Figure 6. Approximate stencil for painting: rose hip flower

Along the lower and upper edges of the pot or flowerpot, you can put a simple pattern of dots, stylized inverted commas and exclamation marks (Fig. 7).

Figure 7. Approximate border stencil for painting a flower pot

Before you start decorating, you need to thoroughly clean and dry the product. The surface of a ceramic or plastic container must be washed with any dishwashing detergent, dried and degreased using an alcohol-containing liquid and a cotton swab. After this, it is advisable not to touch the degreased surface with your fingers, for which you need to work with gloves, at least simple cotton ones.
Next, you should transfer the selected design to the surface using copy paper for clay. At the same time, it is most convenient to use for transferring a pattern onto flat or slightly rounded surfaces. Before you begin, you need to check that the paper is laid correctly by placing it on the surface of the object to be decorated and making a small mark with a pencil - a blue mark should appear. Afterwards, you can continue to transfer the drawing by tracing the pattern with a soft pencil on plain paper laid on top of carbon paper. If possible, the selected pattern can be printed using a photocopier on the front side of copy paper for clay, and then simply transferred by tracing the contours with a soft pencil.

Small wooden tubs for a window sill and in the form of barrels for a veranda or winter garden look advantageous. At the same time, wooden containers are impregnated with a special composition and are harmless to plants.

To transfer a design onto a curved or angular surface, it is more convenient to use tissue paper with a loose structure so that the applied marker transfers to the surface to be decorated. With this method, the drawing is transferred to tissue paper, then it is turned over so that the front side is the reverse side, and applied to the product. After this, you need to outline the pattern again, but in a contrasting color. When the paper is removed, the pattern will appear on the surface to be decorated.
When using tissue paper, the areas to be decorated should be slightly moistened with a sponge and wait until they dry naturally before transferring the pattern. If you use carbon paper, the pattern can be transferred without moistening.
Anyone who knows how to draw at least a little can transfer the drawing to the surface with a soft pencil, copying from the sketch. Then you need to take a contour for painting on ceramics and use it to draw the small details of the design. When drawing the contours of a picture, as well as when subsequently drawing complex details, it is advisable to rotate the product. Upon completion of this stage, the work is left until the contour is completely dry, this period is usually indicated on the packaging (Fig. 8).

Figure 8. Stencil painting

The most ancient type of ceramic decoration is brush painting. When using professional paints to paint a ceramic product, the pigment is placed on a palette, rubbed with brushes and mixed with a thinner. In this case, the brush must be trimmed to apply the pattern of the required width.
The simplest methods of painting the edge of a product - edge tapping, tendril or tape - are more conveniently performed by rotating the product on a turnstile. Very thin lines can be applied with a pen, but the paint will have to be diluted more than usual. In a similar way, you can perform staffage - painting with a brush with a free stroke.
The technique of applying a picture with brushes is as follows: first you need to outline the contours of the picture, and then shade its internal details. Thin lines can be drawn with a thin brush with a sharp tip and not too long bristles, since this way it is easier to control the movements of the hand, which must be held in a vertical position. When drawing a thin line or contour, you should take a little paint on the brush. To remove excess paint, the brush can be pressed against the edge of a saucer or glass, while simultaneously giving its tip a pointed shape.
When decorating wooden containers with flowers, it is better not to use a feather, since it cuts the wood, leaving dents on the surface of the product, spoiling its appearance.
To draw a long line, you need to put enough paint on your brush so that you can complete it in one stroke. It is advisable that the brush comes off the surface as little as possible during the painting process, otherwise the coloring of the colored areas of the picture will turn out uneven.
It is important to thoroughly stir the ready-to-use paint until it has a uniform consistency. When starting to paint, you need to apply small strokes with a soft brush, first in light and then in dark tones. At the same time, having taken one color, it is advisable to immediately paint all the intended areas with it, applying the paint evenly so that the brush strokes lie next to each other and merge into a common smooth background. If necessary, you can slightly tilt the product without fear that some paint will flow down. However, this is only permissible when painting the background, if there is no danger that the paint will fall on that area of ​​the drawing where it should not be.
If paint gets on a fragment of a drawing that should remain unpainted or be painted in a different color, you need to quickly correct the defect without waiting for the paint to dry. To do this, you need to erase it with a clean, slightly moistened brush.
When painting ceramics, it is important to keep your shoulder and forearm motionless so that only your hand moves. Therefore, it is necessary to rest your elbow on something so that it is at the same level as the object being painted.
After applying the first coat of paint, you need to wait until it is completely dry, and then apply a second coat to make the design more vibrant. All the details of the drawing are painted in a similar way, the work is left until the paint is completely dry and the product is sent for firing. If it is not required, then immediately after drying you can begin varnishing and apply 1-2 layers of transparent ceramic varnish to the painted surface. After varnishing, the finished product must be dried until the varnish has completely hardened; the required drying time is usually indicated on its packaging.
Handmade ceramic products can only be washed or cleaned 15 days after finishing work. Such ceramics require careful care and respect.
In addition to brushes for applying paint, when decorating a flower pot, you can use a sponge or special rubber. The tampon technique allows you to create on ceramics both background images for further painting and completely finished works. To do this, first pour the paint into a large container and dab a sponge in it, being careful not to pick up a lot of paint.
When painting with a sponge, the surface of the product must also be degreased. To obtain a softer shade, you can dilute the paint with clear varnish. If you need to leave some areas unpainted, they should be sealed with paper tape. The background usually takes one day to dry. After filling and drying the background, you can move on to the painting technique with a brush or use a stencil. Next, the finished work must be dried and coated with colorless varnish.

Limescale deposits may appear along the edges of unglazed ceramic pots, which cannot be removed with a regular brush. To remove salt deposits, fill the clay pot with water and leave it overnight in a bucket of humus. You can also scrub the pot with raw potato skins and then with a stiff brush.

