Edwardian DIY Silk Ribbon Rose – How To Make Ribbon Flowers

Edwardian DIY Silk Ribbon Rose - How To Make Ribbon Flowers

This Edwardian real silk ribbon rose looks almost like a real rose! To make this rose you’ll need silk ribbon in two shades of pink, green silk ribbon, wire and sewing thread. The silk ribbon rose takes some time to make but it’s so worth it!

This ribbon rose ‘has exactly the appearance of a real flower, so that one is quite tempted to try the scent of it.’ (Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia, 1910-2)

Edwardian DIY Silk Ribbon Rose

You’ll Need:

  • about 2 yard silk ribbon (2.5″ wide)
  • wire
  • sewing thread
  • needle
  • scissors

Use Silk Ribbon In Two Shades

Use a thin, soft ribbon – silk is best. Because the “La France” rose is a pale pink rose cultivar, I used two shades of pale pink silk ribbon for my ribbon rose.

Related: How To Make Fabric Roses – Edwardian Tutorial

‘A “La France” rose made in soft ribbon of the flower’s two natural shades, the darker of which should be in the centre […] is made of soft faille ribbon, two inches and a half wide. If made in the natural shades, this has exactly the appearance of a real flower, so that one is quite tempted to try the scent of it.

A great point in getting this natural effect is to use two shades of ribbon with only a tone difference between them, the darker one in the centre. To procure these, it may be necessary to purchase them at two different shops, for, as a rule, the same shop does not keep two shades so nearly alike. The thinner and commoner the ribbon the better, as it gives a more delicate look, provided, of course, that it is all silk.’ (Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia, 1910-2)

Edwardian DIY Silk Ribbon Rose - How To Make Ribbon Flowers - Step By Step Tutorial

Make The Rose Petals

1. ‘To start the rose […] cut off seven pieces of the darker shade of ribbon, five inches.

2. Fold one of these in half, and gather raw edges together.’ (Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia, 1910-2) You can either gather the petals using running stitches or overcasting stitches. If the ribbon frays easily, use overcasting stitches or a combination of both.

Related: Edwardian Ribbon Fuchsia – Tutorial

3. ‘When this is done the corner of each petal turned down and caught invisibly with a single stitch in sewing silk to match the rose.

4. The best way is just to pull the silk through and tie it.’ (Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia, 1910-2)

5. The finished rose petal

Make The Silk Ribbon Rose

6. ‘Secure a little wad of wool on to one end of a piece of wire, and cover it with the ribbon. […]

7. The petal thus formed must be rolled and stitched on to the wire at the base of the little wad.

8. The remaining six petals are gathered up, and sewn on one after the other.

9. Outside these should come about ten petals in the lighter shade.’ (Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia, 1910-2)

Related: How To Make Satin Roses – Edwardian Tutorial (1910)

10. ‘Watch the face of the blossom carefully and see that it looks as natural as possible.

Make The Calyx & Stem

11. The back of the blossom will be covered when finished, either with a few old rose leaves and a rose cup, or points of green ribbon sewed to resemble leaves. […]

12. The wire [stem] may be wound with green floss, baby ribbon, green tissue paper, or gum tissue.’ (Make Your Own Hats, 1921) I used green silk ribbon for the calyx (sepals) and stem of my silk rose. I glued the green silk ribbon to the wire stem with homemade gelatin glue. Hide glue – or gelatin glue – was the typical glue used for DIY flowers in the Edwardian era.

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