So...this is the first tutorial I've ever tried to make. I'm a little nervous. Hopefully the instructions are clear and you'll want to make some of your own!
How to make a Zipper Rosette...
Supplies Needed:
-zipper
-upholstery thread or embroidery floss & needle
-pliers (are helpful, but not always necessary)
-scissors
-coordinating (with your zipper) felt
-hot glue gun
Step 1
Take your zipper completely apart. This is where a pair of pliers can come in handy. Some zippers are just stopped with glue that can be forcefully pulled apart, or thread that can be sewn, but some have this little metal stopper that you can see above. To get them off I use a combination of pulling with pliers and yanking the zipper apart. As you can see in the next picture, all of the pieces don't always come off 'cleanly', but it shouldn't affect the final outcome.
*Note - I like to save the zipper pull to glue into the center of some of the rosettes, but its up to you.
Step 2
Using embroidery floss, or some other very strong thread, knot the end of the floss and begin a running stitch about 1/8th of an inch from the bottom of a zipper half. I've found that a longer stitch is better (which is the main reason I do this by hand rather than with my sewing machine.)
Step 3
Once you've sewn along the entire bottom of the zipper, pull your thread to form gathers. How tight you pull your thread is up to you. I've found that it is a lot easier to work with in the next few steps if you don't pull it as tight as you can. You'll want a little 'give'. Tie off your thread and snip.
Step 4
This is the hardest step to illustrate, so I'll do my best to walk you through it. Starting with the edge of the zipper that you
started your running stitch on, roll the zipper onto itself. As you are rolling, pull the raw edge from the beginning of the zipper (just a bit) through the hole in the middle. (This will make more of a finished middle and hidden raw edges.) Continue arranging the rosette by making each layer peak out from the previous.
Step 5
Cut out a piece of felt that is close to the same size as your rosette. (Yep! This is the easy step!)
Step 6
Liberally apply hot glue to the bottom of your rosette, and attach it to the piece of felt. Make sure when you glue it down to the felt that both the middle of the rosette and the very end raw edges are tucked under the rosette and glued down.
This is the point that you can add some 'bling' to the center of the rosette if you choose. (I like to use the zipper pull, but you could add a purl or gem, or something of the sort.)
Step 7
Cut away the excess felt from behind the rosette.
You are now DONE!! Finish the rosette as you please. *I've added leaves to a few, but they are definitely cute enough to stand alone on their own too.* Attach to alligator clips, bobby pins, etc.!
Hopefully this little tutorial has been helpful! Happy crafting!
Whew! It was a labor of love, but the outcome was fabulous. I honestly can't wait to make another! I was prepared, yet still shocked at how much thread it took to sew so many lines. This quilt took me as long to make (actually even a little longer) than most of my pieced infant quilts.
Once all finished and given it's first wash and dry, the texture of this blanket is DELICIOUS! No other word can describe it's yumminess!
Making one of these quilts is not difficult, just time consuming. If you can sew somewhat of a straight line, than whipping one up is easy as pie. I'd give it a 'Beginner Sewer' rating, as long as said beginner can be patient and avoid going cross-eyed from sewing line after line!
