Floral fascinators are fun alternatives to flower crowns, and there are many ways to design them. Recently, I explored making a base for these designs with chenille stems. Why? Chenille stems are super flexible, making it easy to mold the fascinator perfectly to the wearer’s head; they are soft to the touch, and they provide a great surface on which to glue botanical materials. In addition, chenille-stem bases can be made in any size and configuration, offering myriad style options.

HOW TO MAKE THE BASE

• Form each of six chenille stems into a circle. Twist the two ends together.

• Fold each circular chenille stem in half.

• Bind two of the semicircular chenille stems together, side by side, with bullion wire. Next, bind another semicircular chenille stem to the centers of the two connected semicircular pieces with bullion wire. Repeat this process to create another identical structure.

• Cut the last chenille stem in thirds.

• Connect the two chenille-stem structures with the three short chenille stems by threading them through the folded chenille stems and twisting them tightly.

• Create four small loops of 26-gauge wire on the chenille stem structure (for the florist or wearer to insert hairpins through, to secure the design to wearer’s head).

HOW TO DECORATE THE BASE

• Cover one side of the chenille-stem structure with bird’s-nest-fern leaves, securing the leaves to the chenille stems with liquid floral adhesive (use sparingly!).
• Glue bits of deconstructed coxcomb, Clematis blooms, Allium florets, blueberries and stamens of rhododendron to the two center bird’s-nest-fern leaves with liquid floral adhesive.
• Glue Eucomis florets and buds, Allium florets, Johnny jump-ups, blueberries, bits of deconstructed coxcomb, and snippets of Sedum and Kent oregano to the six leaf-covered semicircles with liquid floral adhesive.
• Secure the finished floral fascinator onto the wearer’s head with four bobby pins