| Cabbage Roses Are Blooming Everywhere!Sew | | | | little to look like a flower.NOTE: The more you |
| Some Up Fast And Easy!Have you noticed all the | | | | gather the thread, the flatter the flower. Looser |
| fabric flowers adorning garments these days? | | | | gathers make the flower stand up more. You |
| Take a look around the department stores.They | | | | have to experiment with the gathers to get the |
| are everywhere on everything on people and in | | | | look you want.Remember, no pressing |
| homes.Fabric flowers can be very expensive to | | | | required.Now you want to make your rose look |
| buy.But, you can sew your own with just some | | | | finished on the back.Press some fusible interfacing |
| scraps of fabric and a little time.Here is a simple | | | | to a scrap of matching rose fabric. Draw a circle |
| technique for sewing cabbage roses in minutes.I | | | | about the size of the bottom of the base of your |
| like two sizes of roses. The smaller one requires | | | | flower.Cut out the circle. The interfacing will keep |
| bias cut fabric 3" wide x 15" long.The larger rose | | | | it from fraying.Hand stitch the circle to the |
| is 5" wide x 27" long.Try a sample of each to see | | | | bottom of your rose to cover all the raw |
| what you like. Of course, you can make them | | | | edges.You can attach a pin back to the bottom |
| any width or length. Experiment. Remember that | | | | or sew the rose directly to your garment. I |
| the weight of the fabric makes a difference.Just | | | | prefer a pin back so I can easily remove the rose |
| know that the length and width of the piece of | | | | and use it for other garments, hats, scarves, |
| true bias fabric needed depends on the size that | | | | etc.I've seen these roses embellishing a wedding |
| you want the rose to be when finished.Fold the | | | | gown that was absolutely stunning.Use some |
| width in half with the right sides out and wrong | | | | unique fabrics to make your roses. Try prints, |
| sides together. Do not press.Make tiny slits along | | | | stripes, plaids, etc. Have some fun!You might even |
| the raw edges of the double bias fabric. This will | | | | try making some roses from men's old neckties. |
| prevent the bias from curling when you stitch and | | | | Necktie fabric is already cut bias.Extra tip: Save |
| wrap it into a rose.A side note: This is a good | | | | the interfacing from the ties to make new ties.To |
| trick to know to keep bias from twisting in other | | | | keep your roses looking fresh and to keep from |
| areas of your sewing.Either machine or hand | | | | being crushed, put small roses in Leggs hosiery |
| baste 1/4" from the raw edges matching slits on | | | | plastic eggs.For larger roses, make a ring out of |
| the edges as you sew.Pull the baste stitching to | | | | cardboard from an old file folder or cereal box. |
| gather up the fabric slightly.Tuck in one of the | | | | Place it around the rose and tape it to the right |
| raw edge ends. That will be the center of the | | | | size for the rose.Use your roses on your lapel, in |
| rose.Now, roll or wrap the gathered fabric around | | | | your hair, to hold a scarf, decorate a hat, |
| itself loosely.When it is all wrapped, pull the other | | | | embellish any garment or on a special gift instead |
| end down under the rose to hide it and tuck it in. | | | | of a bow.How about some cabbage roses on |
| Pin in place.Thread a needle with a single thread | | | | decorative pillows or your evening bags or put |
| run through beeswax to strengthen the thread | | | | them on your curtain tie-backs.I've even seen |
| and keep it from tangling. I also like to run the | | | | them on a ribbon wrapped around some towels in |
| thread under the iron to melt the wax into the | | | | the bathroom! Really gorgeous!Make your own |
| thread. This is another great tip to remember for | | | | floral arrangement to match your decor.It just |
| all your hand sewing.Then take hand stitches back | | | | makes sense to do it yourself!Use your |
| and forth across the bottom of the rose to hold | | | | imagination! You are the designer!They are quick |
| all the layers together nicely and secure the loose | | | | to make as gifts.Sew bouquets of fun! |
| end.On the outside, turn the folded edges back a | | | | |