You can use the technique of decorating surfaces using rubber stamps. Stamps are made using a plaster mold modeled on a design engraved on a wood or metal plate. During operation, the stamp must be periodically dusted with dry paint powder to enhance the color. This method can be used to apply framing patterns or monograms.
To obtain an interesting effect, caching rubber is used, which serves to cover unpainted areas and is removed with your fingers. When applied with a brush to the surface of the product, it turns into an elastic film. The design must be applied very quickly, since the material dries lightning fast. Ethnic and primitive “rock” paintings are best produced using this technique.
After applying caching rubber, paint is evenly applied to the surface of the ceramic product, including the rubber. Then the work is left for a day so that the paint dries, and the rubber is easily removed with your fingers. The result is an image that looks like a negative. The finished product is coated with 2–3 layers of varnish.

Sewn and knitted flowerpots

Secrets of cutting and sewing

To transform an ordinary flower pot into an exquisite decorative element, it is best to choose simple, untreated clay pots without decoration or painting as the base. They are inexpensive and ideal for growing indoor plants. Also, not very beautiful plastic containers can become the basis for decoration.
Clay pots are not glazed, so after watering plants, streaks often appear on their surface. To preserve the attractive appearance of the decorated container for as long as possible, it is best to use it as a flower pot by placing another pot inside and leaving a distance of about 1 cm between their walls.
Decorating flower pots with fabric is considered the easiest to do, since it does not require special knowledge, materials or tools. For the simplest design options, everything you need is at hand in almost every home, but every job can always be complicated if desired.
Decorating flower pots with fabric is also convenient because such decor can be replaced at any time if the previous color does not match the overall scheme of the interior after the renovation, or it has simply become uninteresting, or has faded in the sun. The fact is that the essence of the method is to simply wrap the pot with a piece of cloth.
However, before you start working, no matter what design method you choose, you first need to decide on the color scheme in which you will create your masterpieces. It is advisable to make the pots, if different, then in the same style.
Flower pots can be made from any materials that are suitable for decorating and decorating clothes, as well as textiles left over from sewing curtains. You can safely use buttons, belt buckles, all kinds of lace, bows, beads and beads. Fabric flowerpots can be decorated with braid, embroidery, felt appliqués, or decorated with a beautiful ribbon, picturesquely tied around the pot and tied with a spectacular bow. Sometimes it is enough to sew a cover for a flowerpot made of fabric with polka dots, small checks or longitudinal stripes and tie it with a bright bow - the retro-style interior item is ready (Fig. 9).

Figure 9. Retro-style fabric planter

The easiest way to decorate a flower pot is with a strip of fabric of a matching color, but it should be quite dense and stiff. You can also use embroidery canvas for these purposes. To do this, you need to cut out a rectangle from a suitable fabric equal to the height of the pot, add 2-3 cm to the hem on all sides, tuck and sew the folded sections so that they do not fray. To make it more decorative, you can trim the top edge of the cover with cotton fabric with an interesting pattern. The fabric can be sewn at the side seam, or if it takes a long time and is not very convenient, then simply glue it. After this, all that remains is to secure the fabric to the pot, gluing it to the side and along the top edge.
The edges of the potted “clothes” can be pinned together with decorative pins as an element of decoration, the fastening can be made using contact tape (“Velcro”) or with air loops, choosing interesting buttons. You can cut such a cover to be larger in height by adding a little fabric to the bottom, which needs to be stitched in the same way as when sewing a regular bag. You can insert skewers into the side seams to give shape. Such a cover will be easier to change or remove for washing (Fig. 10).

Ceramic, plastic, wooden, metal or glass plant pots come in a wide variety of shapes - from the usual design to the most bizarre configurations, resembling a sea shell or a flying saucer.

You can do without connecting the side seams on the fabric - just tie the pot wrapped in fabric with ribbon. In this case, the ribbon can be selected in contrast to the color of the main fabric or to match the color of the plant itself or its inflorescences. By the way, from a design point of view it will be much more original and correct.

Figure 10. Case-bag made of canvas, trimmed with cotton fabric

To decorate pots and flowerpots in this way, you can use both new fabric and scraps from old shirts, diapers, sweaters, towels, etc. Burlap, camouflage fabric and tarpaulin look very nice in the decor of pots. In addition, these types of fabric, which initially have enviable strength, will last much longer.

How to make a pattern

If you intend to decorate several pots of the same shape and size at once, it is more advisable to make a pattern. To do this, you will need fairly thick white paper such as Whatman paper; it is convenient to use scale-coordinate paper for this purpose - graph paper. As a last resort, you can even use an old newspaper, although a pattern made from it will not be durable.
To create a pattern for a cone-shaped pot, you need to mark a vertical center line on the outside of the pot with a simple pencil. After this, place it sideways on a sheet of paper so that the drawn line coincides with the edge of the sheet, and slowly roll it over the surface of the paper, marking the upper and lower boundaries of the pot with a pencil (Fig. 11).

Figure 11. Marking the top and bottom border of the pot

Figure 12. Pattern for a cover for a flower pot or flowerpot

Figure 13. Cutting the finished pattern

The result should be a pattern that consists of two arched lines connected by a vertical line. In order to wrap the fabric over the edges, you need to add 2 cm to the seam allowances on the sides on both sides and at the bottom of the product (Fig. 12).
After this, you can cut out the pattern, taking into account the hem allowances (Fig. 13).
If you cannot construct a pattern in the proposed way, for example, because you decided to decorate an old pot in which your favorite flower is already growing, you can do it differently. In this case, the pot must be measured using a tailor's measuring tape, along the lower diameter and height. If the pot has a conical shape, then the size of the upper diameter will also be necessary. Using the obtained measurements, the pattern is constructed as follows:
✓ set aside the size of the upper diameter of the pot in the upper part of the paper sheet and draw a horizontal line - this is a cut of the decorative flap;
✓ step back down by about 10–12 cm (the size of the lapel) and draw a second horizontal line parallel to it - this is the upper cut of the cover in the absence of a lapel;
✓ connect two parallel lines with vertical segments - the side joint of the lapel;
✓ determine the middle of the upper part of the cover and set the height of the pot vertically down from this point;
✓ connect two points with a vertical line and place it in its lower part along half the lower diameter of the pot to the right and left of the middle;
✓ connect the resulting points first with a horizontal line, and then with diagonals with the end points of the upper cut of the cover (Fig. 14).

