Ronghua Tutorial: How to Make Cassia Flowers

Cassia flowers are small, delicate yellow blossoms known for their light, airy form and understated elegance. In traditional Chinese contexts, they are associated with clarity and calmness, reflecting the plant’s connection to herbal practices and its quiet presence in natural landscapes.

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. Refer to the color diagram below for 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 your silk rows. 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

Use your bristle brush to comb the silk rows. Continue brushing for about 10 minutes until the silk is smooth, fluffy, and free of tangles. If the silk becomes static, use a spray bottle to lightly mist the air (not the silk directly) with water.

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. Taper the Strips

Place the strips and scissors against the bamboo cup, using your palm for support if needed. Trim while gently rotating the strip, keeping the scissors slightly angled. Shape each piece so it has a wider middle and pointed ends, and make about ten of these.

Once ready, align and group them together, then secure the base with silk thread. Tuck the thread into the wire to finish, and apply a small amount of white glue. Use a piece of wire to apply the glue precisely to the center, being careful not to use too much. Fold and secure the piece again. In total, make five leaves in this way. 

Next, begin trimming the yellow strips. The yellow and green pieces are made similarly, though the yellow ones do not need to be as thin. Trim evenly while rotating, and avoid making the edges too fine. Shape them as shown, then fold each piece in half, align the ends, and twist the wire to secure. Continue until you have made 28 petals. 

Step 9. Flower and Bud Assembly

Cut the flower stamens in half, then assemble them together with the petals using green thread.

Attach the petals one by one, with each flower consisting of five petals. Adjust their shape and positioning so that they curve slightly inward, and make a total of five flowers. In addition, create one small bud with three petals. Wrap the thread downward about 1–2 cm, and use tweezers to refine the petal shapes. 

Step 10. Flatten the Leaves

Flatten the leaves, trimming any glued wire ends beforehand. After heating a flat surface, press the leaves to flatten them further, and repeat this process for all leaves.

Step 11. Make the Branches

Once everything is prepared, begin assembling the flowers and leaves using double or quadruple strands of thread for strength. Make three sets, each consisting of one flower and one leaf, and assemble them as shown. 

Extend the stem of the bud if necessary, adding thicker wire if needed; if thicker wire is unavailable, annealed wire can be used as an alternative. Fold and trim everything neatly.

Continue assembling the flowers, varying their heights to create a more natural look. Keep the threads straight while tying. One branch should include three flowers; trim the wire ends and wrap the thread down to the base, tying a knot to finish. 

Assemble the second branch in the same way, attaching the flowers from top to bottom, with the final flower including two leaves. Wrap the thread down to the base, then combine both branches and tie them tightly together. 

Fold the wire at the bottom and wrap it securely with thread. For a clean finish, use folded wire and thread, continuing to wrap and threading through the wire loop before pulling it out. Trim any excess thread. 

You can watch our video tutorial for this step:)

Step 12. Attach the Piece to the Accessory

If you are attaching it to a hairpin, trim the excess wire on the pin, then wrap thread around it twice while holding the other end firmly. Position the flower and secure it tightly to the hairpin, wrapping the thread to the desired position.

Use the same method as above fo a clean finish. Trim any remaining silk thread, then make final adjustments to the shape and positioning. The piece is now complete.

Your Cassia Flowers piece is now complete! 🌸