Beginner’s guide on making a flower bouquet

Creating a hand-tied flower bouquet is a delightful and rewarding experience. Whether you’re preparing a gift for someone special or simply want to brighten up your own space, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you craft a beautiful flower bouquet:

1. Prep Your Stems:

   • Begin by snipping the stems of your flowers, leaving about an inch of length. Lay out your flowers in groups, which will make arranging them easier.

   • Consider removing some of the foliage from the lower parts of the stems to keep things clean when you group them together later.

2. Choose Your Focal Point:

   • Select a showstopper flower as your focal point. Roses or lilies work wonderfully.

   • Pair it with a fluffier flower or a piece of foliage. Hold these stems together in one hand.

3. Spiral Arrangement Technique:

   • Add another type of stem (flower or foliage) and lay it diagonally under your thumb, on top of the existing stems.

   • Twist the bouquet slightly with your other hand. This technique forms the basis of spiraling, which florists use to create full, balanced bouquets.

   • Keep spiraling by adding different textures and styles. Rotate the bouquet as you go, locking the stems into place.

4. Check and Adjust:

   • Look down at your bouquet every few stems to see how it’s coming along. As it grows, it’ll become easier to hold.

   • Hold the bouquet fairly loosely so you can wiggle stems into place if needed. Adjust any slipped flowers or foliage.

5. Tie Off with String:

   • Gently place your bouquet on a table. Cut around 50cm of twine.

   • Create an open loop by holding the string in the middle, with two loose ends of equal length.

   • Wrap the twine around the stems, passing your fingers through the loop. Pull the loose ends through the loop and tie them off.

   • Trim any higgledy-piggledy stems at the base of the bouquet so they’re all the same length.

6. Ready for the Vase:

   • Your hand-tied bouquet is now complete! Place it in a vase filled with water and enjoy the beauty you’ve created.

There’s no strict rule—feel free to experiment with different flowers, colors, and textures. The joy of hand-made bouquets lies in its organic, natural feel. Happy bouquet-making!