Figure 14. Pattern pattern for a cover for a flower pot with a lapel

Knitting secrets

You can decorate flower pots not only with sewn, but also with knitted flowerpot covers, using leftovers from a wide variety of yarn to make them. Such cases have a number of advantages. For example, they are very decorative, and if necessary they can be removed and washed. Tight knitting will completely hide the defects of the pot or its unattractive appearance. Finally, a hand-knitted product will decorate your room and will always be on display.
Knowing the basics of knitting, you can make many varieties of knitted flower pots yourself. The main thing here is the idea and the right choice of yarn and tools. So, yarn for hand knitting is divided into natural, synthetic and blended. The first group includes wool, cotton, linen and silk yarn. Synthetic yarn is made from polyacrylic, polyester, polyamide, elastane and viscose. Blended yarn consists of natural and synthetic fibers in different proportions.
You can use any yarn to knit flower pots. The main thing is that it must correspond to the style of the intended product. For example, it is better to crochet openwork flower pots from cotton yarn, as they can be starched, which makes them hold their shape perfectly. From colored synthetic yarn you can knit multi-colored striped flowerpots, which, by the way, are easily washed and do not fade in the sun. The variety of yarn in composition, color, thickness and texture opens up enormous scope for imagination.
To knit flower pots, both knitting needles and a crochet hook are used. The former are distinguished by shape, size and material of manufacture and are selected depending on the type of intended work and the thickness of the yarn. Knitting needles are made from metal, plastic and bamboo.
Keep in mind that aluminum knitting needles can stain very light-colored yarn. To knit a flower pot, it is better to take aluminum, nickel-plated or bamboo knitting needles of small diameter. The thickness of the knitting needles should match or slightly exceed the thickness of the yarn. With the correct selection of yarn and knitting needle thickness, the knitting will be optimally dense, and the finished product will look neat.
To knit a cover for a flower pot, you can use stocking or circular knitting needles. Stocking knitting needles are a set of five double-edged knitting needles of short length, circular knitting needles are a pair of knitting needles connected by a thin flexible tube. When using stocking needles, the flowerpot will turn out seamless, and on circular knitting needles it is convenient to knit wide pieces, the edges of which can later be sewn or crocheted on the wrong side. However, these knitting needles are also suitable for knitting in the round without seams.
Crochet hooks are made from the same materials as knitting needles, and they also differ in size, based on which yarn of a certain thickness is selected.
During the knitting process, you may need an additional knitting needle or pin to temporarily remove stitches, a needle for sewing knitwear with a wide eye and a blunt end, a ruler, scissors and a measuring tape.

A knitted flowerpot can be decorated with an applique of voluminous knitted or embroidered elements. These can be twigs with berries, flowers, birds, etc. Such pots are especially suitable for decorative leafy indoor plants.

Before you start knitting a flower pot, you should determine its size and calculate the required number of loops. To do this, measure the circumference along the upper and lower edges of the flower pot, select a pattern and knit a square measuring 10 x 10 cm. Then count how many loops and rows there are in this pattern. Based on this, the number of loops that need to be cast on to knit a flower pot for a specific flower pot is calculated. Usually the upper circumference of a flower pot is longer than the lower one, so when knitting from bottom to top, the number of loops is increased.
When knitting, the main stitches are knit and purl stitches. Using them in various combinations, you can create the most incredible patterns. Using yarn overs, you can increase the length of the row and, accordingly, the width of the knitted fabric. This is how covers for cone-shaped flower pots are knitted. Closing the loops of the top row is of great importance - if the last row is knitted neatly, then the flowerpot as a whole will look good. However, you can always crochet the edge.
Knitted flowerpots can be additionally decorated with accessories (buttons, cords, braid, buckles, etc.) and various knitted elements (flowers, leaves, berries, etc.).

Product options

There are quite a lot of options for covers for flower pots or flowerpots that can be made without using a pattern at all. Perhaps this is where you should start, because the result will not be long in coming, and you will be able to more accurately determine your strengths and train before setting yourself more complex tasks.

Wool covers for flower pots

You can make excellent covers for flower pots with your own hands from an ordinary old sweater. This is a simple, but quite exciting activity for the winter holidays, which will bring genuine pleasure.
A cover made from an old sweater will disguise an unsightly old flower pot. For the winter version, you can use an unnecessary woolen sweater; for the summer, any stretchable knitwear is suitable: T-shirts, turtlenecks, etc. Knitwear with a beautiful pattern is good in itself, working with it does not require a pattern - you just need to attach it to a flowerpot.

You will need
An unglazed ceramic or plastic pot, an old wool sweater in bright colors, sewing threads to match the sweater, all-purpose PVA glue, a measuring tape, a ruler, a pencil, scissors, a sewing needle, dishwashing detergent.

Progress
1. Wash the previously used pot thoroughly with dishwashing liquid and dry. It is enough to wipe the new pot with a soft cloth to remove dust.
2. Measure the height of the flower pot and cut off the top of the sweater sleeve (for a medium-sized pot) so that the piece is 5 cm larger than the height of the pot.
For a small pot you can use the lower part of the sleeve (Fig. 15)
3. Pull the cut piece over the pot so that about 1 cm of fabric remains at the base of the pot. Wrap this piece to the bottom of the pot, fold it if necessary and sew it up or glue it with PVA glue.
4. You can tuck the upper part of the cover in two ways, depending on its width. If the cover fits tightly around the pot, simply tuck the ends inside and glue it with PVA glue.

