Some Assembly Required

Most of my  tatting projects are finished once I cut from the shuttles.  Oh sure sometimes I do need to block but this project required some assembly.  This is the Remembrance Day Poppy by Jennifer Williams and can be found on her website.   I did the petals first and loved how nice they looked. The frilly picots are completed by doing front and back picots.  You will need to know how to do a Catherine Wheel Join which allows you pull the petal in to cupped shape.

The leaves were straightforward, two shuttles and a few split rings. Next the calyx, it will be cupped once completed.  I needed a small black button with a shank but only had a pink one so painted it black with a sharpie.  The beaded center covers most of the button.

The stamens were beads on a long chain. I used a floss threader instead of a needle to pass the thread through all the parts required. 

I followed the directions as best I could to assemble.  I used a pin through the petals at the back until I had the calyx on and then started with the florist tape. If you don't have florist tape any dark tape would do. 

I started wrapping the leaves and then carried on after the calyx and down the stem incorporating the wires and threads.  I cut it short and will be adding a brooch pin to the back to attach to my jacket for Remembrance Day November 11.  Size 20 thread was used and the finished flower is 1.75 inches across.