Fabric Bowl Tutorial

I’ve been wanting to make a fabric bowl for a while now.  Most of the ones I have seen are actually sewn together and look pretty complicated.  I wasn’t ready to dive into a big lengthy project, so I made up my own easy way to get the same look.  I’m not lying when I tell you ANYONE could do this!

Isn’t this fabric to die for?  I’m debating basing the colors of my room off this fabric!  To me it has a little bit of a beachy feel to it.  It’s from the collection Magnolia Lane by Michael Miller.  I used Olive Climbing Blossoms, Turquoise Textured Plaid, Green Painters Canvas, and Aqua Magnolia Geometric.

Supplies

Glue gun
Bowl
Yard of Fabric
Button
Rotary Cutter or Scissors
Needle and Thread (optional)

I started with a bowl I, of course, got from the dollar store.  I know, I know, I may have a slight addiction, but hey who doesn’t love to save?  I saw it and really liked the shape, I knew with the right fabric it could be a real show piece.  

 For this project you could use anything.  I think that this would even look cool on a vase. 

My bowl was 4 1/2″ tall and 11 1/2″ wide.  I used 1/4 yard of 4 different fabrics (1 yard total).  The amount of fabric will vary depending on the bowl you decide to cover.

I cut my fabric in approximately 2″ strips.  It was not exact but because I knew I’d be rolling the strips, I wasn’t too careful.  I cut the strips the length of the fabric (45″).

I put a very thin line of glue on the edge of one strip and rolled the fabric.  Then I put a dab of glue on it and attached it to the base my bowl. 

I have to tell you, all glue guns were not created equal.  The glue gun I used for this project is amazing!  It made the project 10x easier!  For all my bow making and projects with delicate detail I use the H-185 High Temp Glue Gun.  It has a fine nozzle and it puts out just the right amount of glue.  Things just look so much more professional when you can’t see globs of messy glue. 🙂 

For this project however, I pulled out my BIG GUN! 🙂  (HE-750 80 Watt High Temp Glue Gun).  Oh yeah it’s powerful baby!  It puts out some glue!  The best part is how fast it heats up a new glue stick. 

 Funny story… my husband tried to play a joke on me.  He came into my craft room and  and slyly unplugged my glue gun.  I had no idea and kept gluing my fabric onto my bowl.  He kept waiting for me to yell at him but the glue gun was still working great.  Finally he comes back in and says ” I don’t think that glue gun works very good”.  When he said that I happened to see that it was unplugged.  I plugged it back in and the joke was on him. HAHA I don’t think that’s the way it played out in his mind! 🙂 Anyway, GREAT glue gun!  You may just have to see for yourself! 😉

I rolled the fabric and glued it along the bottom edge of the bowl.  Not on the bottom because I wanted to be sure it would be level. 

I rolled (twisted may be a better word) and glued my fabric strip until the strip was completely glued on to the bowl.  I glued the next strip overlapping the previous strip and continued twisting and gluing.

It may look noticeable now, but the fabric will all blend together.

Twist and glue… twist and glue.  Just try to glue the twisted fabric as close to the row above as you can.

I continued twisting and gluing until I was almost to the top.

The sides of this bowl were a little taller than the front and back.

I took one of my strips of fabric and without twisting it, I glued it to the bowl so nothing was left exposed.  I folded it over the top and glued it to the other side.  That way the top of the bowl will be covered as well.

In the picture above you can see that the fabric has been folded over the top of the bowl.  It has not been glued to the other side yet.

I started gluing my twisted strips to the inside center of the bowl. 

I started the first fabric strip off in a in a spiral.  I continued twisting and gluing and twisting and gluing.  Spiraling up to the top.  I glued my twisted strips right over the fabric that I glued at the top.  Make sure you have enough glue sticks on hand before starting this project, you will use a few!

I had one extra strip of fabric left after I had finished the inside of the bowl.  I would not let it go unused!  I stitched along one edge of the entire strip 2″x45″ ( the length of the fabric).  I gathered it and formed it into a circle.

I stitched the flower together and using the same needle and thread I sewed on a button.   I used a Retro Haberdashery Button.  My button was clear or else I would have glued it on.  I used Evergreen So Fine Thread. 

I put a big glob of glue on the back of my flower and attached it to the bowl.

Here it is all done.  I just sat and stared at it for a while.  LOL I love the way it turned out and how easy it was.  

Close up of the flower.

I had to add some fresh potpourri.  Mmmm 🙂

The inside.

Side View.

I’m going to put this on top of my dresser as a decoration.  This will be a great way to display potpourri in my room.  I wish you could smell it, but you are going to have to take my word that it smells great!  Very fresh. 🙂

You could make 3 identical bowls and put them side by side for organization.  You could make a vase and put some Fresh Flowers in it.  I bet you could think of a great way to put it to use in your home.  The Ribbon Retreat has so many beautiful fabrics!  This would be a great way to display them in your own home.