How to Make a Bullion Rose
The embroidered beauty known as a bullion rose is easier to create than you might think. A row of bullion roses is often a fragile work of art on an infant's christening gown, a feminine touch embellishing a lawn cotton nightgown or a bit of artistic expression on a sweater or shawl. To make a bullion rose, you need to have mastered the bullion knot, also known as the caterpillar stitch, coil stitch, grub knot, knot stitch, post stitch or worm stitch, according to Sharon Boggon's online Dictionary of Stitches for Hand Embroidery and Needlework (see the Resources section).
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Things You'll Need
- 3 colors of thread for rose
- Milliner needle
- Hoop (optional)
- Scissors
- Green thread
Instructions
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1
Thread two strands on a milliner needle of the deepest color thread that you will use to make the rose. The milliner needle, also known as a straw needle, has a straight shaft, which makes wrapping easier. Place your fabric on a hoop if you will be using one; some crafters prefer not to use a hoop for the bullion stitch since they feel the knot is easier to place on fabric that is not taut.
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2
Start your thread, and make one small, vertical bullion knot for the center of the rose. (See the Resources section if you are unfamiliar with the bullion knot.) Wrap in the same direction as the natural twist of the thread.
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3
Start bullion knot 2, using the same deep color, to the right of knot 1, placing it so that it slightly overlaps knot 1 at the top and at the bottom. This creates the same look as real rose petals overlapping. You will need a few more wraps for this knot than you used for knot 1. Finish off your thread, and snip off the ends with your scissors.
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4
Thread two strands of the midtone rose thread. Place knot 3 to the right of knot 2. Start just to the left of the top of knot 2, wrap across that knot and down along its right side and then finish the wrap just to the left of the bottom of knot 2.
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5
Place knot 4 to the left of knot 1, starting just above knot 1 and wrapping to the right below knot 3. You should now have four petals starting your rose shape.
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6
Place knot 5 to the left of knot 4, starting just to the right of the top of knot 4, wrapping across that knot and down along its left side and then overlapping it again at the bottom. Finish off your thread, and snip off the ends with your scissors.
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7
Thread two strands of your lightest rose thread for knot 6. Place this knot to the right of knot 5, overlapping that knot slightly at the top and at the bottom.
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8
Set knot 7 to the right of knot 6 but slightly at the left of the top and the bottom of knot 6 so that the petals keep overlapping one another. Finish off your thread, and snip off the ends with your scissors.
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9
Continue the knot pattern until the rose is the size you want. Depending upon the size of the rose, you may need to gradually decrease the size of the knots.
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10
Thread two strands of green, and do a simple fly stitch to complete the bottom of the rose.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Make sure you thread enough length through your needle to accommodate all wraps.
If thread is wrapped too tightly, it can be difficult to slide the needle into your work. Use your fingers to adjust the tension of the wrap.
Count your wraps for each bullion knot. Write down the wraps for each knot so that your bullion roses are the same size.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit thread image by Mikhail Basov from Fotolia.com
