Long Stemmed Sweetheart Roses

This is my most requested "readymade" flower. The color combination shown here has been the most popular (pink pearl petals & transparent medium green leaves). However, for a great contemporary look, try making these with black petals and either clear or metallic leaves. The result is quite dramatic!

MATERIALS NEEDED 1 hank desired petal color 1/2 hank green 26 gauge gold or painted wire 26 gauge green floral wire 36 gauge wire (assembly) 1/2 inch green floral tape 1 - 18 inch, 14 or 16 gauge stem wire

PETALS (round top, round bottom) (reduce to 1 wire & twist) Make 5 of each size 8-bead basic, 3 rows 4- bead basic, 7 rows 4- bead basic, 9 rows 5- bead basic, 11 rows 5- bead basic, 13 rows SEPALS (green) (pointed top, round bottom) (reduce to 1 wire & twist) Make 5 3- bead basic, 7 rows

LEAVES (pointed top, round bottom) (leave 3 wires & twist) (Group#1) Make 1 8- bead basic, 11 rows Make 2 8- bead basic, 7 rows (Group #2) Make 1 8- bead basic, 13 rows Make 2 8- bead basic, 9 rows

Rose Assembly; Lightly tape your stem wire. Starting with the smallest petals, hold a single petal so that the base is even with the top of the stem wire. Using the thin assembly wire, tightly wrap the petal in place. (2 - 3 passes) One at a time, position each petal around the stem and secure in the same manner. When all five are added, go on to the next size and repeat the procedure. (Make sure to place each row TIGHTLY against the previous row. Failure to do so will leave unsightly gaps in your bloom. When all 25 petals have been added, arrange the sepals in the same manner. Secure and cut the assembly wire. Turn the rose upside down, pull the wires slightly away from the stem and cut them to all different lengths. This will form a tapered effect when they are pressed back against the stem. Tape the entire stem again making sure to wrap the assembly area with several layers, thereby producing the rose-hip effect.

Leaf Group Assembly; (Group #1) After twisting the wires, cut a length of floral tape in half (lengthwise). Beginning at the base of the beads, tape about half way down each leaf. With the largest leaf at the top,, and the two small ones opposite each other (see below), hold the leaves together and twist the wires together Tape the twisted area and flatten the lower half slightly. (This will lessen any bulges on the flower stem) Position this group several inches below the bloom and tape in place, (Group #2) Assemble as above and place this group several inches below, and opposite the first.
Copyright 2001, Dalene Kelly (http://www.beadedflowerpatterns.com) All rights reserved. No portion of this item may be reproduced, in any form, without the prior written permission of the author.