1.1 Materials and Tools for Chanhua Making
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1.1 Commonly Used Materials
Cardboard
Making Chanhua requires thick cardboard, which is processed and used as the base shape and backing for the flower pieces. Generally, 350g white cardboard or pre-printed cardboard is used. On white cardboard, you can freely draw the desired shapes to increase the diversity of Chanhua. Pre-printed cardboard can be directly cut out for use, which is more convenient. You can see many kinds of Chanhua template patterns on my website.
Threads
Ordinary Silk Thread
Needs to be split before use. It is not prone to slipping during use, and the petals produced have a good luster. It is a commonly used type of thread in Chanhua making.
Untwisted Mulberry Silk Thread
Can be used directly without splitting. The petals produced have a good luster and fine texture. The thread thickness is moderate and can also be used for assembling Chanhua branches.
Tight-Twist Silk Thread
Needs to be split before use. The petals produced have a natural wavy effect.
Velvet Threads
Slightly elastic, not prone to slipping. The petals produced have a soft luster. Besides making petals, it can also be used for assembling Chanhua. Velvet threads are specially designed for making Chanhua and are the most suitable for beginners. You can find a rich variety of velvet thread colors on my website.
Gradient Velvet Threads
Dyed with two or more colors. The petals produced have a natural gradient effect. You can see Hand-Dyed Gradient Thread for Chanhua on my website.
High-Shine Rayon Thread
The petals produced have a strong luster, suitable for partial embellishment.
Iridescent Gold Thread
Can be used alone to make petals, or single strands can be mixed into silk thread for making Chanhua, giving the petals a subtle shimmer with a gold effect.
Pearl Cotton Thread
Used for making beaded tassels.
Elastic Thread
Naturally elastic, used for wrapping branches and assembling Chanhua.
Metal Wires
Color-Preserved Copper Wire
Moderate hardness and softness, easy to shape. Used as support placed under the cardboard or for shaping when making Chanhua. Generally, 0.4mm diameter copper wire is recommended for Chanhua; 0.3mm diameter copper wire can be used for some smaller petals. Copper wire comes in various colors and can be chosen according to needs.
Colored Copper Wire
Used for embellishing Chanhua, such as gold-edged Chanhua, metal wire stamens, trembling branches, etc.
Stainless Steel Soft Wire
Strong toughness, not easily broken. Often used for making flower branches or adding inside branches to increase support. 0.3mm diameter soft wire is recommended for making Chanhua.
Iron Wire
Easy to shape and affordable. Can be chosen for making Chanhua styles where the metal wire is not exposed.
Piedra Wire
Has a built-in shimmering gold effect, high strength. Used for embellishing Chanhua, such as support for tassels or butterfly antennae.
Main Body Pieces
Generally choose findings with a color-preserved coating. Select hairpins, hair combs, ear hooks, brooches, crowns, etc., according to the Chanhua style.
Besides metal findings, findings made of other materials can also be chosen according to the Chanhua style to enhance visual appeal, such as resin findings, horn findings, wooden hairpins, bamboo branches, etc.
Daily Use Items and Ornament Findings
Besides being used as hair accessories, Chanhua can also be used to embellish daily use items or be made into ornaments, such as round fans, hats, picture frames, etc.
Paints and Painting Tools
Paints are used for dyeing Chanhua. Various gradient colors can be dyed onto the finished petals to increase the beauty of Chanhua.
The dyed Chanhua has a strong luster with a subtle shimmer effect. Can also be used for making gold-edged Chanhua.
Acid Dyes
The dyed petals have a delicate luster and natural gradients.
Luminous Paint
The dyed petals have a self-luminous effect.
Palette
Used for blending and mixing paints when dyeing Chanhua.
Paintbrush
Used for painting and blending when dyeing Chanhua.
Rollerball Pen
Used for drawing patterns on finished Chanhua pieces, such as butterfly wing patterns, petal and leaf vein patterns, etc.
Metallic Paint Pen
Used for embellishing finished Chanhua pieces. Not prone to bleeding, with a built-in metallic feel.
1.2 Commonly Used Tools
Scissors
Used for cutting curved shapes, making the curved surface smoother.
Straight Scissors and Pointed Scissors
Used for cutting various shapes and silk threads. They are versatile scissors.
Mini Scissors
Used for cutting small petals or detailed shapes.
Pliers
Shaping Pliers
Used for pinching tips of Chanhua and adjusting the curvature of branches. The shaped part can better prevent the threads from being damaged by clamping.
Flat Nose Pliers
Used for adjusting metal findings and components.
Round Nose Pliers
Used for shaping petal curves, making ball-head pins, eye pins, etc.
Cutting Pliers
Used for cutting various metal wires.
Mini Pliers
Used for handling detailed parts when making Chanhua.
Others
Setting Spray
Spray evenly onto the finished Chanhua to set the threads and prevent subsequent slipping.
Jewelry Glue
For gluing various components or assisting in assembly.
White Glue
Used as an aid when finishing Chanhua to prevent thread ends from slipping.
Apply evenly to the back of Chanhua to set the threads and prevent subsequent slipping.
Tweezers
Used to assist with detailed work during Chanhua making, or for picking up and holding various beads, etc.
Lighter
After completing a Chanhua piece, use a lighter to quickly pass the flame over the petals to remove any loose fibers.
Wooden Board with Holes
During the Chanhua crafting process, a small-hole wooden board is used to assist with dyeing, shaping, and storing semi-finished pieces. A large-hole wooden board is used for storing finished Chanhua pieces. Ordinary foam board can be used as a substitute.
1.3 Creative Materials
Metal Components
Various types of accessories made of metal, such as flowers, pavilions, auspicious clouds, etc.
Petal Components
Petals made from various materials, such as gemstones, mother-of-pearl, or colored glaze/glass, can be combined with Chanhua to create finished pieces.
Used for embellishing Chanhua, making stamens, creating trembling branches, etc. There are many types of beads, which can be chosen according to personal preference. Commonly seen ones include metal beads, seed beads, zircon beads, pearls, natural stone beads, etc. Among these, various small carved pieces or irregular-shaped beads paired with Chanhua can have a unique charm.
There are many types of stamen components. Commonly used ones include fondant stamens, gypsum stamens, zircon stamens, metal stamens, etc. Metal bead caps combined with various beads or cabochons can form stamens with different styles, which can be chosen according to the Chanhua style.
Other Decorations
Zircons and rare earth glass are relatively common components when making Chanhua crowns or tassels, generally serving an embellishing role.
Gold leaf, silver leaf, and copper leaf are used for making gold-leaf-applied Chanhua petals, leaves, etc.
Gold edge strips are used for making Chanhua with gold edges. A width of 2-3mm is recommended.
Gauze materials and ribbons are used for making lined silk petals, often used for making crowns, butterflies, ginkgo leaves, etc.
Important notes:
Beginners do not need to prepare all the above materials and tools. If you just want to try learning Chanhua, our website offers a wide variety of Chanhua DIY Kits for you to choose from.
