DIY fabric-covered vases

Following on from the poster download with Anne of Green Gables' inspirational words: "One can dream so much better in a room where there are pretty things" I thought I'd show you how to pretty up some plain jars to hold pretty flowers.

You will need:

• clean jars
• scraps of fabric, unwanted pieces of clothing
• a few lengths of ribbon and string
• buttons, feathers – any other pretty bits and pieces you have lying around!

So, as you can see, everything you use can be found in your home already, no need to spend a penny or even leave the house. I upcycled four jam jars here but really the possibilities are endless.

Shirt cuff style

This is the simplest of them all. Simply cut off one of the cuffs from the sleeve of a shirt, wrap it around a jar and voila! Super easy.

Button it

For this jar I found a scrap of duck egg fabric with brown spots, a co-ordinating button and some brown string. Wrap the fabric around the jar and secure it by winding the string round a few times. Feed the two string ends through the buttons, tie a knot behind the button and snip off the ends. 

Bit of fluff

This is where bits and bobs you have cluttering up a drawer can really come in handy. I bought a pack of turquoise feathers six years ago when I was planning our wedding. The colour theme was turquoise so I bought a myriad of turquoise things, some were used and some, like the feathers, sat in a drawer for a few years. 

Wrap a scrap of fabric around the jar, and then wind a length of skinny ribbon around the bottom of the jar three times, tying the ribbon at the back. To finish simply tuck the bottom of the feather into the ribbon. I like how the texture of the feather contrasts with the flower's petals.

Bonny bow

The fabric covering this jar is actually part of a skirt waistband (the skirt originally belonged to my god-daughter, I don't have clothing nearly this pretty). Cut the length of waistband needed and sew the two ends together, right sides facing so the stitching won't show. Slip the loop of fabric over the jar and it's ready for filling with flowers.

Mix it up

By using ribbon to hold the fabric in place, rather than gluing, you can remove the fabric covers for washing the jars or to update the covers any time you like. If you're handy with a crochet hook or knitting needles, woolly jackets would be a stylish alternative.

You can change the look of the vases to match the flowers, the room, or your mood! Handmade vases like these could make a lovely present, perhaps include a couple of alternative coverings in the wrapping. Or the wrapping itself could become the covering!

Try using different containers like tin cans, milk bottles – any kind of watertight container could work. I filled my vases with roses from my garden, a stem of stocks and my dad's favourite flower – Sweet Williams.

I hope you enjoyed this little DIY, do let me know how your fabric-covered vases turn out. What's your favourite flower to fill your home with? The pre-handmade business launch celebrations will continue…

Comments

[Aubrey]

Using the cuff of a shirt is such a brilliant idea. On first glance I just thought you went to the trouble to put in button holes! We don't often have fresh flowers in the house, but I do love lilies.

[myfuroshiki]

So pretty - I especially like the shirt cuff; what a neat idea!

[Kirsty]

Pretty, pretty. I think the shirt-cuff is my favourite, too - totally ingenious (and green)!

x

[SarahLP]

These are brilliant, Gabrielle! Such a sweet way to dress up a simple glass jar. My boys are always bringing me flowers they've picked from the garden - what better way to display them!

[Barbara]

This is genius! Will definitely try this out. Am out of old fabric though, hm... I only have an old jeans left, maybe that could work. We'll see! :)

[Natali]

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