Chanhua DIY Kit | Blue Phoenix Brooch

A complete chanhua kit for one blue phoenix brooch.** Chanhua (缠花) is a Chinese folk craft: dyed silk floss is wound, strand by strand, around a shaped copper-wire frame until a flower appears. It is three-dimensional and sculptural — closer to making a tiny silk sculpture than to sewing or embroidery. The phoenix here is the Fenghuang (凤凰) — the bird at the top of Chinese mythology and a symbol of good fortune, harmony and renewal. It is not quite the Western phoenix that burns and rises from ashes; in China the Fenghuang is a peaceful omen, and paired with the dragon it is the classic motif for weddings. Its plumage is built from many small overlapping shapes, which is why this piece takes six to nine hours rather than an afternoon. All the craft materials you need to finish one brooch are in the box:

• Blue dyed silk floss
• Paper templates for the feather shapes
• Adhesive backing sheets
• Beads
• 1 brooch base
• 1 glue stick
• 1 brush
• 1 spool of copper wire
• A step-by-step English video tutorial You only need two things of your own: a pair of scissors and a lighter (the lighter seals the thread ends so the silk does not fray).

Who it suits

• Anyone dressing up an outfit — pin it on a coat lapel, a scarf knot, a hanfu collar or a bag strap; the finished piece is about 8 cm long
• Total beginners — the templates show where each feather starts, and the video walks through every wrap
• Anyone who wants to slow down — six to nine hours of small, repetitive, absorbing work
• Gift givers — the phoenix is a traditional blessing, which makes this a meaningful gift for a wedding, an anniversary or a new start

What you end up with

One blue phoenix brooch of your own, in colours you chose — not a factory's. The finished piece is about 8 cm long.

Good to know

• Time: roughly 6–9 hours for a first piece — the plumage is many small overlapping shapes
• Skill: beginner — no sewing or embroidery experience needed
• You supply: scissors and a lighter; an adult should handle the lighter
• Age: 12+ (the wire ends are sharp)
• Care: keep it dry and store it in a box; silk floss dislikes perfume and sunscreen
• Ships worldwide with tracking, from our studio in Guang'an, Sichuan