DIY Felt Poppy Brooches Inspired by Marimekko’s Unikko Design

Bright, bold, and beautifully handmade! These felt Marimekko’s famous Unikko flowers inspire poppy brooches-the perfect DIY for colour lovers and fabric crafters.

I’ve got a bit of a thing for Marimekko’s iconic Unikko poppies. I’ve made Unikko-style flower pillows before and even painted my garden shed in the pattern. So it was only a matter of time before the poppies made it onto my lapel!

With Remembrance Day around the corner here in the UK, I stitched a little trio of abstract felt poppy brooches inspired by a Unikko paper napkin: one red, one orange, and one pink. They’re quick, cheerful, and wonderfully wearable.

These are “puffy” brooches, lightly stuffed so they sit softly on a coat, bag or cardigan. Each flower shape is a little different, just like the Unikko prints.

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Materials Used

• Wool blend felt in:
  • Petal colours: red, orange, pink (or your favourites)
  • Centre colour: pale/contrasting (e.g., cream, pale pink, light orange)
  • Middle dot: black
  • Stem: green
• Embroidery thread (I used 6-strand cotton, separated into three strands)
• Hand-sewing needle & pins/clips
• Small handful of fibre fill (toy stuffing) – I use the stuffing from old pillows
• Brooch pins (1 per flower)
• Sharp fabric scissors
• Optional: fabric glue stick (to position tiny pieces)

The Templates

Using a Unikko paper napkin as reference, I sketched three abstract poppy shapes on paper -think rounded, blobby petals with gentle dips. You can download them here or draw your own.

Step-by-Step: Sew the Felt Poppies

Step 1: Cut Your Felt Pieces

• From petal-colour felt, cut two identical flower shapes (front and back).
• From the lighter centre felt, cut one centre circle/oval.
• From black felt, cut one small dot.
• From green felt, cut one thin strip (stem), about 6–8 mm wide and 5–6 cm long.

Step 2: Build the Centre: Place the black dot on the lighter centre. I used sticky-backed black felt for this, but a tiny dab of glue will hold it. Or you could even stitch it in place.

Step 3: Stitch the Centre to the Flower Front: Position the centre on one of your big petal pieces. Secure it with a neat blanket stitch all the way around.

Step 4: Add the Stem: Fold the green strip in half lengthwise. Stitch down both long edges with blanket stitch so it looks like a narrow, tidy stem.

Step 5: Join the Flower Front and Back: Layer the back petal piece behind the front, with the stem sandwiched in between at the base. Begin a blanket stitch around the outer edge. Leave a 2-3 cm gap at one side for stuffing.

Step 6: Lightly Stuff: Push in a small pinch of fibre fill, just enough to give the brooch a soft, pillowy look, not a plush toy! Continue the blanket stitch to close the gap.

Step 7: Add the Brooch Pin: Turn the brooch over and hand-stitch a brooch pin securely to the back piece. Tip: For a super neat finish, you can stitch on a tiny felt patch over the pin bar to cover stitches.

That’s it! Repeat for your other colourways. I made one in red, one orange, and one pink, each with a slightly different flower shape to echo that playful Unikko vibe.

Helpful Tips

• Felt choice: A wool or wool-blend felt (1–2 mm thick) cuts cleaner and holds stitches beautifully.
• Thread look: Blanket stitch loves a contrast. Try a darker thread on lighter felt for a graphic edge or vice versa.
• Shape variety: Nudge the template a smidge each time, trim a deeper dip here, round a corner there, to get three related but unique blooms.
• Centre placement: Off-centre looks charming and very Unikko.

Pin it to your coat lapel, beret, knit scarf, or even a tote bag. A cluster of two or three looks fab, a mix of colours and shapes for that joyful, graphic pop.

Conclusion

If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know I have a bit of a Marimekko obsession. These felt poppy brooches are the latest addition to my growing Unikko-inspired collection. A while back, I made Marimekko shrinky dink earrings and even filled my garden with upcycled Marimekko tin can planters. I can’t resist those bold shapes and joyful colours!

If you love brooch crafts, you might also enjoy my other wearable DIYs, like this handmade felt flower brooch from old sweaters, my quirky velvet beetroot brooch or personalised map brooch. They’re all made from upcycled materials and have plenty of personality.