There were many techniques out there, in fact it seamed as though no two people made flowers from ribbon the same way. Each method had it's pros and cons, some required intricate sewing before hand to place a wire in one side of the ribbon, other methods included making your own ribbon.
Most techniques had the following draw backs.
Expensive materials
Specialist tools
Fiddly advanced sewing techniques
Lots of sharp things for kids to hurt themselves on.
To make this project more child friendly we will be using aida (the fabric with a lose weave used for cross stitch) and wool needles which are rather blunt to make things safer for kids. This method is designed to reduce the equipment and advanced skills that you will need. Once you have your bits you're about 10 minutes away from your first ribbon embroidered flower!
You will need:
Aida (a metre will be enough to make LOADS of flowers, probably hundreds)
Wool Needles
A regular hand sewing needle
A little sewing thread
Satin ribbon (either 10mm or 15mm wide)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DuDrQcARAsRk5aLDsPYS5eGvELKldVKWxhui8wDwsUtJ6JP0odihLsv3A1e2lgRaM44j4cLls1Orb-WTVWj1L34x-yDMOsUC2b-UGxID6Rd_BsYF7aebGeznOqFd_l0Amy5FKSUoWHc/s200/20150528_231036.jpg)
Step 1
Draw a circle on your aida. I This one is just under 5cm in diameter and seems to be a good size for a first go. Draw out 5 lined from the centre to the edge of the circle.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6zLDNpEvIvbaMvYkL3Kgm5P47T620Gb4gMXOjR_8553dfH3GhsOb6IZLPBzL9e50nDC7WABu-12fD9il4WxJI-vpx8iKpgP1BvbIEvskS8xpxhvYHqCtJkKPGuqg3ep2M1rh6CchubM/s200/20150528_231843.jpg)
Step 2
With the reguler sewing needle and thread going from the underside of the aida to the top make a stitch from the center to the edge of the circle along one of the lines. Repeat for the other four lines. We have used a contrasting thread to help you see what is going on. When you make your flower use a thread that is a close match to your ribbon.
Step 3
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8o4EU-OByfWFa_q2mS7h3UwhahjpoRwKbDAC7nY1_EvMw-p6UTpl-8wguhEw3FB0e4xWml_S3S4UH8VOKtAh3Ag6lK2XY59Q7vNhqCQGoRQ4nZGbKpPeDHHssXUzgQG-aFmIeaS1G_us/s200/20150528_232156.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HcizlEr5eyx5D1zNVs6qGjsa9IwE2BbkPX4T1WZV25_RzKjeIxpgkWdGxBN7hoKb47jsVjI7iGMvragWWKcaszkXoo9IPO5GbAwFw0WtU-XAedwfXc2ZfrDE3Qkv4c-ubDQtKnFoxrA/s200/20150528_232407.jpg)
Step 4
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgub4zJxVBR1F83FjHbGi1z1KWQgMB-W4aKh73qT8OUmdReemx_R91LDY8iQ0lPT5lj9IHMpheQzNQVtQnL4rafR0wgSB-NGIEnJbdIPoDQjhuLAmmfuqSqrMeqtvJftcUgy7M6XYz3pVA/s200/20150528_232436.jpg)
and over alternate threads.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh954U1uuFM55sc4m0k8Gm2u2dENZt4kbyykzbX7Z-M3qadjyCUDV-SH-P_lV4-mCF2g-SrGHyOh-eTcWSyyW4NophHZQxFAjd3AfNCduX3v5r8SCm5hlTPFk-Oy86mIf90IduYBr1eDVo/s200/20150528_232718.jpg)
Step 5
Keep going around in a spiral, going over and under the threads.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtqGm0JxPywnm4IUyPf1NdXuKY0XTmQTyD4zj_quPNkLEYg0lrvtOOYAK7WCciBrGpzOEOD_S2nJj4_WgF6-vUzWK-UoG9ZtS_oklJTuMLwNYav25IKlHa2j1lE_GC1aAHkdQT3Apb9s/s200/20150528_233205.jpg)
All that remains is to pop the ribbon to the underside and either tie it off or tack it in place. You can then trim away the excess aida (making sure not to cut the 5 threads) or cut a rough circle around the flower and then fold the aida back and taking it in place. Your flower is then ready to be turned into a broach or added to a sewing project such as a prom or wedding dress.