Cut a circle of paper four inches in diameter. One quarter section of this will be the pattern for a morning glory. The circle may be larger if desired, but the size should depend somewhat upon the material used. These dimensions are for a small blossom made of taffeta silk or organdie. If made of velvet or heavy silk, the pattern should be much larger.
Lap the straight edges one-eighth of an inch in and paste in place. This makes a cone. Cut a piece of tie wire six inches in length, lap one end over several knots of yellow baby ribbon and twist securely. Push the other end of wire through the cone from the inside and draw the knots down into the point. Make a short bend in the wire at the lower point of the blossom on the outside to prevent its slipping down on the wire. The upper edge of the cone may be rolled over a piece of tie wire and pasted if necessary; usually it stays in place without either sewing or pasting. The edge should be stretched slightly. Organdie or taffeta silk will stay rolled into place without the tie wire. Water color is used most effectively on these flowers to make the shading as true to nature as possible. If made of velvet they may be sewed down flat on a hat at the side joining, when a large stamen of twisted ribbon or chenille may be made to cover the joining in the cone.
Orchid—
This blossom is especially adapted to the gown of the matron, or wherever a touch of lavender is desired. It is effectively combined with violets, or lilies-of-the-valley and maidenhair fern. The petals are made of satin ribbon one and one-quarter inches wide and of the peculiar pinkish lavender orchid shade. There are five petals in all—each calls for seven inches of ribbon. If possible, three of the petals should be one or two shades darker than the other two.
Fold a seven-inch piece of ribbon (one and one-quarter inches wide) in half with the right side out. Cut into shape like the illustration. Stitch a seam along the curved edge one-eighth of an inch from the edge. Twist a very small loop in one end of a piece of seven-inch tie wire and fasten up at folded end of the ribbon. Overhand this wire along the raw edges, turn to the wrong side and sew the wire in with a one-eighth-inch seam on the wrong side. This makes a French seam. Now spread the petal open flat, and push it up on the wire until the petal measures six inches in length. Gather the raw ends and wind them tight to the wire. Finish the other four petals the same way.
No. 1 pattern for the center—
This calls for a piece of velvet ribbon one and one-half inches wide and four inches in length. If possible this ribbon should be darker than the darkest petal, but of course should harmonize. Roll the ends and hem them down. Gather along one edge and draw down close around the looped end of a piece of tie wire in which a bunch of yellow stamens have been fastened. The blossom should be arranged with the three darker petals pointing up at the back of the center and the other two at the front drooping.
No. 2 pattern for the center—
This center is made from a piece of velvet ribbon three and one-half inches long and one and one-quarter inches wide. Fold lengthwise, with the satin side out. At one end sew straight across, making a seam one-eighth of an inch deep and turn. Cut the other end like the diagram and sew this with the velvet side out, leaving a tiny space at the bottom to insert the wire. This now looks something like a “Jack in the Pulpit.” Twist a few yellow stamens in the end of a piece of seven-inch tie wire and push the other end down through the little opening left at the lower point and draw the stamens down in as low as desired. Make a small, short loop in the tie wire close to the blossom to prevent its slipping back down on the wire.