Making this repurposed felt succulent garden was so much fun. It really got my creative juices going, trying to work out how to make different succulents out of sweater felt scraps.
Working out how to mount my succulent garden and upcycling a container to show it off just added to the creative joy.
I’m such a craft geek, I get a kick out making lovely things out of repurposed materials. Not only that I get even more of a kick when it’s made with the scraps from other upcycling projects.
Using Sweater Felt Scraps To Make A Gorgeous Felt Succulent Garden
These weren’t my first faux succulents, I made some super cute tiny ones out of plastic bottles for my upcycled terrariums. But with these succulents, I delved deep into my bag of sweater felt scraps. Leftover from all my other upcycled sweater projects.
I’ve always wanted a faux succulent garden. I’ve seen some amazing crochet succulents and cacti on Pinterest but unfortunately, my crocheting skills aren’t up to recreating one. However, when I spotted this amazing succulent garden made out of quilled paper I got the idea to make my garden out of my felted sweater off-cuts.
I love upcycling fabrics for the home, previously I made a gorgeous sweater felt rug using a sort of quilling technique. I have also made some gorgeous fabric mushroom displays out of old bedsheets.

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What you need to make an upcycled sweater felt succulent garden
- Sweater felt scraps in assorted colours- these are scraps left over from my felted wool sweater projects. (You can see how to felt sweaters wool here). You can of course use craft felt for this. I do prefer to use the sweater felt scraps as they are often thicker than craft felt and have more interesting textures.
- Floristry wire
- Ikea Corcho trivet cork mat
- Old biscuit tin – I used one of the IKEA tins I had left over from their delicious Christmas cookies.
- Stone spray paint
- Fabric Mod Podge
- Hot glue gun
- Pins
- Rotary cutter and cutting mat

How to make an upcycled felt succulent garden
Making the Succulents
1.Spiky Green Succulent
- I made several different felt succulents. The first lot I made were using a quilling technique similar to the paper quilled succulents here. Cut the felt into long 5mm strips with a rotary cutter.
- To make this succulent. Paste one side of the felt strip with fabric glue and then wind it around floristry wire. Overlap the felt as you move down the wire. I made each spiky leaf about 6-7cm long and I made about 9 in total.

2. Red Round Leafed Succulent
For this succulent like I simply rolled my strips of felt into tight flat spirals. I used a dab of fabric glue on the end to keep it from unravelling. You will probably have to use a pin to hold the spiral in shape as the glue dries. I made 12 of these red spirals, five large and five small. Then using a glue gun I glued them into the succulent shape below.
3. The Other Quilled Felt succulents
For these Other succulents, I used a slightly thicker felt strip and quilled the felt into a dome shape. With the tall green ones I cut some tiny flowers out of pink felt and stuck them to the top. I also hot glued floristry wire the bottom of each succulent.

4. Large Floppy Long Leafed Felt Succulent
For this succulent cut a strip of sweater felt about 20cm in length with the width at 7cm one end increasing to about 11cm the other end. Then cut the strip into a zig zag leaf shape and curl up. Secure it with a dab or hot glue and add a wire stick to the base.

5. Purple Flower Faux Felt Succulent
For this unusual succulent I used the cuff of a felted sweater. However you can get the same effect with a folded over piece of felt. Fold a strip of felt about 20-25cm long and 8-10cm wide in half width ways. Cut slits into the felt about 5-7mm apart, don’t cut right to the end. Hot glue the wire stem on the edge and then roll and secure with hot glue.

6. Flat Petal Faux Sweater Succulent
Using a template, cut out 6 large and 6 small felt petals. Glue the small felt petals overlapping slightly into a round. Repeat with the large petals. Stick the small petal round into the center of the large petal round. Don’t forget to glue on a wire stem to the base.

How to assemble the felt succulent garden
Use the cork trivet to assemble the felt succulent garden. Simple pierce the cork with wire stems on the succulent and thread the wire through. Arrange the felt succulents to fit all onto the cork board. It is so easy to move and change the succulents by using this simple method.

