Ribbon Embroidery Techniques: Making a Spider-Web Rose
A tutorial for the spider-web rose in ribbon embroidery: mark out the bud's outline, build a thread "star" base, and weave it with ribbon, embroidery floss, or wool yarn using three different techniques.
Beginner45 minFree
Translated
Things you will learn
Not everyone likes French knots — as a decorative element on clothing they don't hold up very securely and need careful handling when washing; an alternative is the spider-web rose, which you can stitch with ribbon, embroidery floss, or wool yarn.
The base is the same for all three techniques: hoop the fabric, mark the bud's outline with five points (a small coin and a fabric marker work perfectly for this), and build a "star" over the marks with ordinary sewing thread — every "spoke" needs to be secured firmly, with no slack.
For the ribbon rose, bring narrow ribbon out to the center of the bud, anchor it with a knot on the back, then weave around in a circle, passing the needle over one "spoke," then under the next, until the thread spokes are completely hidden under the ribbon.
For the embroidery-floss rose, thread a whole strand of floss (undivided) into a wide-eyed needle, fold it in half, and weave it the same way as the ribbon; the rose looks more striking if you twist the thread slightly on the turns.
A wool-yarn rose is stitched using the same pattern and comes out especially soft and plump; you can vary any bud's center by winding a French knot or two of contrasting thread right in the middle — it'll be held securely in place by the main "petals."
What you'll get
You'll get a dimensional embroidered spider-web rose — made using any of three techniques: ribbon, embroidery floss, or wool yarn.
Materials and tools
Materials
Fabric, for hooping
An embroidery hoop
Narrow ribbon, for the ribbon rose
Embroidery floss, a whole strand, for the floss rose
Wool yarn, for the wool-yarn rose
Ordinary sewing thread, for the thread "star" base
Tools
A wide-eyed needle, for the floss and wool yarn
A regular needle, for the ribbon and thread
A small coin and a fabric marker, for marking the bud's outline
Prepare the base for the rose
The base is the same for all three techniques.
Mark the bud's outline
Hoop the fabric — the base should always be stretched taut. Mark the bud's outline with five points (a small coin and a fabric marker work perfectly for this).
The round marking template
Build the thread "star"
Build a "star" like this over the marks, using ordinary sewing thread. The only requirement is that every "spoke" needs to be secured firmly, with no slack.
The five-spoke thread base
1. The Ribbon Rose
Weave the base with narrow ribbon.
Bring the ribbon out to the center of the bud
Time to start embroidering: bring narrow ribbon out to the center of the bud, and anchor it with a knot on the back.
Threading the ribbon around the spokes
Weave the ribbon over and under the spokes
Start "walking" around in a circle, passing the needle over one "spoke," then under the next.
Forming the petals with ribbon
Finish the ribbon rose
Stop only once our thread spokes are completely hidden behind the ribbon.
The finished pink ribbon roseA close-up of the rose on fabric
2. The Embroidery-Floss Rose
Weave the base with a whole strand of floss.
Thread a doubled strand of floss
Thread a whole strand of floss into a wide-eyed needle, without splitting it into separate threads. Fold it in half.
Starting a second rose
Weave the floss the same way
Bring the strand out to the center of the bud and do the same thing you did with the ribbon, weaving it over the spokes.
Laying the spokes with red ribbonForming the center with red ribbon
Twist the thread for more definition
A little life hack: the floss rose looks more striking if you twist the thread slightly on the turns.
Pulling the ribbon through the centerA finished small rose
3. The Wool-Yarn Rose
Weave the base with wool yarn using the same pattern.
Weave the yarn using the same pattern
It's the same pattern as in the previous two cases.
Securing the ribbonForming the petals, close-up
Get a soft, plump bud
The little rose comes out unusually soft, plump, and cozy.
Two embroidered roses on fabric
Add a French-knot center
If you like, you can vary the bud with a center — just wind a French knot (one or two) of contrasting thread right in the middle.
Starting a rose with orange ribbonFinishing the orange ribbon rose
Don't worry about the knot holding
You don't need to worry about the "frenchie's" durability: it'll be held securely in place by the main "petals."
Three embroidered roses on fabricFinished roses in red and orange
Compare the results
Each technique gives the bud its own character.
Compare all three buds
Which bud do you like best? I love the wool and ribbon ones — with the exact same pattern, they come out dramatically different!
Starting a spider-web rose
Finish and variations
Finish
Your spider-web rose is ready
Your spider-web rose is ready — however you chose to make it! With the exact same pattern, the ribbon, floss, and wool versions come out completely different in character.
Variations
Add a French-knot center
If you like, you can vary the bud with a center — just wind a French knot (one or two) of contrasting thread right in the middle; it'll be held securely in place by the main "petals."
Twist the thread on the turns
The floss rose looks more striking if you twist the thread slightly on the turns.
Honestly, I only ever stitched roses like this with a whole strand of floss, until I discovered the narrow-ribbon technique. I also only just found out recently that you can get creative like this with wool. I have no idea how we managed before the internet ))
I had 2 massive encyclopedias and a pile of magazine clippings from over the years. You could find absolutely anything you wanted in there! :giggle:
Little roses like this get "planted" on all kinds of things in crazy quilting a lot — such adorable little things! I've just never seen wool ones before, though! That's something totally new. My daughter makes this kind of "fluff" out of acrylic yarn for doll hair, I'll have to put her on the case. Really curious to try it.
I've just never seen wool ones before, though! That's something totally new.
Honestly, I only ever stitched roses like this with a whole strand of floss, until I discovered the narrow-ribbon technique. I also only just found out recently that you can get creative like this with wool. I have no idea how we managed before the internet ))
Beginner45 minFree
I had 2 massive encyclopedias and a pile of magazine clippings from over the years. You could find absolutely anything you wanted in there! :giggle: