Serger Gathered Flowers

Supplies & Tools:

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut fabric strip 5” wide by 26” long
2. Press in half wrong sides together to measure 2½” by 26” long



3. Set up Airflow 3000 for a 3-thread rolled hem stitch. (See owner’s manual for set up information and suggested tension settings.) Place the 12 wt polyester decorative thread in the upper and lower loopers and all-purpose serger thread in the right needle. We used the following settings: Stitch length = 2.5, Stitch Width = 5, Differential Feed = 1.Stitch finger lowered, cutting knife disengaged (locked)
4. Stitch the long-folded edge of the fabric with the rolled hem, guiding the fabric next to the locked cutting blade.



5. Set up Airflow 3000 for a 4-thread balanced stitch with all-purpose serger thread in both needles and loopers. (See owner’s manual for set up information and suggested tension settings.) We used the following settings: Stitch length = 4, Stitch Width = 5, Differential Feed = 2 Stitch finger raised, cutting knife engaged (unlocked)
6. Attach the gathering foot, included with the Airflow 3000.
7. As you begin stitching, gently round the end. Serging slowly to make the turn. Repeat on the opposite end. Chain off leaving a long serger tail.



8. Separate the needle threads from the looper threads. In this step we have used contrasting thread (black) to better show the process.



9. Use the separated needle threads to gather the serger flower strip tightly to form a bud in the center, gather less for wrapping as you go around to form the remainder of the flower.



10. When you have wrapped approximately ½ of your gathered fabric strip, take your hand needle and thread, stitch across the bottom to hold together.



11. Continue wrapping and shaping your flower until you reach the end of the strip. Tuck the end under and stitch across the bottom of the flower to secure.



12. If a leaf is desired, press the 4 x 4” green square of fabric in half, find the center of the folded edge, fold the ends to center to create a triangle. Gather the unfinished edge by hand with a needle and thread, placing long stitches close to the unfinished edge. Pull and tie off.









13. Cut a 1½ inch circle out of felt and glue to the bottom of the flower to hide the fabric edges. If adding a ribbon or elastic band, glue or tack that to the bottom of the flower before adding the felt piece. If using a pin back, glue or tack it to the outside of the felt circle (after it is attached to the flower).