Thursday, July 26, 2012

Constructing country roses...

OK...I figured out how to build a country rose.  Here are the steps:

1)  Stop the procrastination and being a fraidy cat and just draw, damn it (the worst that can happen is that it will not look like a rose):

2)  Trace the rose onto freezer paper (don't reverse pattern), number petals, mark piece edges that tuck under others with little dash marks, then cut apart carefully with scissors.  (It's just like making a tiny jigsaw puzzle!)


3)  Choose fabrics that go from dark to light (outer petals to center).


4)  Count initial fabric choices.  Now count the actual number of freezer paper petals made in step #2 (don't count leaves...).  Okay...now count your initial fabric choices again.  Damn...now eliminate fabrics until the # of petals = the # of fabrics chosen  (this is the most painful step for me...).


5)  Arrange fabrics roughly in the shape of your rose to see if the color grade works.  If you like it, press the corresponding pattern to the RIGHT side.  Cut out pieces leaving an extra scant 1/8 inch on undashed edges, and an extra scant 1/4 inch on the dashed edges.



6)  Turn under edges using the glue stick applique method (see tutorial on the toolbar, above).


7)  Starting in the center, use tiny dots of Roxanne's Glue Baste ("dot, dot, not a lot") to layer pieces.  Make sure dots of glue are placed so that they won't hinder using a needle later.  I find pattern weights VERY useful during this step and I am handling the tiny pieces with my long tweezers instead of my clumsy fingers.  I am working right over my paper pattern.  If I am using TINY drops of glue, I will NOT be gluing my rose to the paper.   :o)













8)  Add connected leaves.


9)  Wow...that wasn't so bad (pat yourself oh the back...).

  
10)  When the Roxanne's Glue baste dries, using tweezers, gently peel and remove papers (these can be used again for additional roses).


11)  Do happy dance.

 

12)  I hand applique as much of this as I can, with silk thread, BEFORE I glue baste the entire rose in place on my background.  That way I am only dealing with the bulky background for stitching the outside edges.  

In stitches,
Teresa  :o)

28 comments:

  1. Just incredible! I will sit back and watch you, if it requires tweezers.

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  2. I call that applique off the block when you stitch as much as you can first. Funny that everytime I use Roxanne's glue, I find myself repeating the "dot, dot, not a lot" mantra I got from you. The rose looks incredible, thanks for sharing.

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  3. Awesome technique!! Your work is beautiful. I enjoy your blog!

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  4. GREAT tutorial, and lovely rose; thank you!!!!

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  5. Beautiful work; you have the patience of a saint!! The results are spectacular...Julierose

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  6. Amazing colors in your flower. Thanks for sharing the process, it almost seems doable when broken down into steps.

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  7. You have such patience! beautiful rose.
    Karen

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  8. OMG! You make it look deceptively simple. Your applique is incredible. Beautiful rose. I think I'll still be content to admire your work rather than applique myself!

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  9. WOWOW! What a beautiful rose. A nice way to approach its construction, too. Thank you for taking the time to make a detailed tutorial for us.

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  10. I so needed to see this step by step! Awesome! Now it makes sense! Thanks for the tutorial! And your rose is absolutely beautiful!

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  11. Nice tutorial, as were your glue stick tutorials. I went back and read them too. I have been really stymied using needle turn for the CWB with some of the tiny pieces (bird's feet) and doing one at a time. I'm not crazy about the prep work, but I will try glue stick and making units and see if it helps. Best of luck on your new project and though I recognize the need for secrecy, I'm waiting too!

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  12. You make all of this look so easy. But, girlfriend, I know that ain't the case at all!!!!!!!!! Yes, I'm a fraidy cat.

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  13. Grrrrr....

    You make this look so easy but, girlfriend, I know it ain't easy!!!! Yes, I'm one of the fraidy cats.

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  14. Wow--Thanx for sharing your great process. You really make it look so easy--if I wasn't ao busy packing up all my stuff I'd be tring this right now.....

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  15. WOW! YOU ARE SOOOOOO TALENTED....I could never do that!
    I love to stop in and check your blog. I always find the neatest things.

    hugs
    beebee

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  16. So beautiful!! You have so much patience and talent for this. Is this more from your special quilt you're designing?? :0)

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  17. oh wow!!!! ok, question, when you sew with your silk before you put it on the background fabric...is that a raw edge technique then? you are not turning the edges over right? I know seems like a silly question but I want to be totally sure of what I'm doing before I start step one and procrastinate!

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  18. Oh wait, I apparently stopped reading and just kept looking at pictures, I see where you say to use the glue method now.

    Uh oh, may be to much for me to handle.

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  19. perfection! I enjoyed watching the step by step directions. YOu make it not so scary.

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  20. I would change number 11 to: Sit back and admire the sheer amazingness of yourself. Really, really great rose!

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  21. Your flower is just beautiful, and I love your fabric choices.

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  22. OMG! You make it sound easy, but you can't fool me...I know it's not! Amazing!

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  23. I bow to you, Oh Queen! You are totally the queen of applique. I love how you make it sound so easy. Hmmm....GORGEOUS rose!! I can't wait to see what else you're up to. :0)

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  24. This is fantasic! I've never seen such a good explanation of selecting colors. The results show you know how to do it. Thanks for sharing

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  25. This is SO beautiful--I have to refine my applique stitch! I always feel so clunky and all thumbs when I try this...oh well, I can gaze at yours and see how it should look...Julierose

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