Preparing Cotton Fabric for Plant Making

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Rachel Bauer
July 05, 2024 (Last Updated: ) | Reading Time: 2 minutes

Which fabric are you going to use to make your Forever-Plant?

Forever-Plants can be made out of lots of different types of fabric and paper. The best fabrics to use for making Forever-Plants are fabrics that do not fray. Non-fraying fabrics have a clean edge when you cut them and do not have threads that come loose at the edge.

Felt, vinyl, cork fabric, faux leather, Kraft-Tex paper fabric, and cardstock are all great options for making Forever-Plants. These fabrics can all be used with our templates when you cut pieces by hand.

Friendship plants made with cotton fabric and Kraft-Tex paper fabric.
Friendship plants made with cotton fabric and Kraft-Tex paper fabric.

Cardstock and Kraft-Tex paper fabric are great options if you are using a cutting machine to cut your pieces. These materials are stiff and can be cut easily with a cutting machine. They are also great for making plants because they are thin and hold their shape well.

Paper fabric is a great choice for leaves and flowers since it is durable and holds its shape well.
Paper fabric is a great choice for leaves and flowers since it is durable and holds its shape well.

Quilting cotton can be used if two layers of fabric are prepared with a layer of Heat'nBond Ultrahold iron-on adhesive between them. This will make the fabric stiff and easy to cut.

The Heat'nBond Ultrahold adhesive will also keep the fabric from fraying. Other fabrics that tend to fray may also be used this way, as long as the iron will not damage them.

How to Prepare Cotton Fabric for Plant Making

If you choose to use cotton fabric for your Forever-Plants, prepare the fabric so it does not fray. Glue two layers of fabric together with Heat'nBond Ultrahold iron-on adhesive.

HeatnBond adhesive can be used to attach two layers of cotton fabric together.
HeatnBond adhesive can be used to attach two layers of cotton fabric together.

Follow the instructions on the packaging to attach two layers of fabric together with Heat'nBond. This process uses an iron to heat the adhesive layer, so this may not work for certain fabrics.

Iron two layers of cotton fabric with a layer of HeatnBond adhesive between them.
Iron two layers of cotton fabric with a layer of HeatnBond adhesive between them.

Please note, that some fabrics may not be suitable for this process. Some fabrics may melt or burn when heated with an iron. Always test a small piece of fabric before using it for your plant.

Also, make sure to protect your iron and ironing surface with baking paper or a pressing cloth.

Once the fabric is prepared, you can cut out the pieces for your plant. Use our templates to cut out the pieces for your Forever-Plant. Cut them out by hand using our PDF templates or by cutting machine with our SVGs.

Friendship plant leaves cut and ready for assembly.
Friendship plant leaves cut and ready for assembly.

Follow our free Friendship Forever-Plant pattern to make these cute plants. Our pattern instructions are clear and easy to follow. SVGs are included with the pattern. Download the free pattern and get started today.

Friendship plants made with cotton fabric and vinyl.
Friendship plants made with cotton fabric and vinyl.

Check out our beautiful templates and try making some Forever-Plants to decorate your space.

When you purchase a pattern, it is available for download instantly. So you can get started right away, or make your Forever-Plant later, whenever you want.