Delicate Three-Dimensional Embroidered Flower

I created this fragile flower by free machine embroidering on to heavy weight water soluble film. In order to add complexity to this outcome I embroidered with three different coloured threads which has created a vibrant transition from the yellow centre to the red outer petals. Unfortunately, as shown in these photographs, the structure unravelled where my stitches did not overlap securely and this has made the flower particularly delicate in places.

Photograph of complete flower indicating where the structure unravelled

Detail of the centre of the flower

Side view of the flower emphasizing the fragility of this structure

Below I have shown a selection of photographs that I took of this flower on a wire spiral with an LED in the centre. The structure of the wire is based upon the Golden Spiral which is a prominent form in nature and this reinforces the centrality of flora in the composition . In addition, I have manipulated the lighting to produce an intricate shadow of the embroidery which has added to the complexity of the photograph.

Three-Dimensional Embroidered Flower

I created this delicate flower using heavy duty water soluble film, felt and free machine embroidery. For the vibrant flower I placed a thin layer of handmade felt over the film and then free machine embroidered a web of stitches over this. (It was important that the stitches overlapped one another frequently because this prevented the structure from falling apart when the backing fabric was dissolved.) After that I partially dissolved the water soluble film, leaving residue that stiffened the structure as it dried in a three-dimensional form. I added the leaves afterwards which were made deliberately fragile from a mixture of hand felted bamboo and wool roving.

Photograph showing yellow free machine embroidery that I added to accentuate
 the vibrant centre of this flower 

Detail of this embroidered structure from the outside, emphasising the
vibrant tones of colour in the petals

Detail of the highly fragile and lace-like structure of the flower petals