My favorite embellishment on my Topsey Turvey Coat & Dress patterns is the RickRack Roses. I will be teaching these patterns in October at Farmhouse Fabrics but for those that can't attend, I want to share with you how to make your own roses!
Quick Tutorial on RickRack Rose Variations:
A Classic Rose, a Cabbage Rose, & a Ruffled Rose
1. Twist two colors of rickrack together. Stack rickracks offsetting the peaks and twist together. Press. Use 10-12" for each flower.
2. All roses begin with the same center. Fold ends down and pin.
3. Roll trim 1 1/2 to 2 times around and pin. Hand tack at bottom to hold.
4. Continue rolling trim loosely until close to the end. Insert pins across back to hold.
5. Curve end to bottom of rose and hand sew through all layers at the back edges of rickracks to hold.
6. Turn right side up.
7. Turn back on row of rickrack to create a Cabbage Rose.
8. Turn back several rows to create a Classic Rose.
To Make Small Ruffled Rose:
1. Make the flower center and sew as shown before.
2. Turn rose upside down and sew gathering stitches along the edge of rickrack.
3. Pull stitches to gather.
4. Wrap around center, adjusting gathers. Insert pins across back of flower to hold wraps.
5. Turn right side up to check placement.
6. Fold trim ends to the back of flower and hand tack wraps to hold all wraps in place.
7. Finished small rose!
To make Larger Roses, wrap gathered trim around 1 1/2 to 2 times.
My Hints for Success:
- Rose is gently gathered, do not pull stitches too tight
- For each large rose, cut 12" pieces of 2 colors of 3/4" rickrack
- If two suitable colors of rickrack can't be found, use two pieces of the same color
- Saturate entire rose with fray stop glue when finished
Attaching RickRack by Machine:
- You can use a zigzag or straight stitch to sew rickrack to fabric.
- Thread the upper portion of sewing machine with clear monofilament thread.
- Thread the bobbin to match base fabric.
Be creative & let roses bloom here, there & everywhere! Please share with me what you create on my Facebook page: Kari Me Away. And look for more inspiration in my book where these instructions are listed, Sewing with Whimsy!
Live, Love, Sew!
