6.3 How to make a Ronghua Phoenix Three Abundances

26 janvier 2026

"Three Abundances" signifies abundant offspring, fortune, and longevity, representing the essence of traditional Chinese auspicious patterns, with roots traceable to the "Three Blessings of Huafeng." Traditional Three Abundances patterns often feature the fingered citron (Buddha's hand), peach, and pomegranate, symbolizing wisdom, longevity, and fertility respectively. In this example, the author cleverly replaces the pomegranate with a coin, bestowing the Three Abundances pattern with the new meaning of "abundant wealth, fortune, and longevity."

As for the "Phoenix & Three Abundances," it artfully merges the phoenix—a symbol of auspiciousness and beauty—with the "Three Abundances." In Chinese traditional culture, the phoenix has always been regarded as an auspicious omen, its appearance often seen as a symbol of peace and prosperity. The pink Phoenix & Three Abundances is a common self-study style for hairpin crafters, while the blue-purple version belongs to the traditional Northern school style. This example demonstrates the traditional Northern school Phoenix & Three Abundances.

Production Steps - Three Abundances

01 The velvet row color arrangement is as shown. The quantities from left to right are:

a: 20 thread groups, velvet row width 6cm, wire spacing 5~6mm;
b: 14 thread groups, velvet row width 4.2cm, wire spacing 5mm;
c: 11 thread groups, velvet row width 4.2cm, wire spacing 5mm;
d: 13 thread groups, velvet row width 6.5cm, wire spacing 4mm.

All the above velvet strips use 0.2mm annealed brass wire.

02 Taper the green velvet strips in half. Make 11 leaves in total, with 5 formed into one large leaf as shown in the diagram. Keep the remaining small leaves for later use.

03 Trim 12 pink velvet strips into the shape shown. After trimming, bind them together at the thinnest part of the head.

04 The shape after binding is as shown.

05 After winding the silk thread down 2cm, stop. Pull down each velvet strip individually to secure it. The secured shape is as shown.

06 Use tweezers to press each velvet strip downward, adjusting them into a peach shape.

07 Add four small leaves to the bottom of the adjusted peach.

08 After trimming the fingered citron (Buddha's hand) velvet strips, bind them at the base.

09 Find a folding point in the middle of a strip, fold it, then curve both the upper and lower sections inward, forming a shape similar to the number "3".

10 Process all strips of the fingered citron in this manner. After completion, add two small leaves at the base.

11 Make three coins using the yellow velvet strips following the method previously described for the Money Tree.

12 Display and assembly of the Three Abundances components.

Phoenix

01 The velvet row color arrangement is as shown. The quantities from left to right are:

a: 13 thread groups, velvet row width 4.5cm, wire spacing 5mm;
b: 14 thread groups, velvet row width 4.8cm, wire spacing 5mm;
c: 24 thread groups, velvet row width 7cm, wire spacing 5~6mm.

02 First, taper the 'c' velvet strips. The shape and arrangement data are as shown.

03 Proceed with shaping and adhesion.

04 Arrange the tail feathers in upper and lower layers.

05 Take out two additional 'c' velvet strips and wind them around a knitting needle or copper rod to create a spiraling form.

06 Combine these with the 'b' velvet strips to create a small tail cluster.

(Text in image: Remember to shape after combining here; Strip spacing is 2mm)

07 The entire tail assembly is complete.

08 Trim the 'a' and 'b' velvet strips. The shape and arrangement data are as shown.

09 Shape and adhere.

10 After adhesion, arrange them to make two wings (same direction, not a mirrored pair).

11 Combine the wings with the tail.

12 The head requires a separate arrangement of a solid-color velvet row: width 4.3cm, 28 thread groups, wire spacing 2.2cm, using 0.25mm copper wire. After making, trim it, then shape the velvet strips by pinching both ends with your fingers.

13 Cut off the wire at both ends and adhere the head to the body.

14 Additionally, if you have velvet strips about 2.8cm long and 2mm wide, you can utilize them. Trim them into the shape shown, color is not crucial as long as it matches. After trimming, shape them to make a bird's crest.