We have been enjoying cases of
dark sweet cherries at our house.
Eating them fresh from hand
and canning them to
enjoy in the colder months of winter.
A few weeks ago, in my Embroidery Guild,
we did a small "make it - take it".
~ Cherry Clusters ~
They make great package toppers
or I like to hang them from knobs or
my repurposed door knob (above).
Read on, to learn how to make
a cherry cluster for yourself...
CHERRY CLUSTER
Supplies needed:
two - 3 inch red cotton fabric circles
2 jumbo size cotton balls
one - 11 inch piece of green florist wire (24 gauge)
one - 6.5 in. x 1/4 in. piece of green wool fabric
thread, sharp needle, small scissors and a pencil
Smooth wire with fingers.
Find center of wire and gently bend in half.
Twist wire to form a small loop at top.
With wrong side of fabric facing you,
use fingers to fold fabric edge over approximately
1/4 inch or less. As you fold over raw edge,
sew a loose running stitch, through both layers,
around edge. (Do not remove needle or cut thread.)
Take one end of wire and "string" cotton ball
through center.
Find center of fabric circle.
On wrong side of fabric, using wire end
that has cotton ball on it,
"string" the fabric circle onto wire.
Bring circle of fabric up and over cotton ball,
tucking the cotton ball into the circle.
Begin to gently cinch the opening closed on the circle,
by pulling on the thread. Once top is snugly
cinched closed, knot securely.
Begin wrapping end of wire, that has cherry on it,
onto a pencil. Wrap a few times around
pencil and then slide wire off of pencil.
This will form a "curly Q" at bottom of cherry.
*Repeat steps for second cherry on cluster.*
Snugly tie a thin strip of green wool onto top of wire,
just below loop in wire.
No need to knot.
These cherries would look great
on a Ball jar of canned cherries
or cherry preserves.
(I'm already thinking of
Christmas gifts !)
Have a lovely, creative day !
Rose
