Silk Ribbon Embroidery Tutorial - Iris

Creating Irises in Silk Ribbon


As you would no doubt see in the bulb catalogues, Irises are available in so many varieties these days. The following is my version of a Bearded Iris.

This is being stitched with pieces of my own hand dyed 7 mm Ribbon.

Step 1: Two Ribbon Stitches downwards, slightly crossing.



Step 2: Two Ribbon Stitches coming from the Centre,
with a slight curve.



Step 3: With the option of a second coloured ribbon,
three ribbon stitches, facing up.



Step 4: With the same ribbon as Step 1 - place 1
loose ribbon stitch, 3/4 of the way up. Press down
with your fingers on the already formed petals,
to stop them pulling as you take the needle and
ribbon through. One French Knot with 4 mm.
Yellow Ribbon. ( Be careful when placing this Knot
that it does not go through the other ribbon stitches. )

Step 5: 7 mm. green ribbon coming from under
the flower, give it a tight twist and place the needle
through the base into the material, as in a ribbon
stitch. You may wish to take some matching thread
through in places to hold it flat on the fabric.
Make a folded Ribbon Stitch for one leaf.
This is done by stitching down with the matching
thread, and then folding over and completing as normal.



Step 6: Then for variety add some straight leaves, pulling the
ribbon away to create a point. Many more leaves can
be added, than I have done. This would also be the case if
you were stitching a group of Irises.



Next blog, we shall delve into more delicate irises in 4 mm. ribbon.

Hint: Should you have a Bulb Catalogue on hand they are excellent to give detail
and colour suggestions of the flowers.




Carol Daisy