Ribbonwork Tray

Materials:

Hanah Silk ribbon:
- 1 yard of 1-1/2" wide wild iris
- 1 yard of 1" wide wild oats
- 18" of 1" wide lobelia
- 18" of 1" wide African violets
- 18" of 1" wide periwinkle
3" square of crinoline
two 8" x 10" pieces of 1/4" thick acrylic
2 drawer handles
4 acrylic "feet"
screwdriver
needle and thread
scissors
ruler
The Secrets of Fashioning Ribbon Flowers or Heirloom Ribbonwork (optional, for ribbon flower-making instructions)

Steps:

1. Make pansies referring to the instructions in either of the books. Make a large pansy for the center of the tray. The pansy is made in two parts--the back petals and the front petals. Use 10 inches of the wild iris ribbon for the back two petals. Stitch them using the continuous U-gather pattern (figure A).

2. Stitch the two petals to a small piece of crinoline (figure B).

3. Use 16 inches of wild iris ribbon for the front three petals. Mark the ribbon into three sections at 5 inches, 6 inches, and 5 inches. Stitch the three with the U-gather stitch pattern.

4. Make a small overhand knot from 2 inches of wild oats ribbon for the center of the pansy (figure C).

5. Sew the front petals over the back petals on the crinoline (figure D). Cut the excess crinoline from the back of the pansy.

6. Make four small pansies by mixing and matching four colors of ribbon. Use the same technique as described for the large pansy but using 1-inch wide ribbons. Use 6-1/4" for the back two petals and stitch using the U-gather stitch pattern. Use 10-1/4" for the front three petals (divide the ribbon at 3-1/8 inches, 4 inches, and 3-1/8 inches and stitch in the continuous U-gather pattern. Use 2 inches of wild oats silk for the center of each pansy.

7. Before you assemble the tray, be sure that the handle holes are predrilled and are aligned. Also, clean the acrylic pieces before arranging the pansies.

8. To put the tray together: Arrange the pansies on one sheet of the acrylic (figure E) and cover them with the top sheet of acrylic (figure F).

9. Screw the handles through both layers of acrylic (figure G).

10. Attach the clear acrylic rubber "feet" at the corners.

1. Use Special Effects threads and ribbon swirled on the acrylic (figure H). Make a few rosettes from the ribbon (figure I) and sprinkle on top of the swirled threads (figure J). Assemble the tray as above.