How to Make a Satin Brooch

Use satin ribbon to make a feminine brooch.

Often the small details of an outfit make the ensemble look put together, such as how a nice necklace and bracelet turn an ordinary plain black dress into an outfit fitting for a night out. Create your own satin brooch by making an elegant flower with satin ribbon. Add the brooch to the lapel of your winter coat to dress it up for date night, or pair it with a tank to make the otherwise causal top into one perfect for a night out with the girls.

Things You'll Need

• 1-inch-wide satin ribbon
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Lighter
• Disappearing ink fabric marker
• Straight pins
• Press cloth or scrap of muslin
• Iron
• Sewing machine
• Felt
• Hot glue gun
• Pin back 1/2-inch-wide button

Instructions

1. Cut a 72-inch-long piece of 1-inch-wide satin ribbon. Heat both ends of the ribbon for two seconds with a lighter to seal them so they don't fray.

2. Lay the ribbon on your work surface running left to right. Make a mark along the top edge 1 inch from the left edge. Make a second mark 1/2 inch to the right of the first mark. Make a third mark 1 inch to the right of the second. Keep making marks every 1 inch and 1/2 inch along the top edge.

3. Fold the ribbon to the right at the second mark from the left edge, and back to the left at the first mark. Pin this pleat so it doesn't come undone. Keep folding to the right at the second mark of each set, and back to the left at the first pinning as you go.

4. Sew along the edge of the ribbon where you made the marks with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Remove the pins as you go to avoid breaking your machine's needle. The seam will hold the pleats.

5. Cut a 1 1/2-inch circle of felt -- you can eyeball it -- to serve as the backing for the flower.

6. Coil the pleated ribbon on the felt circle with the sewn edge against the felt. Use hot glue to secure the coils as you go. Coil the full length of the ribbon. This created the flower with the pleats defining the petals.

7. Attach a pin back to the back of the felt with hot glue.

8. Glue a 1/2-inch-wide button to the center of the flower to finish the brooch.

References

• "The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing"; Singer; 2009