Ronghua Tutorial: How to Make Lucky Anthurium Brooch

Known as “the candle in your hand,” the anthurium glows with its own quiet warmth. Its soft red bloom and golden stamen symbolize blessing, compassion, and new beginnings. The Lucky Anthurium was designed with that spirit — a small, wearable reminder of warmth and good fortune.

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 8 colours of silk to create 2 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 two 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. 

Before you brush the white row, clean the brush, otherwise the residue from the red row may stain the white row.

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 and start to stick to each other, 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 twsiting direction for the left and right end are opposite. 

The spacing between wires for red silk row should be 1cm. For the other row, it should be 0.6cm.

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. Shape the Flower Center

The yellow strip does not need to be flattened, but when trimming the tip, it’s best to use sharp scissors. Start by neatening the edges, trimming slowly while rotating the strip so the shape stays even. Both ends should be slightly narrower than the middle. Take your time with the tapering—small, patient cuts will give a cleaner result. Shape the strip into a gentle taper like here. You only need one piece for this step.

Step 9. Flatten the Strips

All red silk strips need to be flattened. Cut off one end of the copper wire. Heat your flat iron and press the strip gently from bottom to top. Move slowly and evenly.

Then we need to strengthen 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 silk strips, let them absorb the solution, then scrape off the excess.

Stick them up to dry. After they are dry, flatten them again. Trim the red silk strips to this:

Step 10. Assemble the Anthurium

Apply a thin layer of white glue along one edge, then press the strips together so they adhere.

Group the glued strips into sets of five, then assemble the sets together into one piece. Press the assembled strips again with a flat iron so the glue holds more firmly.

You don’t need to form a full closed circle — leave a small gap in the middle. Trim the assembled piece into a soft heart shape. Use the flat iron to curl the edges of the anthurium slightly, keeping the heat even to avoid visible wrinkles. After curling, check the edges again and trim them if needed.

Place the yellow strip in the center of the anthurium. Wrap the copper wire with black silk thread, then tilt the scissors to trim the bottom of the wire. Continue wrapping the thread all the way down, fold the copper wire back a little, and continue wrapping to secure the shape.

Step 11. Attach the Piece to the Brooch Pin

Add a brooch pin and bind it together with the anthurium with silk thread.

If you prefer to turn it into a potted decoration instead of a brooch, extend the stem by adding aluminum wire.

Finish by tucking the thread into the copper wire. We use a special technique to tie the thread without any trace. To do this, you will need to take a small piece of copper wire or thread and fold it in half. Cover the copper wire / thread when continue wrapping. When finishing, pass the remaining thread through the small loop of the copper wire. Then quickly pull the copper wire out from the tail. The thread ends are left inside the wrapped silk threads. You can safely cut off the exposed silk thread, and trim off any excess.  

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

Step 12. Final Adjustments

Finally, adjust the anthurium’s position, hide the brooch pin behind the flower, and trim off the copper wire on the silk strip.

Your anthurium brooch is finished!