Ribbon Rosettes Perfect For Decorating

Q. I once watched you make a ribbon rose on your TV program. Afterward, I tried to make the rose but could not.

Could you please give me instructions? - Mrs. Lewis E. Tinker, Pointblank, Texas A. The ribbon rosette is one of my favorite decorations for a wrapped gift. Several rosettes, clustered together, make a wonderful curtain tieback.

Supple, satin ribbon works best. For one rosette, you’ll need a piece of ribbon about 6 feet long and 2 to 2-1/2 inches wide. (Smaller, budlike rosettes can be made with shorter, thinner ribbon.)

1. Working on a flat surface, make a 90-degree fold in the ribbon about 5 inches from the end.

2. Working clockwise, make another 90-degree fold.

3. Repeat, making another fold; the ribbon will form a square with a small opening in the center.

4. Continue folding the ribbon clockwise on itself until you’ve built up four complete layers (or more, for a rose with more petals). Always maintain the center opening.

Holding the packet together, carefully insert the tip of a pair of scissors into the center hole to keep it open. Do not pierce the ribbon. Poke the top ribbon end down through the center opening and pull it all the way through.

From the bottom, twist the ribbon end clockwise. The square points will gradually become “petals.”

5. Keep twisting until you’ve achieved the desired effect. Bind the base of the rosette with floral wire and trim the ribbon ends as necessary.

Q. I inherited quite a few cast-iron skillets that have grease build-up on them. How can I clean and reseason them? - Carol Payne, Columbia Station, Ohio

A. Cast-iron pans are wonderful. They transmit and retain heat beautifully, they’re strong, they won’t warp and they last for years. The old ones are often better than those made today.

To clean a pan that is caked with years of grime, place it in a 300-degree oven for about an hour to loosen the old grease. Take it out of the oven and sprinkle the hot pan generously with coarse salt.

Use a thick cotton cloth to rub the salt over the hot pan, picking up the dirt and grease. Wash with soap and water and dry thoroughly.

Now you need to reseason the pan to keep it from rusting. Rub the entire pan thoroughly with a good heavy coating of vegetable oil and place it in a 300-degree oven for an hour.

Let it cool, then use a paper towel to wipe out any oil that the pan hasn’t absorbed.

To clean a pan after cooking in it, I fill it with boiling water, let it soak, then scrub it gently with fine steel wool. I never use soap on my pans, but some people do.

Dry the pan thoroughly over low heat on top of the stove, rub the cooking surface of the warm pan with oil, and store it away.

Q. I go to yard sales and flea markets almost every Sunday. Last week I came across a huge beautiful mirror that has an adhesive-backed bird picture on it.

How can I remove this sticker without ruining the mirror? - Dorea Sheppard, Pittsburgh, Pa.

A. It shouldn’t be hard to remove the sticker. You’ll need a glass scraper and a solvent that will dissolve the adhesive; Goo Gone is one good brand. Both are available in hardware stores, and should be stored out of reach of children.

Wet the sticker generously with water, without letting the water run into the mirror frame. Use the scraper to remove as much of the sticker as possible. The remaining residue can be removed with the solvent. (When working with any solvent, be sure to test it in an inconspicuous corner first and follow manufacturer’s instructions.)

Use white cotton cloth or paper towel to blot the solvent onto the adhesive. Much of the glue will lift right off, and whatever’s left should come up easily with the scraper.

Dear readers: Some of you have written to me about the formula for a mildew-controlling rose spray that was offered in a recent column.

Though I have used this spray on my roses for years with great success, some readers reported that the solution clogged sprayers or left a residue on bushes.

With all the factors that affect any garden - climate, temperature, soil, the health of the plants - a single formula may not be effective for everyone. So I asked a few rosarians in different parts of the country what works for them.

Some recommended using a weaker baking-soda solution - 1 tablespoon per gallon of water is effective for preventing powdery mildew and blackspot. Adding horticultural oil (according to package instructions) can give even better results. Some experts advise spraying every five days, others recommend every week or 10 days.

Epsom salts are among the most popular and effective soil amendments. They add magnesium to the soil, promoting the overall good health of rose bushes. Epsom salts can be sprinkled directly onto the soil around each bush. Different experts suggest using different amounts, varying from one tablespoon to 1/2 cup per bush, from twice a year (fall and spring) to several times a year.

MEMO: Questions should be addressed to Martha Stewart, care of The New York Times Syndication Sales Corp., 122 E. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. 10168. Questions may also be sent to Stewart by electronic mail. Her address is: mstewart@msl.timeinc.com

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Martha Stewart New York Times Syndicate