Re-creating a Flower with a Raised Centre
Cosmos Flowers are stitched using
Sunflowers, Anemones, Cosmos are two flowers which
come to mind for this effect. When you are
replicating a flower with a raised centre, in the
case of Cosmos, Dahlias, Daisies etc. the pistils
in the centre of the flower are quite prominent.
Firstly, decide on the size of the full flower, sketch
it onto the fabric. Leaving an inner circle. To create
these pistils the easiest I find is to use a small
square of calico, placed very firmly and taut in
an embroidery hoop. With a pencil make a circle
the size that you wish for the centre of the
flower, allowing a little extra to cover
where the ribbon petals have begun.
You now have 2 Options:
1. French Knots in Embroidery Thread.
2. Small Seed Beads.
1. Mark a circle the required size on calico.
2. Fill this area with French Knots, using
Embroidery Thread. In this eg 2 strands of
thread and 3 wraps of the needle for each one.
3. With 7 mm. Ribbon construct the Flower Petals
in Ribbon Stitch. Work clockwise overlapping
each one. In the case of the Cosmos Flower
keep the tip as rounded as possible.
Whereas if it was a Daisy or Sunflower they
would be finer and more pointed.
4. Mark another circle outside of this to give
you a gathering line. Thread a needle with a
double sewing cotton to match the yellow.
You may wish to cut the calico into a smaller
piece at this point, so as it will not be too
bulky when set down in the flower .
Gather the calico up with the thread and sew
down the fabric as flat as possible. As you
would when covering a button.
5. With this needle still attached, take it through
the centre of ribbon petals and stitch it down firmly.
Should you feel there are some empty spaces,
add a few more French Knots in the
Yellow Embroidery Thread.
6. Next step if you wish to show the stems, add
this with twisted 4 mm. couched down in places
to stop it unravelling.
The buds are Ribbon Stitch in 4 mm. Yellow
with Green 4 mm. Calyx.
The leaves I have stitched using 4 mm. Green
in Ribbon Stitch, by completing it the same
way as you would with a Satin Stitch Leaf.
( They could also be a simple Ribbon Stitch
or made from Embroidery Thread. )
