Thursday, October 8, 2009

How to wash ribbon embroidery

It is better to prewash the ribbons before starting the project. Soak the ribbons separately in salt water for 30 minutes. This sets the colour. Rinse with clean water, wash with mild soap,drip dry and Iron.

Finished projects can be washed gently by hand or by machine using a mild soap. While doing machine wash put the finished project in a bag stitched with mosquito net cloth and do gentle wash. By doing so embroidery will not get spoiled. Drip dry. Hang or dry flat.

To Iron spread the project face down on a terry cloth towel and Iron around the design. While ironing on the embroidered area do not press. Iron it with less pressure. Spray little water on the flattened ribbon flowers. They will regain the shape. Arrange the petals by hand and dry

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Multi-petal flower -Dog rose

Multi - petal ribbon flower can be done done by using one continuous length of ribbon. Ribbon is divided into equal portions depending upon the number of petals. Length of the ribbon used for a petal depends upon the width of the ribbon. Here ribbon width is used as a scale. It is called RW
5 petal flower needs 2 to 2 ½ RW
4 petal flowers needs 3 RW
3 petal flower needs 4.RW

Step 1



Take a length of ribbon 5x2 ½ RW + 2x¼ inch for seams .If the ribbon width is 1 inch 13 inches of ribbon is required. Make sure the cut edges are straight. Apply fabric glue on both cut edges. Mark lines ¼ inch away from both the edges .Divide the remaining portion of the ribbon into five divisions of 2½ inches wide

Step 2




Thread two strands of matching thread to a needle and using running stitch, stitch as shown in the figure. I have used different colour thread so that it is easily visible. Corners should be rounded. After stitching one division pull the thread a little. Needle comes out from the back of the ribbon or from the front of the ribbon. At this stage if the needle comes out from back start stitching the other division from the front. If needle comes out from the front start stitching from the back. By doing so the thread will wrap over the selvedge. This helps the thread to gather up easily .Remove the needle from the thread.

Step 3


Keeping right sides together sew the short edges together on the seam line.

Step 4



Take the ends of running stitch thread and pull gently gathering ribbon in to five petals. Stitch the flower on to a small piece of buckram cloth. Take desired amount of stamens bundle them in the centre with a thread. Stitch this in the middle of the flower. French knots or pistil stitches can also be used instead of stamens.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Gatehred flowers





There are many types of ribbon flowers. Simple one is gathered flower.
Step 1 Cut 12 inches of 1 inch wide satin ribbon. Seal the edges with fabric glue Join the edges with back stitch using matching thread.
Step 2 Make running stitch all along one edge using double strands of thread.
Step 3 Pull the thread to form gathers and put tight knots and using two ends of the thread. Arrange the gathers.
Step 4 Embellish the flower with pollens or beads.

Ribbon embroidery with ribbon flowers


At last I finished this project!Ribbon flowers are done separately and fixed to the cloth.Ribbon embroidery is not like crewel embroidery.While stitching some times ribbons take unexpected turn and give a different shape.We cannot unravel the stitch and do it again.Quality of the ribbon and the base cloth also play great role.I like this embroidery because it does not strain my eyes!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

how to make tassels or" kuchhu" for pallu of a sari


Tassels are also called fringes. They give grand and elegant look for a sari. In silk saris threads will be left while weaving for tying tassels. Some saris do not have them. We can still beatify them by adding tassels
 
Step 1


Stitch the edge of the sari with a small hem. Cut 8 or 10 strands of matching silk thread (machine embroidery thread) of equal length. Length depends upon the design and taste. Fold the strands to form a loop. Insert a thin crochet hook through the stitched edge of the sari and draw the loop a little.

 Step 2 
Pass the loose ends of the silk thread through the loop and pull. A knot will be formed.
Continue this along the edge of the pallu.Make the fringes ¼” apart. Trim the edges evenly. This is the foundation row. This is single knot fringe. Trim the edges evenly

Double knot fringe and other variations

 

Make the foundation row. Pick half the numbers of the strands of the first fringe and half the no of the strands of the second fringe and tie a knot continue till the end. Care must be taken so that the tension is same. The distance between the knots and the edge of the pallu should be kept same .Trim the edges. You can do as many rows as you want. 

There are other variations. We can group them and tie knots.We can add beads also.It is up to our creativity

Monday, May 11, 2009

French knot and Daisy stitch flower

Daisy stitch flower


I have used daisy stitch for sun flower

Twriled roses

Ribbon flowers


I have used straight stitch for the blue flower and ribbon stitch for red flower

Friday, March 6, 2009

Loop flower




This is another type of loop flower.In this flower, loops are small.This is got by inserting the needle through the fabric near to the needle which is kept across .

Alton loop




This stitch is used to stitch various types of flowers. Bring the needle out at the point A. Lay it flat on the fabric in the direction of the petal. Keep a needle across the ribbon at B according to the length of the petal AB will be the length of the petal .Fold the ribbon above the needle and insert the needle through the ribbon at the point A” near A and pull slowly .A loop is formed.

French knot.




French knot is used for flower centers,small bunch of flowers and berries It is worked with 2mm ribbon.Bring the needle up through the fabric at the point A. Wrap the needle once with the ribbon and insert the needle at the point B very near to A and pull.

Split stitch




Split stitch is also worked from left to right. Bring the ribbon up through the fabric at the point A . Push the needle down at the point B and make a straight stitch. Bring the needle up at the point C behind A and push the needle at the point D, The midpoint in the straight stitch AB and continue. It looks like chain stitch. Good for stems.on stitch (as shown) at the tip C.

Lazy daisy stitch




Bring needle through the fabric at A. Take a stitch A” B. A” will be very near to A. Wrap the ribbon around the needle tip, bringing remaining ribbon down at the right side. Pull the needle through. Finish off with a straight stitch or a ribbon stitch (as shown) at the tip C.

Fly stitch




Bring the ribbon through the fabric at A .Hold it down with the left thumb and insert the needle to the right on the same level at B little distance from where the thread first emerged. Take a small stitch downwards to the center at C with the ribbon below the needle. Pull through and insert the needle at D below the thread, as shown.


Stem stitch







This is an out line stitch which is worked from left to right.Bring the thread through on the design line at A and hold it down with the thumb. Insert the needle at B and bring it out at C, midway between A and B and pull the thread. Hold the ribbon down with the thumb and insert the needle at D, bringing it out at B.Continue in this way, making each stitch exactly the same length.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Back stitch




Back stitch 2mm ribbon suits this stitch. Bring the thread through the fabric at A on the stitch line and then pierce the needle through the fabric at B Bring the needle up through the fabric again at C , a point little in front of the first stitch. Then take another stitch, inserting the needle at the point A and continue.

Straight stitch





Bring the needle up through the fabric at the point A and pierce back at the point B.If the ribbon is flat you get one type of stitch .If the ribbon is twisted you will get another type. This stitch can be used for petals and spokes