How to Make and Hand-Stitch Ribbon Roses

A simple piece of ribbon or two can sure make a little girl's dress look much more elegant! You see them all the time, on Easter dresses or even women's blouses, those tiny roses made from ribbon. They're delicate and beautiful and can instantly change the look of many different things. The small roses - or larger versions - are so easy to make it's a wonder more people don't use them for their home sewing projects.

The size of the ribbon you use, of course, will determine how large the finished rose will be. Wide ribbon is used to make larger roses; narrow ribbon to make small roses. Ribbon with wire in them are not suitable for making the garment roses. No matter what type of ribbon you're using you'll do the same technique to make the desired roses.

Take a length of the ribbon and roll it over on itself a time or two. If you're hand stitching the flowers on, position the rose in its spot. Take a couple of stitches near the bottom of the ribbon and sew it to the dress. Now, fold the ribbon back so that it's going around in the opposite direction. Take the ribbon around until it reaches the area near where you started this direction. Stop, fold the ribbon back, then begin taking the ribbon in the opposite direction once again.

As you are creating the various rose petals you'll be taking small stitches along the bottom edge of the ribbon to hold it next to the garment. Don't twist the ribbon so that it's tightly balled; loosely make the wraps, this way and that, until the rose becomes as large as you want. When you get to the very end, fold it over a little, then take a few stitches to secure.

To be clear, each time you wrap the ribbon around itself again, you are creating another layer of petals. Each time, you'll wrap the ribbon to the area where you started, fold the ribbon back, then begin wrapping it in that direction.

If you want to put leaves on the flower simply cut two small lengths of green ribbon. Fold each piece so that you create a point. Position the cut ends of the ribbon under the flower and stitch in place. Leave the point of the ribbon sticking out - one on each side of the flower, or one on the side and one at the top or bottom.

If you don't do hand stitching you can still make the roses. Use dots of fabric glue to secure the petals of the rose as you create them. Use the same glue to attach the roses to garments and accessories. Use the stitched or glued roses to embellish clothes, purses, hair accessories, shoes, curtain tie-backs and more!