CAUTION If lighting the candle it is best to put any candle in a small glass so that there is no fire risk
To download the embroidery design ready to stitch in two sizes and a PDF of these instructions click this link Wired Flowers This is a zipped file and to unzip it right click on the file then select ‘Extract all’.
Easy Wired Flowers
This design creates an unusual table decoration and because it has fine wire in the centre of each petal it can be manipulated to form the shape that you wish. If you have never tried adding wire into a design this is an easy deign to experiment with. The trick is simply to slow the machine speed right down when adding the wire. Even better, very few materials are needed to create this flower.
I love creating 3dimensional objects using machine embroidery and this design evolved from a simple leave that I designed in Bernina embroidery software and then stitched adding a wire in the centre of the leave. When I washed the water-soluble stabiliser out the leave naturally curved.
Going back into the software I used the wreath feature on my basic leaf to create my flower.
Materials needed
Water soluble stabiliser
Embroidery Thread (variegated threads are particularly good)
Scotch sticky tape
26- or 24-gauge wire. I like to use 26-gauge cake or florist wires which come in straight lengths, but any fine wire will do if it is not thicker than 24 gauge.
Stitching instructions
- Hoop water soluble stabiliser. I used a double layer as this is dense stitching.
- Ensure top and bottom threads match.
- Stitch the first thread colour of the design this is the 6 leaf shaped petals.
design as it is stitching showing use of variegated thread.
- When the design is stitched remove hoop from the machine. Look at the centre of each leaf and you will see a double line which is the placement line for the wire. Each zigzag and satin stitch line to hold down the wire is a different colour as this stops the machine after a wire has been stitched down and allows you to position the next wire. But you do not change the thread colour. Th whole deign is stiched with one colour only. However if you wish to use a different colour for the centre lines you can. design ready to add wire.
close view of wire placement line
- To add the wire, do one leaf at a time. Cut a piece of wire the length of the centre of the leaf and using the scotch tape to hold it in place position it between the 2 straight stitched lens. Tip it is better to cut the wire slightly too short than too long.
Wire held in place with scotch tape
- Replace the embroidery hoop in the machine. Slow the speed of the machine. The next line to stitch is a zigzag line which holds the wire in place. This stitches from the centre of the design to the tip of the leaf.
- This line is then covered with a satin stitch. Remove the hoop from the machine and repeat steps 5 and 6 until all the leaf petals have their wires added. Finally, the design will stitch a satin ring around the centre. Again, keep the machine at a slow speed because of the wire.
photo shows 2 wires satin stitched in.
- Wash out the stabiliser and allow to dry naturally. You will be surprised at how the design curls in a natural flower shape depending a little on what weight of wire you have used.
To Create the double flower effect stitch the smaller design which fits into the medium hoop and the large design which fits into the large hoop.
Large and small flowers put together to create a candle holder.
With my v8 software, any digitizing tips to perhaps satin stitch over wire & then use the wire to shape names on my Jig board as shown in pic?
Dear nprimo,
I have only tried stump work once, but this is how I would try it:
– Programm a single wire line in V8. I would do a spiral inside the embroidery hoop so I would have the longest amount of satin stitched wire as possible. Make sure the satinstitch is as tight as possible.
– To programm a wire line, you can watch the second half of this video tutorial: https://youtu.be/vphhZdcNYU8?t=101
– Instead of fabric, I would use 2 layers of water-soluble stabilizer. That way you can wash it out and will only have the wire and stitches remaining. I am unsure though how well the satin stitch will hold up.
– Embroider just like StumpWork usually works
– Should the satin stitch fall apart after washing out the stabilizer, then you maybe need to add more supporting layers.
That’s how I would try it. Hope it helps!
I cannot get the design to export to the sewing machine. I’m Using Bernina software v8, and a bernina Artista 640. I have transfered other embroidery designs exactly the same way that I am doing this, but it fails to export the file to the Bernina. Please advise.
Dear Cherry Leigh,
we have a support organization in your country which will be glad to assist you with this. I am going to send you an email with the contact details of my colleagues there.
Have a wonderful weekend
Philipp
What a good use of wire Carolyn. What if you added chiffon or a lustred organza as well? I can see lots of “what if” moments here! Thanks for sharing.
Wow! I can’t wait to try this.