Ronghua Tutorial: How to Make Blue Lotus Pen

We named this blue lotus bamboo pen Letters Not Sent. This is a pen that we wish you could hold as a vessel, for the unspoken thoughts you hold closest to your hearts. The blue lotus is a symbol of wisdom: it represents the clarity you find when you are looking into your inner world. Let this project be your next favorite journaling tool, and your companion for those quiet reflections.

Preparation: What You’ll Need

If you’ve purchased our Ronghua Toolkit, you already have everything required!
If not, prepare the following tools:

1. Bristle brush (Medium to soft hardness)
2. Flat iron (the one you use to straighten your hair)
3. Tweezers
4. At least 2 pairs of Scissors
5. wooden sticks / pencils / chopsticks
6. Hair spray or diluted white glue (1:1.15–1:1.2 ratio)
7. Big clips (around 15cm)
8. Twisting boards and wooden blocks (for even tension)
9. Anti-slip powder (optional but helpful)

Full Tutorial Video

Step 1. Align and Arrange the Silk Threads

Start by untying your silk threads. Locate the knot at one end of each bundle and cut it open carefully. This project uses 3 silk rows. 

Step 2. Group and Prepare the Threads

Each silk bundle consists of tiny strand-like structures — these are your individual strands. 

Align all strands neatly and tie them around a thin stick, keeping the ends even. Avoid uneven lengths — this ensures consistent texture later on.

Step 3. Make Silk Rows

Repeat the above process to create 3 silk rows in total. Remember to refer back to the data provided in the diagram for the following rows, as each will differ slightly. Below are the finished silk rows we made.

Step 4. Brush the Silk Rows

Fix one silk row onto your stand using big metal clips - if you don't have the wooden ronghua stand, that's totally fine! You can refer to our video about alternative solutions to the stand.

Hold the ends of the threads with one hand and brush gently but firmly from top to bottom. Don’t lift the brush midway. A light mist of water will prevent static. You can apply some pressure — silk threads are stronger than they look! Make sure to brush both the front and back sides until the row looks smooth and fluffy. 

Everyone uses a different brush and hand speed, so the time it takes to complete this step is also different. Taking my situation as a reference, it took me about 10 minutes to brush this silk row. When you feel the hair is soft and fluffy, you can stop and check. When there is no complete linear distinction between the threads, it's ready:) 

Step 5. Attach Copper Wires

When you feel that the silk is brushed enough, secure its tail with another big clip to your table or anything that can help stretch it taut. Take out one copper wire from the folded end of the row and straighten it. Twist the folded part into a spiral of about 3 cm. Clamp the silk threads between two copper wires and twist the opposite side tightly. Pull both wires taut and continue twisting until they merge into one. Remember, the twisting direction for the left and right end are opposite. 

The spacing should be as shown in step 1. 

If you have anti-slip powder, it will be much easier to dip your fingers in it and twist it. 

We highly recommend you watch the video tutorial for this step:)

Once done, remove the silk row from the stand and lay it flat.

Step 6. Cut the Silk Strips

Trim the row’s end neatly, then cut between each pair of copper wires to create even silk strips. When cutting, the scissors must be placed in the middle of two copper wires, otherwise the width of the silk strips will be inconsistent.

If threads stick to your scissors, clean them — it’s usually caused by static or residue. Cut quickly and cleanly for smooth edges. Don't touch the wire or it may get displaced.

Step 7. Center and Twist the Strips

Align the copper wire to the middle of each strip using a flat surface or wooden block.
Once centered, twist both hands in opposite directions to tighten.

Next, place the copper part between the twisting boards and continue twisting in the same direction. Stop when the wire feels firm — twisting too far may cause it to break. How do you know if it is tightened enough? If tightened properly, the copper wire should only faintly show. If the copper wire is very visible, it’s not tight enough.

Step 8. Flatten the Strips

For the lighter strips made from the 1st and 2nd rows, fold them in half and twist the copper wires to secure them. Use a mini iron to flatten the prepared strips.

