MORE ARTIFICIAL FLOWER MAKING

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 226, 24 September 1938, Page 24 (Supplement)

MORE ARTIFICIAL FLOWER MAKING

Tn the cnse of this (lower, tho essential features are: (a) a yellow '-pincushion" centre, and (b) a number of long and narrow white petals.

First, make the centre by winding some bright yellow wool about times round a pencil ami then cutting down the length <>f flip stick with the pointed blade of a pocket knife. This will give a 1 ii>:ll '2<l short lengths of woril. Clare all of tliem. side li\ side, in a linndle. then tie tliem tight l\ around the middle.

At this point take it cimrsc needle mid I'ulV «■ ill tin* strands i>f wool so 111 ;l t til.- wliit| i' I>nin 111- is uniformlv mi -

!'•! \«• I!<•«I at <>iii' i• iul. Afterwards trim this end su that it, becomes a dome in shape I l-'ig. I|.

Slip this woolly centre on to a hooked length ot wire, henil the hook ill the "on! and hind the lower half of the strands with cotton.

Now let. ns turn to the petals. These should lie cut out of a stout lti ;»<lt» nf white paper or. if this cannot be obtained, certain kinds of drawing paper will serve almost as well. Cut out two circles with the aid i>t the compass, each with a .iin diameter. Fold ouch into eight, and cut a shape as shown in Fig. ■J., it is essential that the folding .ami cutting l>e kept vcrv even, otherwise the petals will turn out odd shapes and .-izc*. When the two di-c, arc unfolded and placed one over the other, the under petals should till in the spaces between the upper, and thus a very realistic effect, is obtained.

Refore fixing these circles on tlic stern, cut a very tiny hole in the centre of each, to fit over that part of the flower centre which is bound to the wire stem.

Well, everybody, how did you get on with your pansy making> This week I am giving you directions for two more, which are also ea»y to make. You must, of course, remember that you do not have to stick implicitly to the material, 1 suggest the choice of colours is also your own. Marguerite daisies are such fairylike flowers, I think, and you can imitate them quite well if you follow this pattern.

Do not cut too big a hole, otherwise the petals will slip over the "pin-cushion." Although this account deals with the making of a white marguerite, it will be a simple matter to use the same instructions, with slight variations, for constructing several other (lowers, such as single asters, certain chrysanthemums, sunflowers, the larger forms of pyrethrutns. and so on.

Lastly, we have the wild rose, a very useful flower which answers for many purposes. It can he made of white crepe paper, or satin rihlxin or taffeta.

I'rolmbly the l>est way to start is to construct the arrangements of stamens. For this, cut eight lengths of yellow cotton or silk threads, each an inch long, tie a knot at both ends of each length, and trim off the projecting end. pface all the lengths together in a bundle, tie them across the middle and grip them liy means of the hooked end of the stalk wire.

Xext, turn to the petals. Note, first of all. that a wild rose has five, and that, though it is not always essential for the maker of artificial flowers to be hotanically correct, it will be found that, unless a wild rose is piven five petals, it w ill be difficult to provide it with a realistic appearance.

All the petals can be cut in one piece by following Kig. 3 closely. If crepe paper is used, see that the creases run along the length of the, petals as far as possible.

Having ent out the petal., tt mm.j be desired to tint the outer edges a rosy CO our. This can be done with water colour or coloured ink to crepe, taffeta and cotton, but not to satin. Do not use the paint very wet. especially when the cotton has been stiffened, and allow plenty of time for it to drv before the petals are handled again. There is, of course, no need to point out that the rosy colour must be made to fade into the white and not end abruptly with a sharp line.

W hen the colouring has dried, the two outer curves of each petal must be slightly curled, the curl rolling over the upper—not the lower—face. To do this, wind a portion of the material round a knitting needle and then drag the needle away from the material.

Next, it in necessary to shape the

I>etals. Where material is used, a tiny pleat at the base, running up through the centre of the petal and fading away near the tip, is all that is necessary. If crepe paper is used, slight pressure, with an outward movement of the thumbs, should be applied to the centre of each petal. This will gire a realistic curve. Mount the petals on the stem, as closely as possible to the stamens, by pushing the wire through the centre. Form the little egg-shaped swelling at the back of the petals, by means of a piece of cotton wool covered with green paper or material.

Lastly, cover the stem wire. In case* where a very neat finish is desired, do not bind the stem with a spiral of suitable material, but purchase some green rubber stalk-covering and slip it over the wire in the same way as in a wireless set, or a* a cyclist covers the valve stem of bia tyres. Such material may be bought in lengths from dealers who stock the requirements of artificial flower-makers.