Figure 15. Cutting out a cover for a flower pot

First fold the cover hanging loosely around the pot around the pot rim, and then again inside and also glue it (Fig. 16).

Figure 16. Filling the upper edge of the cover

If the sweater has a wide enough sleeve, then you can secure the excessively loose cover with an elastic band. For this, either a thin elastic band in the color of the knitted fabric or a colored elastic band like a patterned border is suitable.
5. Insert a pot with a plant inside the improvised flowerpot. If necessary, cover the uneven ends of the sleeve, decorate the top of the pot with expanded clay, gravel or sea pebbles. Such a measure is often necessary if the flower does not have long leaves that can cover these ends (Fig. 17).

Figure 17. Decorating the soil surface with gravel

Quick and easy production of a multi-colored cover does not require any material costs or large time investments (Fig. 18).

Figure 18. Flower pot in a cover made from an old sweater

Covers made of colorful socks

Very small flower pots or metal jars, decorated with bright multi-colored covers made from socks, look very cute and original. It is advisable to take socks with a pattern, giving preference to those that stretch well. You can also decorate vases, glasses and any other objects in a similar way.

You will need
A small unglazed ceramic pot, a bright sock with a pattern of a suitable size, a scrap of fabric, sewing thread to match the sock, a measuring tape, a ruler, a pencil, scissors, a sewing needle, dishwashing detergent.

Progress
1 Wash the pot thoroughly with dishwashing liquid and dry. Take exact measurements from it.
2 Measure the height of the pot on the sock, add 0.5–1 cm to it, mark the desired length with a pencil. Cut the bottom of the sock, then try it on to make sure the dimensions of the piece match the dimensions of the pot. In the correct version, the elastic band of the sock should be above the pot (Fig. 19).

Figure 19. Blank for a sock cover

Flower pots come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, but they should always be selected in accordance with the interior, taking into account the overall color scheme, style and atmosphere in the house.

3. To make the bottom of the case, cut out two circles with the same radius as the bottom of the pot from the remaining part of the sock and fabric. Sew the circles together. After fitting, remove the main piece from the pot, turn it inside out and sew on the bottom. Turn the finished cover right side out and pull it over the pot (Fig. 20). You can decorate small jars with hair bands.

Figure 20. Covers made from multi-colored socks

Cover made of curtain fabric without a pattern

Even those who hardly know how to sew can easily make such a cover from leftover curtain fabric.

You will need
Unglazed ceramic pot, scraps of jacquard fabric, elastic band, sewing thread to match the fabric, measuring tape, ruler, pencil, scissors, sewing needle, dishwashing detergent, candle, matches.

Progress
1 Wash the pot thoroughly with any dishwashing liquid and dry. Take exact measurements from it.
2 Take a piece of fabric, measure the required length and width on the fabric according to the parameters of the flower pot. Burn the edges of the fabric over a candle to prevent them from unraveling.
3 Cut a rectangular piece of fabric to fit the pot, add 1 cm for seam allowances, and 2-3 cm for hems along the top and bottom edges.
4 Sew the edges along the short edge. Hem along the top and bottom edges, leaving a small area open to thread the elastic through.
5. Thread the elastic through the hem along the top and bottom edges of the cover, tighten the elastic so that the cover sits tightly on the planter. Sew tightly the ends of the elastic and sew open seam areas with blind stitches (Fig. 21).

End of free trial

Message quote Covers for flower pots

SOURCE http://women-on-line.ru/

You can make excellent ones from an ordinary sweater. Here, for example, are these covers for flower pots.

Manufacturing instructions:

1. Measure the height of the flower pot and cut off the top of the sweater sleeve. The part should be 5 cm longer than the height of the pot.

2. Stretch a piece of sweater over the pot, leaving about one centimeter at the base so that you can fold this piece under the bottom. You can tuck the top two ways. If the sweater sleeve hangs loosely around the pot, you can fold it around the rim of the pot, tucking the ends inward. If the cover is tight, tuck the ends into the middle of the pot.

3. Decorate the top of the pot with gravel or sea pebbles to cover the uneven ends of the sleeve. This is especially necessary if the flower does not have long leaves that can cover these ends.

Making a flower cover from an old sweater is quite easy. This is a great activity for the winter holidays. Have fun with your crafts.

To make it we will need:

• fabric (for the front and for the lining);
• padding polyester;
• lightning;
• bias tape;
• edging;
• fabric marker;
• ruler;
• pins;
• roller knife or scissors;
• sheet of graph paper, pencil;
• sewing machine;
• good mood:)

We make a pattern for the top and bottom of our future cover.

Place the iron on a sheet of graph paper and determine its length and width. (In my case, the length of the iron is 29 cm, width is 13 cm). Draw a pattern on graph paper, adding 2 cm to the length and width for a loose fit + 1 cm on each side (seam allowance).

As a result, we get a pattern with a length of 33 cm (29 cm + 2 cm + 2 cm), a width of 17 cm (13 cm + 2 cm + 2 cm).

In the front part, we make the rounding arbitrarily, to your taste.

We calculate the length and height of the central canvas.

We measure the pattern along the perimeter without taking into account the short side (for clarity, I highlighted this line with an orange marker).

In my case, this length was 68.5 cm. Add 2 cm to the resulting length (1 cm seam allowance on each side). Total - 70.5 cm.

We calculate the height of the central fabric based on the height of the iron.

In my case, it turned out to be 22 cm (18 cm height of the iron (including the rigid cord) + 2 cm for a loose fit + 2 cm seam allowance (1 cm on each side)).

Calculate the length and height of the back of the cover.

The length of this part is equal to the width of the pattern we made (this part not highlighted with orange marker), and the height is equal to the height of the central canvas. (In my case - 17cm x 22cm).

Preparing the fabric for cutting parts.

