Look What I Made From…3 x Ribbons! With Cintia Gonzalez
A bit of floral buttoning, a bit of gathering and a couple of trimmed ribbon tails and voila… funky handmade rosette brooches that were made in no time. Here’s how you go about it:
Materials (makes 2)
* Striped ribbons: 1m (11/8yd) each of green and pink (2.5cm/1in width); 50cm (5/8yd) green ribbon (1cm/3/8in width)
* 2 x 38mm (11/2in) self-covering buttons
* Vintage hankie or floral fabric scraps
* White scrap fabric (optional)
* Felt (for backing): 10cm x 20cm (4 x 8in) + scraps
* 2 x brooch backs
* Needle and thread
* Clear quick-dry craft glue
* Pressing cloth
* Pencil
Learn how to quilt on your home sewing machine!
For each brooch:
Cover buttons with floral fabric or a piece of hankie as per button kit instructions. If your fabric is a bit see, through back it with a scrap of white fabric before assembling the button.
Use the circle template from the button kit to trace and cut a circle from felt.
Place a button in the centre of the felt and trace around as a guide for stitching the ribbon on later.
Cut about 70cm (27in) of wider ribbon. Work running stitch along one edge of the ribbon, then pull up the stitches to gather it.
Stitch the gathered ribbon onto the felt using the marked button diameter as a guide. Press with a pressing cloth to flatten the ribbon and give it a pleated effect. (A pressing cloth is important if you are using synthetic felt or ribbons, otherwise you’ll end up with a melted mess on your iron.)
Create and design your own bags!
Attach the button to the centre of the backing by either stitching or glueing it – whatever feels most secure. I’ve used a combination of both. (If the back of the button is a bit hollow, pad it out with some felt scraps).
Wrap the narrow ribbon around a pencil to form a tight spiral. Stitch the ribbon spiral around the outside of the button, tucking the ends in underneath.
Secure anything that feels a little loose with a few drops of glue.
Cut a 18cm (7in) length of ribbon, fold it in half and stitch the fold onto the back.
Cut the ends of this ribbon on a slant or with an inverted point. To prevent fraying, apply the tiniest amount of glue to the cut edges.
Attach the brooch backing to the top back of your brooch. I’ve stitched it in place, then glued a small piece of felt over it to neaten.
Enjoy wearing your pretty ribbon brooches.
Over to you,
Cintia xx
To contact Cintia, visit her website, My Poppet, by clicking here!
