How to make a Silk Ribbon
& Sequin Flower
HARMONY*
We thought you'd like to know how we created the charming flower in the center of our Harmony canvas design. Here's a tutorial which can be adapted to a round flower on most canvases. Please enjoy.
· The first step is to create the base of the flower using Sundance Sequins #127c Cobalt Shimmer tacked into place with a size 11° Sundance Bead #587 Ocean Reef.
a. Come up from the back of the canvas at the outer edge of the painted blue center, add one sequin and one bead, cross over the edge of the sequin and go down through the canvas hole. The sequins need to slightly overlap each other. I found the best way to keep the ring of sequins symmetrical is to rotate the canvas with each stitch so you are always stitching from bottom to top (or from 6 o’clock to 12 o’clock) as you work your way around the circle. Continue around the circle until the area is filled.
b. The second row of sequins is added in a similar fashion as the base row with the exception of the beads, you will use three beads to tack these sequins down.
c. Position the second row so they sit up on the base bead and again they need to overlap each other. See photo below. Continue to rotate the canvas with each stitch.
Now we move on to the pink petals. The silk petals are added with a Straight Stitch using River Silks 7mm#S56 Cactus Flower. Come up from the back of the canvas just under the edge of the base row of sequins, cross over the “spacer” and go down through the canvas at the outer edge of the painted flower. I used our smallest bead tube as a spacer to ensure gentle and even tension of the petals. You may choose to use a laying tool, dowel, or pen/pencil to achieve the look you desire. Again, turn the canvas with each stitch for pleasing flow of your stitches.
· The final step is to add the metallic detail— with a single stitch and a strand of matching metallic thread, come up through the sequin hole (base ring) and down into the silk ribbon. You must be gentle as to not distort the ribbon petal.
Lastly add the little flower sequin in the center and tack down with a single bead.
*The handpainted canvas, Harmony, is the exclusive design of Sundance Designs and is available through your local needlework store as are the beads and sequins. If you don't have a shop in your city, you may visit our website at www.sundancedesignsonline.com or contact us by email at sundancenw@aol.com for information.
Information about River Silks may be obtained at www.riversilks.com
