TO MAKE THE PRIMROSE
1. To make the flower, a small amount of pink wool is firstly moulded into a petal shape by pulling the wool into a loop. With the wispy ends held in one hand, the petal is placed on the foam block. Using the single needle, the outer edge is stabbed, working in towards the centre. While the wispy ends are still held in one hand, the petal is gently teased off the foam block, turned over and the stabbing process repeated so that the shape shrinks and becomes denser.
2. Next, the dent in the top of the petal is created by stabbing the needle a few times at that point. The petal is then turned over and the process repeated until the desired shape is achieved. When the first petal is complete, steps 1–2 are
3. Each of the five petals are then decorated. First, a small wisp of yellow wool is placed at the base of the petal. It is then stabbed gently, leaving a wispy end. A smaller amount of white wool is placed just above the yellow felted part of the petal and blended in.
4. Next, the decorated petals are joined together to form the flower. Two petals are placed side by side so the wispy ends cross over. The ends are stabbed with the single needle to secure them in place.
5. This process is repeated until all five petals are connected, using extra yellow wool if needed.
TO MAKE THE LEAVES
6. Once the flower is complete, the leaves are made for it to lay on. Using a big piece of spring-green wool, a leaf shape is formed by pulling the wool into a loop. This should be bigger than the final leaf size, as it will shrink in the following steps. With the wispy ends of the loop held in one hand, the leaf is placed on the foam block. Using the multi-needle tool, the leaf is stabbed from the outer edge, gradually working towards the centre. The leaf is then lifted off the foam and turned over, and the stabbing repeated. The leaf should end up thick and dense.
7. To complete the shape of the leaf, a single needle is stabbed a few times along the side, approximately ¾in (2cm) from the top to make a dent. The same process is then used on the other side of the leaf. This step is repeated a further ¾in (2cm) from those dents to create the leaf shape.
8. A small amount of leaf-green wool is needed to make the veins. Using the single needle, a wisp is stabbed at the top of the leaf in the same spot. Using the free hand, the strand is gently pulled to create a line, which is then stabbed all the way along with the needle to secure it in place. This can be repeated if the line needs to be stronger in colour. To make the subsidiary veins coming off the main vein, the technique is repeated, but the lines made shorter.
9. Steps 6–8 are repeated to create a second leaf. To join the two leaves together, they are placed side by side so that the wispy ends cross over. Using the single needle, the ends are stabbed to secure them in place. The piece is then lifted off the foam block, turned over and the remaining wisps of wool stabbed on the reverse.
JOINING THE ELEMENTS
10. Next, the flower is attached to the leaves. Firstly, it is placed in the desired position. Using the technique in step 8, wisps of spring-green wool are stabbed in five lines. This will attach the flower to the leaves.
11. To ensure the flower is fully secured to the leaves, a small amount of black wool is placed in its centre and stabbed a few times in the same spot. Using the single needle, the remaining wisps protruding from the centre of the flower are wound round it and stabbed back in to form a spot.
12. Finally, the piece is turned over to show the reverse. Any stray wool is lightly stabbed with the single needle and the piece rubbed between the palms of the hands to smooth. The flower is then attached to the back of the brooch. Using green thread and a sewing needle, the brooch is sewn back to the reverse of the piece using the holes provided. Once secure, the thread is fastened off.