Ronghua Tutorial: How to Make Bluebonnets Flower Headband & Brooch

Inspired by the soft blues of spring fields, this Bluebonnets headband and brooch set captures the gentle charm of blooming wildflowers. Whether worn in the hair or pinned to a coat, the piece feels fresh and effortlessly uplifting. 

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 4 colours of silk to create 3 silk rows.  Refer to the colour diagram below for thread combination details.

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 three 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.

Brush the strips with tweezers to make them fluffier, and trim them if the edges are uneven.

Step 8. Flatten the Strips

Fold the trimmed strips in half and twist the wires to secure them.

Flatten them with an iron.

Then we need to soak the flattened strips.

Prepare your setting solution:

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

Soak the flattened strips in hair-gel solution, ensuring the liquid fully penetrates the fibers. Wipe off the excess gel.

Step 9. Make the Petals

Use tweezers to shape each silk strip into a gentle curve. Gently push the bottom fibers outward, then use the tip of the tweezers to press down the very center at the top of the strip. After that, press both sides of the strip lightly with your fingers. Stand the shaped strips upright to dry. The dark blue strips are shaped the same way. 

For the others, make them into this shape and stick them up to dry.

Once the strips are completely dry, you can start trimming them. Trim only the uneven edges—avoid over-trimming. Make sure you use dedicated scissors for petals and never the same scissors used to cut copper wire, as copper will quickly dull the blades.

Step 10. Make Beaded Strings

Thread a bead onto a copper wire and twist the wire tightly. Each flower uses one bead, so prepare as many beaded wires as the number of flowers you plan to make. Then we can begin assembling.

Step 11. Assemble the Flowers

First, secure the silk thread to the copper wire. Place two petals facing each other, wrapping around the beaded string, then wrap the silk thread downward about 1 cm. Add another petal of a similar color and secure it with silk thread. Wrapping downward about 2 cm is enough. This completes one bluebonnet flower. Flowers of other colors are assembled in the same way.

Next, assemble the flower buds. Each bud uses one bead and three petals and 1 bead.

A brooch requires two buds, while a headband needs about five to six buds. Once complete, set the buds aside.

Step 12. Assemble the Piece

Take three pieces of 0.4 cm copper wire to begin assembling. Fold a length of silk thread into three or four strands and start by securing the copper wire and one flower bud together. Add one flower at each interval. The flowers should transition from lighter colors at the top to darker shades toward the bottom. Keep all flowers staggered vertically—do not place them on the same horizontal line. 

One brooch requires two flower buds, three light-colored flowers, and three dark-colored flowers.

Trim the copper wire so the base isn’t too thick. After wrapping the silk thread to the correct position, wrap it back upward. Cut off any copper wire that isn’t wrapped, fold the remaining wire in half, and wrap it again with silk thread. 

To finish without trace, place a folded copper wire or folded silk thread onto the stem, then continue wrapping to cover it completely. Trim the excess thread, thread the silk through the copper wire loop, pull the loop out, and remove the exposed silk thread. Adjust the position of the flowers.

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

Step 13. Attach the Piece to the Base

To attach the brooch base, secure a new silk thread to the back of the silk flowers, add the brooch component, and tie it tightly. Finish it using the same invisible finishing method as before. Burn off any frayed ends. The brooch is now finished.

The headband is assembled in almost the same way—it simply uses more flowers. The two sides of the headband should be asymmetrical, with one side positioned slightly higher. Place the lightest-colored flower bud at the very top. 

It’s recommended to use four strands of silk thread when tying, and to keep all threads neatly aligned without twisting.

The lower half of the headband uses dark blue flowers. You don’t need to secure each flower from start to finish; leave about 4 cm at the lower end of the main structure without flowers, and wrap silk thread to the end. To finish, place a copper wire along the stem and wrap thread around it. Thread the silk through the copper wire loop and pull it out, then trim the excess thread.

At this point, the headband is about 90% complete. Assemble the other side in the same way, and your headband is finished.