Once flattened, soak them in shaping liquid, or gently brush the liquid on if you’re worried about shrinkage.

Prepare your setting solution:

1. Use either hair spray, or
2. Diluted white glue with water or alcohol (1:1.15 or 1:1.2 ratio)

Soak the flattened silk strips, let them absorb the solution, then scrape off the excess.

Step 9. Shape the Strips

Now let’s start trimming the silk strips into shape. First, trim the dark blue silk strips into inverted triangle shapes—wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. Make sure the tops of the petals are neatly pointed.

Dip the trimmed petals into hairspray once more. This time, we’ll begin shaping them. 

There are two petal shapes in total. The first shape is for the inner petals: you’ll need eight light blue petals and three dark blue petals. Curve each petal into a gentle arc, push the edges of the silk inward, and use your fingers to pinch the top into a pointed shape. One inner petal is now complete.

The second shape is for the outermost petals. You’ll need two dark blue petals and six light blue petals in this form. Shape these petals into a soft S-curve, which is different from the first shape, then push the edges inward. The top of these petals should be slightly more pointed. 

Step 10. Make the Leaves

Next, let’s make the lotus leaves. Apply white glue along the edge of each silk strip, then stick the strips together. Group four silk strips at a time and glue them as shown in the video.

In total, prepare six groups. Once the glue has dried, press the silk strips again, then glue these finished groups together. When finishing, bring the silk strips on both sides together, clip the joined area in place, and remove the clip after the glue has fully dried.

Press the lotus leaf with mini iron, then trim the edges into a soft, wavy shape. Only trim off the frizzy edges, not the waves. 

After that, thread beads onto a piece of copper wire. Only one large bead is needed at first—twist the copper wire tightly to secure it. Then thread the remaining small beads onto the wire; these do not need to be twisted tightly.

Insert the large bead into the center of the lotus leaf. Trim the copper wire at the base of the leaf at an angle, then wrap it with light brown silk thread. Add small copper beads to the stem, placing one bead at regular intervals. Use the mini iron again to curve the lotus leaf, folding one side of the silk inward and flipping the other side outward. 

Be careful—uneven heating can cause wrinkles. Once this is done, the lotus leaf is complete.

Step 11. Make the Flowers

Now we can begin assembling the lotus flower. Cut the flower center in half and remove the tape, then wrap the flower center around the outside of the seed pod. Secure the flower center and seed pod together with silk thread. 

The lotus flower has three layers of petals: the first layer uses three petals, the second layer uses five petals, 

and the third layer uses six petals. 

During assembly, it’s best to use doubled strands of thread. Tie the silk thread all the way down and adjust the petal positions as needed.

Next, assemble a flower bud. The bud only needs five petals. Trim the copper wire at an angle, then add two short pieces of copper wire beneath the bud. Tie in the small beads as well, adding one bead every 8–9 mm. This bud stem has four beads in total. Curve the lotus flower stem into a gentle arc.

Step 12. Assemble the Piece

Now bind the lotus flower and the bud together. Use several strands of thread for strength, and attach the lotus leaf at the same time. Trim off any excess copper wire—there’s no need to leave it long. Wrap the silk thread back upward, fold the wrapped copper wire in half, and continue wrapping until the wire is completely covered.

For finishing, use a folded piece of annealed copper wire. Continue wrapping silk thread around it, then thread the silk into the copper wire loop and pull the wire out. Set your lighter to the lowest flame and gently burn off any frayed edges.

You can watch our video tutorial for this step:)

Step 13. Attach the Piece to the Pen

Finally, bind the flower to the main body. For the last finishing step, place a folded copper wire onto the main body and continue wrapping thread around it. 

Finish with the method mentioned above: Thread the silk into the copper wire, pull the wire out, and trim off the excess silk thread. To prevent slipping, apply a light layer of hairspray to the tied area.

At this point, the lotus bamboo pen is complete. If you’re using a hairpin base instead, the assembly steps are exactly the same.