Technique Thursday: How to embroider Delphiniums

Hello!

Thank you for stopping by the first Technique Thursday. Today's 'how to' is about embroidering a type of flower called a delphinium.

You'll need:
A length of green embroidery floss, two strands approximately 10 inches for one flower
A length of light purple embroidery floss, approximately 12 inches for one flower
A length of complementary purple embroidery floss, approximately 12 inches for one flower
A length of purple silk ribbon. I stitch in 7 MM

1.
Use the green floss to make a single straight stitch, this will be the stem. Any length between four to eight inches will work fine, depending on the flower height that you want. Do not fasten it off, but anchor it. This stitch will loosen as you work the flowers, you'll pull the thread taunt and fasten it off at the end.

Anchor the ribbon near the bottom of the stem, about an inch or two from the bottom. Hold it flat with a second needle and take the ribbon back through the fabric close where it came up. I use a wide chenille ribbon, preferably a more dull one to prevent accidental ribbon tears.

As you pull the ribbon through, raise the second needle that is underneath the ribbon. Choose a nice height just a little higher than the ribbon is wide. Let the needle help you from pulling the ribbon too tight!

If you do, use the eye to gently pull the ribbon back through to make a nice, full flower.


Now we take the two strands of different purple colored floss and come up through the petal. Try and bring it up through the center of the petal.
Remember that you are working with three strands now- the green stem, the ribbon and the two strands in your hand. To complete the delphinium stitch, you will make a two loop french knot and bring it through the center of the petal. It is very important to flip the fabric over and smooth out of the strands. If you stitch through the ribbon, it will make a tear that will ruin that section of the ribbon, causing you to cut it off and start with a fresh length of ribbon.

I normally stitch each french knot after completing the ribbon loop, but I've heard in the hand book of silk ribbon embroidery that Ann waits until the end. Whatever you prefer!
Here is what the completed flower will look like:

The next thing is to flip the piece over and trim it a bit better- you can see that extra ribbon just hanging out there! Don't want that getting in the way of sewing your quilt, using the piece as a fabric patch or any other idea that you have.

If you have any questions, comment or send me a covnersation on etsy! (Serynanne, Seryna's Creations)
~Anne