Where to pot the felt succulent garden
If you already have a pot suitable for the succulent garden you can just use that. I actually found an old casserole dish that was the perfect size for these succulent gardens.

If not you can simply repurpose and old cookie tin by either spray painting it with the stone effect spray paint. Or upcycling the tin with denim like my recycled jean planter.




This is one succulent garden I won’t be able to kill through neglect, I’ll just have to give it an occasional dust. Also, it’s hardly made a dent in my felt scraps so I’ve got plenty more to make many more succulent gardens.
I know Christmas is yonks away, but I fancy making a few of these as a gift. Great idea for a housewarming gift too.
You can also use some of the smaller sweater felt scraps to make a pretty heart-shaped flower brooch for Valentine’s day.
I think that this succulent garden looks fabulous alongside my upcycled denim moths taxidermy.
Don’t forget to check out my super cute scrap felt Christmas tree and other ways to repurpose old wool sweaters.

Heather
This is such a cute ides, looks like fun to make!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, it was fun to make. I want to make more!
Rachel @ Fresh Design Blog
What a fab idea, that is absolutely beautiful!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, I really enjoyed making this one. I just love succulents faux or real.
Stephanie
fab! and super inventive, definitely makes you smile 🙂 #homeetc
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much Stephanie
Caro | The Twinkle Diaries
This is amazing Claire — I saw something similar in a craft gallery not long ago but the price tag was ENORMOUS!! I might have a go at making one of these with the kids — what a lovely idea! #HomeEtc
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Caro. They are fun to make and there are loads of different succulents you can create.
Marissa | Squirrels of a Feather
This is so cute, perfect for those of us who have a black thumb!
Claire Armstrong
Yes, this succulent garden will last forever, it just needs the occasional dust.
Jodie
First off, as a knitter I’m so in love with this. But there’s another reason too—we can’t keep any plants alive—except these!! We could actually have green thumbs with these succulents!!
What a fabulous project!!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much, Jodie.
Chas
Such amazing work and detail. Thanks for sharing on To Grandma’s House We Go!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, and thanks for hosting.
Julie
Brilliant, this just looks like SO much fun. I have a very similar casserole dish to that out in our garage, it’s been used for plants from time to time for many years – very retro!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Julie. The colours and pattern make the dish look so retro.
Ginny
Very clever. At first look I thought they were real.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much.
Lisa // Cucicucicoo: Eco Sewing & Crafting
Oh Claire, I love this idea so much! I love using felt scraps like this, just fiddling around to make shapes, and I love how you’ve included instructions to make each type. The whole things just looks wonderful! Pinning! 🙂 Lisa
Claire Armstrong
Aww, thank you Lisa. It was really fun to experiment and play around with the scraps.
Leanna
So creative. I especially like the denim planter cover. All teenagers and boys would just love it.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much Leanna. I like the denim too I think it goes really well with the wool plants.
creativejewishmom/sara
wow, wow, wow, Claire you have done it again! Amazing project and of course can totally relate to how satisfying it is to create something from recycled leftovers from another project! Thanks for sharing on craft schooling sunday!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Sara. Not only is it Eco friendly but it costs nothing too!
NitkaDesign
Absolutely fantastic:-)) Love your ideas:-) And they are so eco-friendly:-)))
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much. I try to repurpose whenever I can.
Victoria @DazzleWhileFrazzled
Love anything succulent! Your felt plants look very realistic. Visiting from BFF party.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Victoria. Yes, succulents are fun things to craft.
Cecilia
You are so creative! Thank you for sharing your fun posts at Vintage Charm!
Claire Armstrong
Aww, thank you Cecilia.
Jennifer Wise
This is unbelievably amazing! I can’t wait to try this. It’s gorgeous. Pinning! 🙂
#embracingchangelinky
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much. It is fun to make.