral tape.