MAKING SILK RIBBON CARNATIONS

With their unique spicy yet sweet perfume, carnations are a favorite of most florists.  They will be your favorite too when you see how simple they are to make.

Using bias cut silk ribbons, these make up into gorgeous fluffy flowers when stitched with the straight stitch pattern.  They work well as a stemmed flower in arrangements or bowers and look very pretty as an accent flower on a a hat.
You will need 18"-24" of 1" wide bias cut silk ribbon or 36"-40" of 1 1/2" wide.  The length depends on how full you want the flower.

1. Begin the flower by fraying the top edge of the ribbon using your first finger and thumb.  Stitch across the bottom of the ribbon about 1/16" from the edge and gather to a length of about 1".  Secure the gathering.

2.   Roll up the gathered ribbon, stitching through all the layers as you go.

3.  Stitch to crinoline or if stemming the flower, insert and glue an 18" piece of 20-gauge stem wire into the base of the flower.

4.  Wrap the stem wire with floral tape, being sure to cover all the raw edges of ribbon.

Used with permission from The Secrets of Fashioning Ribbon Flowers - Heirlooms for the Next Generation by Helen Gibb - Krause Publications. ($24.95)   For further information or to purchase this book, visit Helen Gibb's website at http://www.helengibb.com/shopping.html.