We draw the lines of future stitches onto the fabric with a marker (in my case, diagonal lines at an angle of 45 degrees). You can, of course, not apply these lines, but use fabric guides, but I find it more convenient with them.

We lay padding polyester between the front fabric and the lining fabric (I used needle-punched fabric).

We connect the layers with pins so that there is no movement of the fabric when stitching, and sew them along the marked lines on the machine.

(I used the upper conveyor in my work).

Align the edges of our “sandwich”.

From the finished canvas we cut out the necessary parts:

• we cut out the parts for the top and bottom according to the template we made;
• We cut 1 piece of the central part of the cover (mine is a rectangle 70.5 cm x 21 cm) into two parts. The height of each part can be chosen to your taste (in my case, the height is 8 cm (top) and 13 cm (bottom) + 1 cm will be given by a sewn-in zipper, resulting in the height we need - 22 cm);
• 1 back piece (in my case -17 cm x 22 cm);
• 1 part for the handle (mine is 20 cm x 5 cm).

To reduce the fabric fraying, the resulting parts were treated with a zig-zag seam.

We edge the parts of the central part of the cover with bias tape on the side to which the zipper will be sewn.

We sew on a zipper (in my case, tractor zipper No. 5, 75 cm long).

I use the zipper foot.

At the ends of the zipper we sew a triangle of fabric (thanks to them, the cover will be more convenient to open).

Sew the back to the short sides of the central part of the cover.

We edge the sewn edges with bias tape.

Sew on the edging (top and bottom of the central part of the cover).

We edge the handle part of the case with bias tape (I wanted to make the handle not rectangular, but with rounded ends) and sew it in the center of the top part of the case.

We pin the upper part to the central part and sew it on (we lay the seam along the seam of the edging we sewed).

We do the same with the bottom of the cover.

Trim the stitched edges and edge them with bias tape.

We turn the cover inside out and iron it.

And we admire our work :)

10/12/2016 1 145 0 ElishevaAdmin

Many housewives love to tinker with flowers. They grow them at home on the windowsill, in the country, and in the country house. There are beds, lawns, and flower beds for this, but you can use household items that have been released for a second time. For example, in old enamel pots that still look quite decent, you can sow flowers, and they will turn into colorful bouquets.

And multi-colored plastic slippers work well as original flowerpots.

All you have to do is fill them with soil, hang them on a nail on the fence and plant some flower or a bunch of grass inside. Air access to the roots is good, you just need to ensure timely watering.

Another thing is to grow flowers in a city apartment. We will not touch on the growing process itself, we will limit ourselves to discussing flower pots.

In fact, there are a lot of options on sale, but it’s interesting to decorate the pots yourself, with imagination, so that it turns out original and fits into the accepted version of the interior.

Here's what you can do to get exceptional flower pots that don't look like the standard ones.

We paint

It's simple. We prepare the pots for painting, arm ourselves with either a brush or cans of acrylic paint, suitable for painting porcelain and glass. If we paint from a spray can, then we just need to choose the appropriate color and protect surrounding objects from splashing. The dyeing process itself does not raise any questions.

It's another matter if we use a brush. But this is also a feasible task; in the end, the pots will be painted and the hands will be washed.

No matter how we paint the pots, we need to give them a chance to dry and then cover them with acrylic varnish. This will set the paint and give the pots a more elegant look.

Many people prefer to paint pots with silver or gold paint, while others, who are not attracted by the tinsel glitter, apply a simple but interesting abstract design.

We use glitter and foil

You can add shine to the pots using foil or glitter; in this case, you can come up with an intricate pattern or ornament, or even create an inscription in gold or silver letters. You can take special gold foil, which is used for plotters.

This decoration works best on a white background, so the pot must first be painted with a single color paint. However, it doesn’t have to be white, here you can fantasize completely freely. Sequins, letters or cut out fragments of the ornament are glued into place according to the sketch, or randomly.

If we are talking only about glitter, then first we apply glue to the painted pot, and place the glitter on it. After letting the base layer dry, we again cover the attached glitter with glue. Only one thing is important here: the glue must be transparent and dry well.

Trying decoupage

No one is stopping you from applying the decoupage technique to decorating flower pots. On the contrary, this can serve as a test of the pen before decorating the refrigerator door or chest of drawers in this way. And at the same time you will be able to figure out how the motifs you have chosen will look and how they will fit into the interior of the room.

Naturalism

If eco-style predominates in your interior, then you simply need to decorate flower pots with wood or cork. Wooden branches are cut with pruning shears into dies of different diameters, which are then glued to the pot. This creates patterns in a naturalistic manner.

As for such a material as cork, it is present in every home, in the form of bottle caps. These cylinders are cut in half along the vertical axis, and then the flat side is glued to the pot. The result is an interesting surface, ribbed and embossed.

Shells, pebbles and loose objects

Round sea pebbles and shells also fit perfectly into the eco-style, just like fine gravel. A flower pot processed with their participation is completely transformed and begins to look like a full-fledged decorative item. Moreover, pebbles, just like shells, can be sorted by color and shape, and then create a beautiful composition.

We prepare glue, the same as for other design methods.

1. Using a brush, apply glue to one side of the pebble or shell and apply it to the surface of the pot. We also process the next element, laying out the intended pattern. After the glue has dried, you can cover the entire surface with colorless varnish. This induced gloss will make the composition especially elegant, and the shells will simply come to life after such an operation.

2. If we are dealing with small objects, for example, gravel or small glass pebbles, then the entire pot is covered with glue, and decorative elements are placed on its surface. They are simply poured in and then pressed down. Or you can carefully lay out each element in its place, forming a covering pattern.

3. In this case, the glue can be applied thickly; it will be a kind of primer, and it can be visible between the elements, creating a unique flavor. You can also use decorative putty and primer, with different textures and different colors.

