I've been stitching some free-motion flowers for journals in progress. And thought I would share the steps for those who might be interested...
The first couple of steps involve setting up your machine. As far as I know, you have to have a machine foot that looks something like the one above. It has an open stitching area and a spring thingie. Mine is called an open toe free motion spring foot (they use them for free-motion quilting). OR you can use the original free-motion process known as hand-stitching!
Set your machine stitch length (and width) to 0. Drop the feed dogs too, that's important.
I'm using heavy canvas cloth; if you're using something lighter weight you will want to back it with interfacing or stabilizer.
Decide where you want your flower's center to be. You can mark it if you want, but you won't be stitching the center. You're only stitching the 8 petals that will circle the center point. For Petal #1, pin a scrap of fabric that's slightly longer than you want your petal to be, as shown above.
Go to your machine and begin stitching at the point of Petal #1. If you aren't familiar with free-motion stitching you should know that you are controlling all movement of the fabric. It's drawing with thread and machine, that's the only way to really describe it. You can 'draw' one line of stitching or you can go around it a second time like I've done.
Your next step will be to remove the piece from your machine and, using sharp pointy scissors, trim around the outside of your stitch lines like so.
Now, this is important...If you want your petals to be remotely evenly spaced (it's fine if you don't!), Petal #2 should be stitched directly across from Petal #1 like above. Make sense?
So now we have two petals stitched across from one another, and you're ready to cut around Petal #2.
Petal #3 will be stitched perpendicular to Petals #1 and #2. See above?
So there's Petal #3 stitched and trimmed, and then you'll stitch Petal #4 directly across from #3 (like we did #1 and #2).
When you get to Petal #5, pin your fabric where it's centered between the petals on each side. As you stitch, just keep an eye on those two other petals and know you'll want to be approximately centered between them.
You'll stitch #6 directly across from #5 and so on...
Continue to pin, stitch, trim until you get to that magical moment where you realize you've just finished Petal #8!
If you'd like, you can rough up the edges to make them fray a bit, like I did here...
And, other than stitching a button in the center if you'd like, you've just made a pretty free-motion flower.
Thanks for following along!
Groovy! Love this tutorial, thank you... I've always cut my small shapes out first, then free-motion stitched them, which can be difficult because the small pieces tend to shift and wrinkle in the process. I'll have to try it your way. Hope you're enjoying the springtime, & contemplating sharing your almond cookie recipe from the last post :) Hugs, rachel
Posted by: rachel | 27 March 2012 at 12:38
Simple. Sweet. Charming!
Posted by: Leslie McNeil | 27 March 2012 at 12:39
Free-motion stitching doesn't look so intimidating when you break it down like that. Thanks!
Posted by: pattisj | 27 March 2012 at 14:19
Thank you for this tutorial. I've been wanting to try this and didn't know how. I didn't really search either, but here you go! Perfect. Now I need to find the presser foot. I love your art!
Karen
Posted by: Karen B | 27 March 2012 at 14:41
You have always stood out as a generous artist Rebecca; just one more reason to love the art, and the artist! Your Mama raised you right!
Posted by: Dede Warren | 27 March 2012 at 20:44
Thank you for sharing that with us. Love your work!
Posted by: Bobbie Lynn Duran | 28 March 2012 at 08:32
Wow: All these years I've cut the shape first. This is so much more inviting. I'm going straight upstairs to try. Thanks!
Posted by: Linda Dunn | 28 March 2012 at 11:17
What a sweet treat to learn this, and inspire me to play today too........hmmm and even to share a thing or two myself this week. Your generosity is inspiring.
Thank you for your heart Rebecca!
Posted by: Cherie Wilson | 28 March 2012 at 12:42
Thank you!This looks like fun!
Posted by: Mystic Blue Creations | 29 March 2012 at 09:48
Merci, les explications sont claires, cela paraƮt assez facile. Je vais essayer.
Peony
Posted by: peony and co | 31 March 2012 at 07:33
It's so gorgeous, fun & fresh! Would love to try this!!
Posted by: karen m | 31 March 2012 at 10:10
Thanks so much for sharing your really springy idea. I think I'll give it a try!
Christy Hawkins
Posted by: Christy Hawkins | 01 April 2012 at 16:27
Love this tutorial! And the end results are even better.
Posted by: Amy O'H. | 03 April 2012 at 06:24
Thanks for the awesome post and idea! I am really enjoying looking up Journals on pinterest and that's how I found your site.
Posted by: Beth McCrea Myers | 03 April 2012 at 11:29
wow...you made that look easy. Now I have to go try it. Thanks for sharing. You are absolutely the sweetest person....
Posted by: Louise Murr | 07 April 2012 at 22:34
Rebecca, you always have the coolest stuff here! Thanks for sharing this. I really need to practice my free-motion stitching, so this will be a great project to try!
Posted by: Rebecca | 09 April 2012 at 09:24
It would never have occurred to me to do it this way. I'm looking forward to trying it.
Posted by: teri | 15 April 2012 at 17:32
Awesome How-To's. Thanks for sharing :))
Posted by: Vanessa | 24 April 2012 at 09:08