Velvet Flower Accessories

acetate/rayon velvet ribbon 3" wide
Hot Potato stamps
iron
pin back, barrette or wristband
flower stamens
mister bottle
needle and thread

General Instructions for Velvet Stamping

You'll need:

• Velvet: Acetate-rayon is the best. Rayon and silk work well but are more subtle and may even disappear over time. Never use nylon; it burns and can come out.
  
• An iron with just a few steam holes; set iron on Wool or Cotton setting with no steam.
  
• Mister bottle with water
  
• Big bold Hot Potato fabric stamps (little detailed stamps get lost in the plush velvet). Hot Potato stamps are made with a special glue that allows our stamps to take the heat process.
  

1. Lightly mist the back side of the velvet.
   
   
2. Place the stamp image rubber side up on your ironing board.

3. Lay fabric right side down against the stamp image.

4. Press the iron to fabric (figure A) and hold for 10 to 20 seconds; lift up the iron, being careful not to move the fabric (figure B).

A little trial and error will make you an expert. Everyone that sees this fabric has to touch it and then wants it for pillows, clothing, drapes and more. And it does hold up to dry cleaning!

Velvet Stamping Tips

• Never make your pattern too obvious; random design is easy and forgiving. You cannot correct your mistakes, so do not set yourself up for disappointment; for instance, avoid a perfect border.
  
• If you do have an embossed image you are not pleased with, spray a bit of water on it on the right side (not silk). Scratch it with your fingernail a bit to rough up the bad design and then redo.
  
• When you are sewing, cut out your pattern and then emboss the fabric. If you are embossing a garment like a jacket, you should pay attention to placement.
  
• The biggest tip of all: I am not a perfectionist by any means; however, after buying expensive velvet and taking the time to emboss it I want my finished sewn projects to be nice. I have basted, pinned and the fabric still slips and slides. Finally I have the solution. I use double-stick Red Line tape instead of basting. It goes in the fabric allowance and is easily removed after sewing.

1. Cut ribbon to desired lengths for each petal. Four to six inches is a good size.

2. Fold the ribbon in half with right sides together and sew a seam by hand or with a machine. You want the seam to curve gradually from the base of each petal to the tip (figure C).

3. Trim the seam allowance very close to the seam you have just made (figure D).

4. Join three petal bases with running stitches. The petals should overlap slightly (figure E).

5. Pull the thread tight to gather, joining the petals into a circle (figure F). Repeat with three more petals.

6. Place one set of petals on top of the other, offsetting them slightly so all petals are showing (figure G).

7. Using new thread come up through the back and secure the sets of petals together. Fold a few flower stamens in the half, press them into the center of the flower and sew the stamens to the petals (figure H). Stitch the flower to a barrette, pin back or wristband.