artful thursdays #13....vintage wrist corsage tutorial

easter just seems like the perfect time to wear a flowery bonnet or corsage. my artful thursday project for today is a little velvet wrist corsage bursting with blossoms. i gathered together a few vintage finds: a vintage linen with crocheted edges, flowers and leaves from a squashed dolls hat, velvet ribbon, and some buttons.


step #1. cut 10 inches of velvet ribbon. mine is almost an inch wide.


step #2. fold one end of the velvet under 1 inch and hand stitch in place. sew a button on the right side of the velvet. this little crocheted button is 1/2 inch wide.


step #3. wrap the ribbon around your wrist and have someone pin the velvet band to fit comfortably. notch cut the ribbon end.


step #4 i haven't sewn a real button hole in years so my button hole is a shortcut. (you can even use some vintage snaps or a hook and eye closure if you don't have a sewing machine) mark where the button hole should go. I placed the button on the ribbon and marked with a pencil a dot on either side of the button. then i drew with pencil the rectangle lines to sew for the button hole.
step #5 sew around your pencil lines with a small (size 2) straight stitch on your machine. cut inside the stitching with a button hole cutter.


step #6. button your velvet band on your wrist to mark where you want your flowers. i like my crocheted button so well i want it to show. you may want to have the button be on the inside of your wrist.


step #7. cut a strip one inch wide and 12 inches long from a vintage hanky or other linen that has a pretty hand crocheted edge. this arm rest piece was very stained and worn thin so it was only 50cents.
step #8. sew a straight stitch with a needle and thread along the edge and gather the strip into a flower.


step #9. sew the gathered flower to your velvet band.



step #10 start layering on your little flowers, leaves, and ribbons one at a time and sew them in place.


the little wristlet when it is done feels so soft on your wrist, it would be so lovely to wear to a dance and then keep in your jewelry box.
happy thursday, julie