Flowerettes are made with a variation of the basic cable stitch. These simple round flowers are made with six stitches worked over four pleats. If you know how to sew up and down cables, you can make flowerettes. They are a great way to add an extra color to a basic smocking design. They are usually added after the rest of the smocking is completed. Sew a bead or a french knot in the center of the flowerette for a different look.
Things You'll Need:
- Smocked Panel
- Embroidery Floss
- Scissors
- Smocking Needle
Pleat and block your fabric. Work the other parts of your smocking design first, unless directed otherwise on your smocking plate. Thread your needle with four strands of embroidery floss. Knot the end of the floss.
Make a down cable over the first two pleats, keeping your needle parallel to the gathering thread. Work an up cable over the second and third pleats.
Work a down cable over the third and forth pleats, but do not bring the needle up between the two pleats, instead run the needle through all four pleats and bring it out on the left side of the first pleat, a few threads below the point you brought the needle out when making the first cable.
Bring the thread over the first two pleats and make an up cable. Make a down cable over the second and third pleats. Make an up cable over the third and fourth pleats.
Bring the needle through back of the fabric. Pull the floss through and knot it off. Cut off the excess floss.
Tip
Before you thread your needle, Gather your four strands of floss together and lay them on an ironing board. Starch and iron them flat to create a little ribbon of floss. This will help create smooth flowers with good coverage.
Writer Bio
Camela Bryan's first published article appeared in "Welcome Home" magazine in 1993. She wrote and published SAT preparation worksheets and is also a professional seamstress who has worked for a children's theater as a costume designer and in her own heirloom-sewing business. Bryan has a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the University of Florida.
Related Articles
