Purchase the petal and leaf designs at embroidershoppe.com.

Shopping List

• 1 1⁄2 yards of 60"-wide organza (fabric A)
• 1⁄2 yard of 60"-wide organza (fabric B)
• mediumweight tear-away stabilizer
• thread: embroidery & matching all-purpose
• appliqué scissors
• hand sewing needle
• soldering iron (optional)
• embroidery designs: leaf (small & large) & petals (small, medium, large & extra-large)

Embroider

• Load the small, medium, large and extra large petal designs into the machine. For a medium rose, embroider four small, five medium and five large petals. For a large rose, embroider four small, five medium, five large and six extra-large petals.
• Hoop three layers of fabric A with tear-away stabilizer. Thread the machine with matching embroidery thread in the needle and bobbin. Embroider the petals needed for one large rose. Once the embroidery is complete, remove the hoop from the machine and the fabric from the hoop.
• Using sharp appliqué scissors, clip any jump threads on the fabric right and wrong sides. Gently tear away the stabilizer (A). Cut out each petal just beyond the design edges, being careful not to clip the embroidery thread.
• Using a hot soldering iron, carefully melt away the excess organza from each design ,perimeter, if desired, being careful not to melt or burn the embroidery thread (B).
• Repeat to embroider enough petals for six medium roses and two large roses.
• Load the small and large leaf ,designs into the machine. Hoop three layers of fabric B with stabilizer. ,Thread the machine with matching embroidery thread in ,the needle and bobbin. Embroider eight small leaves and five large leaves. Once the embroidery is complete, remove the hoop from the machine and the fabric from the hoop.
• Using sharp appliqué scissors, clip any jump threads on the fabric right and wrong sides. Gently tear away the stabilizer. Cut out each leaf just beyond the design edges, being careful not to clip ,the embroidery thread (C).
• Using a hot soldering iron, if desired, carefully melt away the excess organza from each design perimeter, being careful not to melt or burn the embroidery thread.

TIP: Use a butane lighter in lieu of a soldering iron to melt away excess organza from the design perimeter.

Construct

• Thread a hand sewing needle with matching all-purpose thread; knot the end. Hold one small petal in one hand. Curl the petal side edges toward the center (D). Wrap another small petal around the center petal; stitch through the center-petal lower edge to secure. Wrap the remaining small petals around the center petal in a clockwise direction, taking stitches along the flower-center lower edge to secure (E). Wrap the remaining medium petals around the small petals, the large petals around the medium petals and the extra-large petals around the large petals, if applicable, in a clockwise direction, taking stitches at the center-petal lower edge to secure (F). Repeat to create the remaining roses.
• Position the leaves and roses along the sweater neckline until the desired look is achieved. Once satisfied with the placement, hand stitch each leaf and rose to the sweater using matching all-purpose thread.

Designs

Leaves: Download the leaf designs for free at cmemag.com/Petal_Pusher until August 31. The designs will be available for purchase at embroidershoppe.com after the expiration date.

Petals: Download the petal designs for free at cmemag.com/Petal_Pusher until August 31. The designs will be available for purchase at embroidershoppe.com after the expiration date.

Appeared in:

July/August 2011