Show Your Love with a DIY Bouquet

Who doesn’t love to receive flowers for special occasions? Before you run out to buy a big bouquet, try making one yourself. Our friend and flower expert J Schwanke shows us how to create a stunning hand-tied bouquet. As a bonus, it can double as a centerpiece!

A long-standing traditional in Europe, hand-tied bouquets have risen in popularity here over the last few years. Instead of arranging flowers in a vase, you put the bouquet together, as you might guess, in your hands.

Select flowers and foliage from your garden, supermarket or florist. You’ll need to do a bit of prep work before arranging. Cut the ends of the stems at a 45-degree angle and strip all the leaves from the stem that fall below where you will be holding it. Make sure to strip the thorns off roses as well. Remove pollen from flowers such as lilies. Place all the flowers in clean, fresh water before using them.

To Arrange the Hand-Tied Bouquet:

  1. Place a few stems of flowers and foliage in one hand, holding them together vertically.
  2. Add another stem at a 45-degree angle.
  3. Continue to add flowers and foliage, one or two stems at a time, at a 45-degree angle to the last.
  4. When your bouquet has reached the desired size, add a collar of foliage by turning the bouquet as you place each stem of greenery.
  5. Bind the bouquet exactly where you’re holding the bouquet with craft covered wire.
  6. Snip the stems.

Check out J’s tips on creating a gorgeous bouquet that anyone would love!