Sew

Sewing, of course, is more difficult than painting and gluing; it requires skills. However, every housewife is capable of sewing a pillowcase for a pillow, but for pots, no more skill is required.

But the result will be impressive: how many houses do you know where the flowers on the windowsills are dressed in embroidered covers? That's it.

So, we select fabric of two colors that combine well with each other. You can take one plain, and the second, for example, with a clear geometric pattern. Those who do not like geometry can choose a watercolor theme, or a lace pattern - or whatever. It is better that the fabric has water-repellent properties. At worst, at the end of the work you can spray it with a special spray for fabric, giving it the required properties.

1. Pieces of fabric are folded facing each other, and a rectangle of the required size is cut out of them. This is usually the standard 46 cm x 76 cm.

2. We chop off the top edge, wider, with pins, and stitch it. We make an allowance of 1.2 cm.

3. Turn it inside out and carefully sew the side edges together.

4. Now we’ll make the bottom. We also fold 2 pieces of fabric and cut out a circle with a diameter, in our case, 26 cm. This is with allowances, in fact the diameter is 23½ cm.

It’s easy to draw a circle: take a 13 cm long cord and use it as a radius, fixing one end in the center, and the other, with chalk or a pencil at the end, describing a circle.

5. Sew the bottom from the inside out, stitching it on a typewriter. Again we turn the now full-fledged cylinder with an open top onto its face.

6. We make a decorative lapel, placing a pair of eyelets on it at a distance of 7-8 cm from each other. On the other side of the cylinder we place the second pair symmetrically. To make it beautiful and accurate, first we make markings.

7. We thread decorative rope through the eyelets and put covers on the pots. They look amazing next to the greenery of plants.

Let's adapt textiles and lace

The fabric can simply be glued onto the pot material without any sewing involved. Here the material is selected according to a different principle, a certain color, with a textured pattern. An especially successful option is when the pots on the windowsill are covered with the same fabric from which the curtains are made.

However, the textiles of flower pots can have something in common with furniture upholstery and the tablecloth of the dining table.

Lace, or colored braid, or other textile materials glued to the pot look very beautiful. You can also add beads, glass pebbles, coins, buttons, and shells - in general, anything that can diversify and decorate the design.

Any glue will do as long as it dries well and remains transparent. If you are dealing with pieces of fabric, then you need to not only glue them, but also prime them with another adhesive layer on top. This layer acts as a protective film.

Knitting

If the housewife is a needlewoman and knits, then she will probably have leftover yarn of different types. Using them, you can quickly and easily knit covers for flower pots. It is convenient to work with both crochet and knitting, and you can use a variety of yarns - wool, cotton, decorative. Nowadays there are a lot of ribbon yarns, knitted from old tights, braid, twine and bobbin threads.

Knitted covers have a rhythmic pattern that is soothing and cozy; the hook is capable of creating intricate patterns that are pleasant and interesting to look at.

In any case, both of them look very original, and with their existence they compliment the hostess.

Indoor flowers are a decoration for any home, but store-bought terracotta flower pots, which are so useful for plants, almost always look boring and unattractive. However, diligence, golden hands and imagination can work real miracles. In our book you will find a lot of interesting ideas that can turn ordinary pots and flowerpots into works of art.

A series: School of handicrafts

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The given introductory fragment of the book Decorating flower pots (E. A. Mikhailova, 2013) provided by our book partner - the company liters.

Sewn and knitted flowerpots

Secrets of cutting and sewing

To transform an ordinary flower pot into an exquisite decorative element, it is best to choose simple, untreated clay pots without decoration or painting as the base. They are inexpensive and ideal for growing indoor plants. Also, not very beautiful plastic containers can become the basis for decoration.

Clay pots are not glazed, so after watering plants, streaks often appear on their surface. To preserve the attractive appearance of the decorated container for as long as possible, it is best to use it as a flower pot by placing another pot inside and leaving a distance of about 1 cm between their walls.

Decorating flower pots with fabric is considered the easiest to do, since it does not require special knowledge, materials or tools. For the simplest design options, everything you need is at hand in almost every home, but every job can always be complicated if desired.

Decorating flower pots with fabric is also convenient because such decor can be replaced at any time if the previous color does not match the overall scheme of the interior after the renovation, or it has simply become uninteresting, or has faded in the sun. The fact is that the essence of the method is to simply wrap the pot with a piece of cloth.

However, before you start working, no matter what design method you choose, you first need to decide on the color scheme in which you will create your masterpieces. It is advisable to make the pots, if different, then in the same style.

Flower pots can be made from any materials that are suitable for decorating and decorating clothes, as well as textiles left over from sewing curtains. You can safely use buttons, belt buckles, all kinds of lace, bows, beads and beads. Fabric flowerpots can be decorated with braid, embroidery, felt appliqués, or decorated with a beautiful ribbon, picturesquely tied around the pot and tied with a spectacular bow. Sometimes it is enough to sew a cover for a flowerpot made of fabric with polka dots, small checks or longitudinal stripes and tie it with a bright bow - the retro-style interior item is ready (Fig. 9).

Figure 9. Retro-style fabric planter

The easiest way to decorate a flower pot is with a strip of fabric of a matching color, but it should be quite dense and stiff. You can also use embroidery canvas for these purposes. To do this, you need to cut out a rectangle from a suitable fabric equal to the height of the pot, add 2-3 cm to the hem on all sides, tuck and sew the folded sections so that they do not fray. To make it more decorative, you can trim the top edge of the cover with cotton fabric with an interesting pattern. The fabric can be sewn at the side seam, or if it takes a long time and is not very convenient, then simply glue it. After this, all that remains is to secure the fabric to the pot, gluing it to the side and along the top edge.

The edges of the potted “clothes” can be pinned together with decorative pins as an element of decoration, the fastening can be made using contact tape (“Velcro”) or with air loops, choosing interesting buttons. You can cut such a cover to be larger in height by adding a little fabric to the bottom, which needs to be stitched in the same way as when sewing a regular bag. You can insert skewers into the side seams to give shape. Such a cover will be easier to change or remove for washing (Fig. 10).

