Pretty Pansy Pin Tutorial

For those who follow my blog, you know that I have a slight obsession with creating flowers. I purchase books, surf the web and have ruined many a good piece of fabric/supply trying out new ideas. In my pursuit of “new” flower ideas I have found some “old” flower ideas in the form of ribbon flowers. Ribbon work has been around since the 17th century. Once only affordable for the high society, ribbon work became popular in the early 1900’s due to articles in ladies magazines which featured ribbon flowers as hair ornaments, on belts and bags, lingerie items, and on decorative pillows for the home.*

Since it is spring I decide to try out a ribbon pansy. I found some basic instructions and after a few tries reworked them to come up with this pretty pansy pin. This pin would make a perfect accessory to any little girl’s wardrobe this spring.

*Ribbon History from www.offray.com

Supplies:
21.5” of 1.5” wide wired ribbon (I you want to use different ribbon for each layer you will need one 12” for the top petals, 8” for the bottom petals and 1.5” for the center)
Scissors
Craft/utility knife
Glue Gun
Felt
Needle
Thread that matches ribbon
Measuring tape or ruler
Cotton ball
Bobby pin

1. Cut a 12” piece, this will be the top part of the flower. The second piece should be 8”, this will create the bottom two petals. Put aside the remaining 1.5” inch piece for later.
2. Remove the wire from one side of the 12” and 8” piece of ribbon to create the gathering edge.
   
3. Thread your needle with an 18” piece of thread and knot off. Starting with the 12” piece of ribbon, sew three U-gather stitch sections in 4” intervals. You want to start your stitches at the top with the wire so that the bulk of the gathered stitches are on the unwired edge. See fig 3a.
   
   
4. When you get to the end gather the ribbon and tie off the end but do not trim. Wrap the petals in a circle and secure stitch the petals in place.
   
5. Rethread your needle with a 14” piece of thread and knot it off. Using the 8” ribbon, sew two U-gather stitch sections in 4” intervals. You want to start your stitches at the top with the wire so that the bulk of the gathered stitches are on the unwired edge. See fig 5.
6. When you get to the end gather the ribbon and tie off the end but do not trim. Sew the two open ends together.
   
7. Sew the three petal section on top of the two petal section. Stitch in the center only and try to hide the stitches in the folds. Put aside while you make the center.
   
8. Take the 1.5” ribbon and remove the wire from both sides. Cut a 1.5” round circle out of the ribbon by rounding off the edges (doesn’t have to be perfect).
   
9. Thread your needle with a 12” piece of thread and run a gather stitch around the edge of the circle. Gather the circle half way then take part of your cotton ball and stuff the circle. Finish gathering the circle and tie off the thread but do not trim.
   
10. Sew the ribbon ball to the center of the pansy. Your flower is complete!
    
11. Now for attaching the pansy to the pin. Cut felt into a 1” round piece. Take the craft knife and put a small slit in the center. Thread the bobby pin through the center slit.
12. Hot glue the front of the felt circle it (and the bobby pin) to the back of the pansy.