How to Make Millinery Roses
- 1). Cut a rather long length of ribbon; the length will depend upon the width of your ribbon. Cut at least 1/2 yard of a 5/8-inch-wide ribbon and 1 1/2 yards of a 2-inch-wide ribbon. Cut a small circle from felt, crinoline or stiff netting; this will form the base of the finished rose. Make your circle larger if you are planning to create an arrangement of several ribbon roses.
- 2). Sew a long running stitch using a doubled length of sewing thread across one short end of the ribbon, down the length, and around the other short end. Come up and down through the ribbon every 1/4 inch to create your running stitch. Leave a long thread tail at each end, knotting one end.
- 3). Pull the ribbon along the thread to gather it. Make the gathering quite tight at the starting end, then somewhat softer along the length of the ribbon.
- 4). Fold the end of the ribbon over on itself 90 degrees to form the center bud of your rose. Roll the gathered ribbon around this center very tightly two or three times. Sew at the base of your ribbon rosebud with a new length of thread, securing the rolls with a few simple stitches.
- 5). Continuing wrapping the ribbon around the center of your rosebud, allowing it to roll and gather in a slightly irregular way. Stitch it to the center of the rose every wrap or two to secure. Wrap until you have approximately 1 inch of ribbon remaining.
- 6). Pull the gathering thread snugly along the short end of the ribbon, then stitch this gathered edge to the base of the ribbon.
- 7). Sew your ribbon rose to the crinoline or felt circle to stabilize it, and prepare it for a pin back, barrette or to be sewn into place on a hat.
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