Ceramic, plastic, wooden, metal or glass plant pots come in a wide variety of shapes - from the usual design to the most bizarre configurations, resembling a sea shell or a flying saucer.

You can do without connecting the side seams on the fabric - just tie the pot wrapped in fabric with ribbon. In this case, the ribbon can be selected in contrast to the color of the main fabric or to match the color of the plant itself or its inflorescences. By the way, from a design point of view it will be much more original and correct.

Figure 10. Case-bag made of canvas, trimmed with cotton fabric

To decorate pots and flowerpots in this way, you can use both new fabric and scraps from old shirts, diapers, sweaters, towels, etc. Burlap, camouflage fabric and tarpaulin look very nice in the decor of pots. In addition, these types of fabric, which initially have enviable strength, will last much longer.

How to make a pattern

If you intend to decorate several pots of the same shape and size at once, it is more advisable to make a pattern. To do this, you will need fairly thick white paper such as Whatman paper; it is convenient to use scale-coordinate paper for this purpose - graph paper. As a last resort, you can even use an old newspaper, although a pattern made from it will not be durable.

To create a pattern for a cone-shaped pot, you need to mark a vertical center line on the outside of the pot with a simple pencil. After this, place it sideways on a sheet of paper so that the drawn line coincides with the edge of the sheet, and slowly roll it over the surface of the paper, marking the upper and lower boundaries of the pot with a pencil (Fig. 11).

Figure 11. Marking the top and bottom border of the pot

Figure 12. Pattern for a cover for a flower pot or flowerpot

Figure 13. Cutting the finished pattern

The result should be a pattern that consists of two arched lines connected by a vertical line. In order to wrap the fabric over the edges, you need to add 2 cm to the seam allowances on the sides on both sides and at the bottom of the product (Fig. 12).

After this, you can cut out the pattern, taking into account the hem allowances (Fig. 13).

If you cannot construct a pattern in the proposed way, for example, because you decided to decorate an old pot in which your favorite flower is already growing, you can do it differently. In this case, the pot must be measured using a tailor's measuring tape, along the lower diameter and height. If the pot has a conical shape, then the size of the upper diameter will also be necessary. Using the obtained measurements, the pattern is constructed as follows:

✓ set aside the size of the upper diameter of the pot in the upper part of the paper sheet and draw a horizontal line - this is a cut of the decorative flap;

✓ step back down by about 10–12 cm (the size of the lapel) and draw a second horizontal line parallel to it - this is the upper cut of the cover in the absence of a lapel;

✓ connect two parallel lines with vertical segments - the side joint of the lapel;

✓ determine the middle of the upper part of the cover and set the height of the pot vertically down from this point;

✓ connect two points with a vertical line and place it in its lower part along half the lower diameter of the pot to the right and left of the middle;

✓ connect the resulting points first with a horizontal line, and then with diagonals with the end points of the upper cut of the cover (Fig. 14).

Figure 14. Pattern pattern for a cover for a flower pot with a lapel

Knitting secrets

You can decorate flower pots not only with sewn, but also with knitted flowerpot covers, using leftovers from a wide variety of yarn to make them. Such cases have a number of advantages. For example, they are very decorative, and if necessary they can be removed and washed. Tight knitting will completely hide the defects of the pot or its unattractive appearance. Finally, a hand-knitted product will decorate your room and will always be on display.

Knowing the basics of knitting, you can make many varieties of knitted flower pots yourself. The main thing here is the idea and the right choice of yarn and tools. So, yarn for hand knitting is divided into natural, synthetic and blended. The first group includes wool, cotton, linen and silk yarn. Synthetic yarn is made from polyacrylic, polyester, polyamide, elastane and viscose. Blended yarn consists of natural and synthetic fibers in different proportions.

You can use any yarn to knit flower pots. The main thing is that it must correspond to the style of the intended product. For example, it is better to crochet openwork flower pots from cotton yarn, as they can be starched, which makes them hold their shape perfectly. From colored synthetic yarn you can knit multi-colored striped flowerpots, which, by the way, are easily washed and do not fade in the sun. The variety of yarn in composition, color, thickness and texture opens up enormous scope for imagination.

To knit flower pots, both knitting needles and a crochet hook are used. The former are distinguished by shape, size and material of manufacture and are selected depending on the type of intended work and the thickness of the yarn. Knitting needles are made from metal, plastic and bamboo.

Keep in mind that aluminum knitting needles can stain very light-colored yarn. To knit a flower pot, it is better to take aluminum, nickel-plated or bamboo knitting needles of small diameter. The thickness of the knitting needles should match or slightly exceed the thickness of the yarn. With the correct selection of yarn and knitting needle thickness, the knitting will be optimally dense, and the finished product will look neat.

To knit a cover for a flower pot, you can use stocking or circular knitting needles. Stocking knitting needles are a set of five double-edged knitting needles of short length, circular knitting needles are a pair of knitting needles connected by a thin flexible tube. When using stocking needles, the flowerpot will turn out seamless, and on circular knitting needles it is convenient to knit wide pieces, the edges of which can later be sewn or crocheted on the wrong side. However, these knitting needles are also suitable for knitting in the round without seams.

Crochet hooks are made from the same materials as knitting needles, and they also differ in size, based on which yarn of a certain thickness is selected.

During the knitting process, you may need an additional knitting needle or pin to temporarily remove stitches, a needle for sewing knitwear with a wide eye and a blunt end, a ruler, scissors and a measuring tape.

A knitted flowerpot can be decorated with an applique of voluminous knitted or embroidered elements. These can be twigs with berries, flowers, birds, etc. Such pots are especially suitable for decorative leafy indoor plants.

