Poppy Ribbon Flower

four 9 inch lengths of 1+1/2 inch wide wired red ribbon (1 yard total; red ribbon is most popular, but orange, bright pink, and yellow work well also)
9 inches of black 1/2 inch ribbon
6 inches of black 1 inch wide wired ribbon
artificial floral stamens- at least 24 double headed
3 inch by 3 inch piece of crinoline or buckram
needle and thread

Remove the wire from one edge of each 9 inch length of red ribbon. Holding the ribbon horizontally with the remaining wired edge at the top (and the unwired edge at the bottom), attach thread with a knot at the upper right hand corner and sew what is known as a u-gather. Stitch along the right edge of the ribbon. Continue stitching along the bottom edge. Stitch up the left edge and then pull the thread therefore gathering the ribbon onto itself. Once you have pulled the thread as much as it will pull, hold the gather and knot the thread. Cut off your needle and thread.

You now have one petal. Carefully pleat the wired edge of the petal by making tiny folds in the wire. This will create a natural crinkled effect on the outer edge of each petal. Repeat this process on the three remaining 9 inch lengths of red ribbon.

Stitch two petals (one on top and one on bottom) with their stitched gathered edges facing each other onto the crinoline about 1/2 inch apart. Stitch the other two petals to the crinoline in the opposite direction (right and left) over the first two creating a four petal flower arrangement. Take the 9 inch piece of ribbon and repeat the same u-gather stitch as described above. Draw up the thread and knot off. Then tack the two right and left edges together with a stitch thus creating a round ruffled circle known as a petite rosette.

Carefully pleat the edge of the wired edge creating a crinkled effect. Take the stamens and tack them with stitches to this petite rosette, criss-crossing them somewhat evenly. Stitch this finished piece to the center of your four red petals. Take the 6 inch piece of ribbon and remove both of the wires if there were any. Fold the ribbon in half length-wise and stitch the cut edges together. Turn this tube inside out and stitch along the bottom edge. Pull the thread, thus gathering the ribbon together and closing one end. Place a cotton ball in the open end and then stitch along the edge of the open end. Pull the thread to gather closed and knot off. You should now have a cotton ball completely encased in ribbon. Stitch this ribbon ball to the center of your flower on top of the petite rosette and stamens.

Trim any excess crinoline from the back. It is now ready to attach to your gift, napkin holder, or picture frame. If you would like to turn this flower into a brooch, hot glue a brooch pin to the back of the flower and cover the inside of the pin with a decorative leaf to hide the glue.