Project

Silk Poppies

Create these silk poppies for mom on Mother's Day -- or any time of the year -- with our easy-to-follow how-to.

Photography: Ditte Isager

Source: Martha Stewart Living, May 2011

Introduction

Don't worry about the poppies being perfect -- the raw-edged look mimics the real thing and is part of the flowers' appeal. The finished poppies can be attached to pins or barrettes.

materials

Fabric scissors

Silk shantung fabric, one color for petals, another for flower centers (bandjfabrics.com)

Needle and thread

Buttons (shell and fashion buttons, mjtrim.com)

Brooch backing or barrette (gold brooch pins, tohoshoji-ny.com)

steps

Cut a rectangle of silk 8 to 12 inches long and 2 to 5 inches wide. Note that the grain of the fabric should run vertically along the width so the fabric's surface looks similar to that of real petals.
Using a needle and thread, sew a running stitch along 1 long side of the rectangle (1/4 inch from edge), and then pull thread to tighten the fabric into a bunch. Hand-stitch center, and knot it off.
Cut a smaller rectangle of silk 6 to 8 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide. This time, cut so the grain runs horizontally. Create a fringed edge by removing a few horizontal threads at the top of the rectangle.
Sew a running stitch along 1 long side of the rectangle (1/8 inch from edge). Pull thread to tighten fabric into a bunch. Hand-stitch center, and knot it off. You will have a small rosette.
Snip small curved triangular shapes from poppy to create defined petal shapes. (Alternatively, cut fringed petals.)
Place a button in the center of the rosette, and then place rosette in center of poppy. Sew button and rosette onto poppy, and knot it off.
Hand-stitch flower to brooch backing or barrette.