Rose And Diamante' Corsage

THIS IS ADAPTED FROM A 1950S magazine . Its vintage charm has been given a kitsch look with the addition of diamante stamens.You can make a large and a small rose and placed them together to wear as a corsage, but there is no reason why you shouldn't make several roses as a posy for a hat, or even a whole bunch for a wedding bouquet.




MATERIALS
 • Two 14 in. (35 cm) lengths of paper-coated wire
 • Ready-made, wired diamante stamens
 • 16 x 4 in. (40 x 10 cm) and 23.5 x 4 in. (60 x 10 cm) bias strips of pink dupioni silk
 •16 x 4 in. (40x 10 cm) and 23/2 x 4 in. (60 x 10 cm) bias strips of silk chiffon in a similar color
 • Polyester sewing threads in green and pink
 •Two approximately 6 in. (15 cm) square pieces of green silk organza
 • 3/8 in. (1 cm) x 12 in. (30 cm) strip of green silk organza
 • Fabric glue that dries clear
 • Brooch back finding


EQUIPMENT
 Pins
 Hand-sewing needle
 Leaves template
 Cardstock and pencil
 Paper scissors
 Thimble
 Fabric scissors
 Wire cutters
 Small paintbrush
 Small container for mixing glue


1 Fold the lengths of wire in half. Wrap the stamen wires firmly around the loop made in the wires.

2 Fold and pin each strip of dupioni silk in half along its length. Using the hand-sewing needle and doubled pink polyester sewing thread, make a double row of running stitch down the short sides and along the bottom edge, curving the lines when sewing around the corners. Cut off the spare fabric around the curved corners. Repeat this process with the strips of organza.

3 Pull on the threads to gather up each strip to about two-thirds of its original length. To make sure the larger rose is lovely and full, gather the 23.5 in. (60 cm) strips up a little more tightly than the 16 in. (40 cm) strips.

4 Place the larger chiffon strip over the larger dupioni strip, adjusting the gathering if necessary to make sure they are the same length. Wind both the strips around the wire at the foot of the stamens.

5 Using the hand-sewing needle, a thimble, and the pink polyester sewing thread, secure the wound strips with several firm stitches, passing the needle and thread right through the base of the rose. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 with the shorter lengths of fabric and remaining wire stamen.

6 Transfer the template onto cardstock and cut it out with the paper scissors. Lay the squares of green organza on top of one another. Pin the cardstock template to the fabric and cut out two sets of leaves with the fabric scissors.

7 Push the wire stem of the rose through the middle of one leaf and slide the leaf up to just under the rose. Using the green polyester sewing thread, sew the leaf in position, pushing the needle right through the base of the rose. Attach the other leaf to the smaller rose in the same way.

8 Using the wire cutters, trim the stem of the large rose to 4 in. (10 cm) from the base of the rose. Bend the smaller rose at a right angle just below its base. Tuck the smaller rose just under the larger and cut the stem so that it aligns with that of the larger rose.

9 Put 1 teaspoon of glue into a container. Add an equal quantity of water and mix together Paint the diluted glue sparingly onto one organza strip and start to wind it around the stem of the large rose, starting just underneath the base.

10 Place the smaller rose next to the larger one and continue to wind the organza strip tightly around both rose stems. When you get to the bottom of the stems, continue winding back up until the entire strip of fabric is used up. Add more undiluted glue if necessary to hold the strip in place. Allow to dry.

11 Using the hand-sewing needle and green polyester sewing thread, sew the brooch back to the stem.

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