Techniques for creating hand-tied bouquets

Hand-tying Techniques

A spiral technique is commonly used for hand-tied bouquets. This method involves holding the stems in one hand, adding flowers one-by-one into your hand while turning the bouquet with the other hand each time you add a flower. This allows for a neat, organised design.
The posy technique can be used to create compact bouquets, where the flowers are arranged in a tight, round design. The stems are tied off tightly to maintain the shape.
Learn about crisscrossing. This technique involves crossing the stems over each other at an angle, creating a fan-like effect.
Explore grouping, where similar flowers or colours are kept together in clusters for visual impact.
Know how to anchor your design. Many hand-tied bouquets use wireshaping or a tape grid to secure the arrangement and maintain its shape.

Working with Various Stems

Understand the impact of stem length. Longer stems are typically used for more dramatic, sweeping designs, whereas shorter stems are ideal for compact, posy-style bouquets.
Take into account the stem thickness. Thicker, woody stems provide more structure and are typically placed first when creating a hand-tied bouquet.
Manipulate and prepare stems. This might include stripping off the lower leaves, creating a clean cut at an angle for better water absorption, and wiring delicate or droopy stems for support.
Employ the just picked look. This is a less formal hand-tied design where flowers and foliage appear as though they’ve been picked from the garden, with a more random, unstructured arrangement.

Accessorising and Finishing Touches

Use complementary ribbon or twine to secure hand-tied bouquets at the binding point, and possibly adding a decorative bow.
Employ wrapping or packaging to protect the flowers and enhance their presentation. This can include cellophane, wrapping paper, or specialty bouquet bags.
Apply floral preservative to the water to extend the life of the bouquet once it’s in a vase.
Remember to check the final design from all angles to ensure it’s well-balanced, visually pleasing, and there are no visible ‘holes’ or gaps in the arrangement.