Before you start knitting a flower pot, you should determine its size and calculate the required number of loops. To do this, measure the circumference along the upper and lower edges of the flower pot, select a pattern and knit a square measuring 10 x 10 cm. Then count how many loops and rows there are in this pattern. Based on this, the number of loops that need to be cast on to knit a flower pot for a specific flower pot is calculated. Usually the upper circumference of a flower pot is longer than the lower one, so when knitting from bottom to top, the number of loops is increased.

When knitting, the main stitches are knit and purl stitches. Using them in various combinations, you can create the most incredible patterns. Using yarn overs, you can increase the length of the row and, accordingly, the width of the knitted fabric. This is how covers for cone-shaped flower pots are knitted. Closing the loops of the top row is of great importance - if the last row is knitted neatly, then the flowerpot as a whole will look good. However, you can always crochet the edge.

Knitted flowerpots can be additionally decorated with accessories (buttons, cords, braid, buckles, etc.) and various knitted elements (flowers, leaves, berries, etc.).

Product options

There are quite a lot of options for covers for flower pots or flowerpots that can be made without using a pattern at all. Perhaps this is where you should start, because the result will not be long in coming, and you will be able to more accurately determine your strengths and train before setting yourself more complex tasks.

Wool covers for flower pots

You can make excellent covers for flower pots with your own hands from an ordinary old sweater. This is a simple, but quite exciting activity for the winter holidays, which will bring genuine pleasure.

A cover made from an old sweater will disguise an unsightly old flower pot. For the winter version, you can use an unnecessary woolen sweater; for the summer, any stretchable knitwear is suitable: T-shirts, turtlenecks, etc. Knitwear with a beautiful pattern is good in itself, working with it does not require a pattern - you just need to attach it to a flowerpot.

You will need

An unglazed ceramic or plastic pot, an old wool sweater in bright colors, sewing threads to match the sweater, all-purpose PVA glue, a measuring tape, a ruler, a pencil, scissors, a sewing needle, dishwashing detergent.

Progress

1. Wash the previously used pot thoroughly with dishwashing liquid and dry. It is enough to wipe the new pot with a soft cloth to remove dust.

2. Measure the height of the flower pot and cut off the top of the sweater sleeve (for a medium-sized pot) so that the piece is 5 cm larger than the height of the pot.

For a small pot you can use the lower part of the sleeve (Fig. 15)

3. Pull the cut piece over the pot so that about 1 cm of fabric remains at the base of the pot. Wrap this piece to the bottom of the pot, fold it if necessary and sew it up or glue it with PVA glue.

4. You can tuck the upper part of the cover in two ways, depending on its width. If the cover fits tightly around the pot, simply tuck the ends inside and glue it with PVA glue.

Figure 15. Cutting out a cover for a flower pot

First fold the cover hanging loosely around the pot around the pot rim, and then again inside and also glue it (Fig. 16).

If the sweater has a wide enough sleeve, then you can secure the excessively loose cover with an elastic band. For this, either a thin elastic band in the color of the knitted fabric or a colored elastic band like a patterned border is suitable.

5. Insert a pot with a plant inside the improvised flowerpot. If necessary, cover the uneven ends of the sleeve, decorate the top of the pot with expanded clay, gravel or sea pebbles. Such a measure is often necessary if the flower does not have long leaves that can cover these ends (Fig. 17).

Quick and easy production of a multi-colored cover does not require any material costs or large time investments (Fig. 18).

Figure 18. Flower pot in a cover made from an old sweater

Covers made of colorful socks

Very small flower pots or metal jars, decorated with bright multi-colored covers made from socks, look very cute and original. It is advisable to take socks with a pattern, giving preference to those that stretch well. You can also decorate vases, glasses and any other objects in a similar way.

You will need

A small unglazed ceramic pot, a bright sock with a pattern of a suitable size, a scrap of fabric, sewing thread to match the sock, a measuring tape, a ruler, a pencil, scissors, a sewing needle, dishwashing detergent.

Progress

1 Wash the pot thoroughly with dishwashing liquid and dry. Take exact measurements from it.

2 Measure the height of the pot on the sock, add 0.5–1 cm to it, mark the desired length with a pencil. Cut the bottom of the sock, then try it on to make sure the dimensions of the piece match the dimensions of the pot. In the correct version, the elastic band of the sock should be above the pot (Fig. 19).

Figure 19. Blank for a sock cover

Flower pots come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, but they should always be selected in accordance with the interior, taking into account the overall color scheme, style and atmosphere in the house.

3. To make the bottom of the case, cut out two circles with the same radius as the bottom of the pot from the remaining part of the sock and fabric. Sew the circles together. After fitting, remove the main piece from the pot, turn it inside out and sew on the bottom. Turn the finished cover right side out and pull it over the pot (Fig. 20). You can decorate small jars with hair bands.

Figure 20. Covers made from multi-colored socks

Cover made of curtain fabric without a pattern

Even those who hardly know how to sew can easily make such a cover from leftover curtain fabric.

You will need

Unglazed ceramic pot, scraps of jacquard fabric, elastic band, sewing thread to match the fabric, measuring tape, ruler, pencil, scissors, sewing needle, dishwashing detergent, candle, matches.

Progress

1 Wash the pot thoroughly with any dishwashing liquid and dry. Take exact measurements from it.

2 Take a piece of fabric, measure the required length and width on the fabric according to the parameters of the flower pot. Burn the edges of the fabric over a candle to prevent them from unraveling.

3 Cut a rectangular piece of fabric to fit the pot, add 1 cm for seam allowances, and 2-3 cm for hems along the top and bottom edges.

4 Sew the edges along the short edge. Hem along the top and bottom edges, leaving a small area open to thread the elastic through.

5. Thread the elastic through the hem along the top and bottom edges of the cover, tighten the elastic so that the cover sits tightly on the planter. Sew tightly the ends of the elastic and sew open seam areas with blind stitches (Fig. 21).

End of introductory fragment.