Ronghua Tutorial: How to Make Tulips

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 can be of multiple color schemes, so make whichever you like, or all of them! 

In this tutorial we will use the purple/yellow tulips for demonstration.

If you prefer, you can also make tulips using these colors:

Step 2. Group and Prepare the Threads

Fold the silk threads in half and cut them again. Half a row is enough to make one tulip, with a little silk left over. If you don’t cut the threads in half and decide to make a full row, you can make three tulips if there are no mistakes.

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.

Step 8. Flatten the Strips

Start by trimming away the frizzy edges of the silk strips, keeping each strip as straight as possible. After trimming, the strips should look clean and neat. All silk strips need to be treated this way.

Next, fold all the silk strips used for petals in half. Align the bottoms carefully and twist the copper wire tightly. Use tweezers to gently lift the silk upward as you do this. Tulip petals are long and slender rather than round, so this lifting step is essential and should not be skipped. 

Once aligned, use a heated flat iron to press the silk strips flat. Always press from back to front. For leaf strips, cut off one end of the copper wire before flattening. All silk strips need to be pressed flat.

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.

For the green strips, they are long so lay them down and spray the glue mixture onto them instead of soaking it into the solution, in order to avoid shrinkage.

Step 9. Shape the Strips 

To shape the petals, first use tweezers to form a gentle curve, making the curve at the top more pronounced. Then pull the silk inward along both edges. This completes the shape of the outer petals for the small tulip. The inner petal has a slightly different form: its base curves inward. Both flowers use the same inner petal shape, with differences only in size and color. Shape an inward curve at the base, then curve the top and pull both sides inward. Stand the shaped petals upright and let them dry.

For the outer petals of the large tulip, curl the top outward, then pull the silk strip inward on both sides. Shape 3 petals for each shape.

Leaves need to be laid flat while setting. Because leaves are wide and supported by only one copper wire, soaking them directly can cause shrinkage. Be sure to spray hairspray on both sides and use tweezers to remove any excess. Of the three leaves, one should have a strong curve. 

Adjust the shape with tweezers until the curvature looks sufficient, then pull the silk inward at the base. The remaining two leaves only need a gentle curve. Shape them diagonally so one side is higher than the other, and pull the base inward as well. Insert the leaves into a mountain clip and let them dry.

Once the petals are dry, trim their edges following the original petal shape. Use separate scissors for petals and copper wire. 

Trim the leaves into a shape that is wide in the middle and narrow at both ends.

Step 10. Make the Beads

Prepare a 15 cm piece of copper wire and thread a bead with a hole onto it. Twist the wire tightly; you’ll need a total of four beads. Use a wooden board to tighten the twist further.

Step 11. Assemble the Flower

To assemble the flower, prepare 8–10 stamens and secure them with silk thread.

A tulip has six petals in total, arranged in two layers of three. Wrap the inner petals tightly, then place the outer petals into the gaps between them. 

Use double-strand thread during assembly for strength. Trim the copper wire diagonally at the end.

Take out 3–4 steel wires and insert them to extend and support the flower stem. Attach the leaves as well. The large tulip uses two leaves, positioned at different heights. Wrap the silk thread all the way down and tie off to finish. 

The small tulip is made in the same way, but its leaves have a stronger curve.

Step 12. Assemble the Piece

Assemble the two tulips together, placing the larger flower slightly higher. When wrapping, keep the silk smooth so it doesn’t twist. 

Wrap the pre-threaded beads around the tulip stems, using two beads per stem. Secure the bottom copper wire with silk thread, then trim it diagonally to create a smooth transition in thickness.

For a decorative piece, you can extend the stem; for a brooch, you can finish here. 

To extend, add 6–7 steel wires about 8 cm long to the base. If your silk thread runs short, tie off the original thread, lay a new thread over it, and continue wrapping, pressing the old thread underneath to prevent slipping. Wrap all the way to the bottom, fold the end copper wire in half, and cover it completely with silk thread.

For a clean finish, place a folded silk thread or thin copper wire on the stem, wrap silk thread over it a few times, thread the silk through the loop, and pull the wire out. Trim off the excess silk thread.

You can watch our video tutorial for this step:)

Finally, apply a small amount of jewelry glue or white glue to the leaves and attach the small beads if you like. This step is optional. I attached four beads in total. I made tulips in three different colors, all using the same method. 

If you’re making a brooch, finish by attaching the brooch pin at the marked position in the image. 

Now go ahead and give it a try!