How to Make Rosettes for Sandals

Dress up plain sandals with ribbon rosettes. Use satin-ribbon rosettes on dressy sandals or grosgrain-ribbon rosettes on casual sandal. Polka-dot ribbon is cute on flip-flops. Add a button to finish the center of the rosette.You could even use a button shaped like a flip-flop. For a designer touch that is suitable for any shoe, cover the button in the center with matching ribbon.

• 1

  Cut a length of ribbon for the rosette. A 9-inch length of ribbon will form a rosette with flat edges. A yard of ribbon will make a rosette with a very ruffly edge. Cut the ends of the ribbon straight across at a 90-degree angle.

• 2

  Pleat one end of the ribbon back and forth with 1/2-inch folds several times. Fold it as if you were making a paper fan.

• 3

  Thread your needle with quilting thread and knot the end with a large knot. Run your needle through the center of each fold in the ribbon, 1/4 inch from the edge of the ribbon. Your needle will be going in one side of the ribbon and out the opposite side, 1/2 inch away. If you look at the edge of the ribbon, it will zigzag back and forth with the thread running down the center.

• 4

  Continue pleating and running the thread through the pleats until you reach the end of the ribbon. Make your last pleat so that both cut ends of the ribbon are on the same side of the thread. This will be the back of the rosette.

• 5

  Pull both ends of the thread to draw the ribbon into a circle. Knot the ends tightly together. Spread the folds of ribbon out to form an even circle.

• 6

  Sew the cut edges of the ribbon together on the back of the rosette. Turn over the rosette and trim any ribbon edges that show.

• 7

  Sew a button on in the center of the front of the rosette to cover the hole. Sew an 8-inch piece of narrow ribbon to the center of the back of the rosette. Use this ribbon to tie the rosette to your shoe.