Home | Arts & Entertainment | Poetry
If you ask people to name their favourite flowers, it is likely that they will place roses high on their lists. Roses are very popular, and have been named the Queen of flowers, possibly because of their beauty -- creating a wide expanse of color in the garden, and valued for their heady fragrance too. There are thousands of varieties that differ in shape of blooms, size, fragrance and some even lack thorns. Roses are so popular you cannot go far wrong when stitching a cross stitch rose pattern. It has even been said that the rose provides a metaphor for life itself. Traditionally, they have thorny stems that rise to fragrant blossoms, indicating that if you struggle with problems you will eventually discover peace, harmony and beauty. It is easy to find charts and kits of rose designs; these can vary from the traditional bunch of roses or samplers to the more modern -- Rennie Mackintosh designs or Art Deco. Of course, which design you choose is up to you, and also what you may consider to be the preferences of the lucky recipient of your project. However, it is advisable to consider the symbolism of roses. This may affect your choice of cross stitch rose pattern. For instance, consider Venus and Aphrodite. These Greek goddesses of love were symbolized by roses. Another influence roses had on society is in the derivation of the term 'sub rosa.' In Italy when a secret meeting took place, they placed a rose on the door. The rose symbolized that the meeting was 'under the rose,' which meant they were keeping secrets. Many centuries ago, Christians considered the five petals of the rose to symbolise the five wounds of Christ, and the red rose was used to symbolise the blood of Christian martyrs. Many cultures feel the rose is symbolic. For both England and the United States, the rose is the national flower. For many people, social democracy and socialism are symbolized by red roses. Roses can be found on many coats of arm. Moreover, the English War of the Roses was fought by two groups, the House of Lancaster and the House of York, that were represented by roses. The House of Lancaster was represented by a red rose while the House of York was represented by a white rose. When it comes to flowers, many people believe they have meanings. These meanings are the result not only of the type of flower by also the color and even the shape. * Red roses are thought to symbolize love. If the red rose is a rosebud, it symbolizes both beauty and purity. Also, if a red rose has no thorns, it's believed to reflect love at first sight. * Yellow roses are for friendship, new starts, and platonic love. If the tips of the yellow rose's petals are red, then the flower symbolizes falling in love. If you're in Germany or any other country that speaks predominately German, avoid yellow roses. They're thought to symbolize the green-eyed monster, jealousy, and infidelity. * A pink rose symbolises grace and appreciation and a dark pink colour conveys gratitude. Light pink roses mean admiration and sympathy. * Peach and orange roses can be given to woo someone. They're symbolic of sensuality, desire, passion, and fascination. * White roses are lovely depictions of innocence. Many brides utilize white rosebuds in their bouquets. For others, the white rose symbolizes starting a new life or possessing humility and reverence. The fun thing about utilizing a cross stitch rose pattern to create an heirloom for a special person is you can change the color of any of the roses. Simply alter the pattern to suit your needs. Here are some tips to help you: * If you substitute some colored threads from a kit, do use the same brand of threads to that which you are discarding. There are subtle but important differences between different brands and types of thread. * When you change the color of the rose, don't forget to add shading. Shading gives the flowers a three-dimensional appearance. Don't simply buy one color to stitch the rose. * Craft shops can be a huge help when you're deciding what threads you'll need. You'll be able to test the threads by putting them next to each other. This way, you can guarantee that the finished flowers will look great. As you decide which colors to use, don't forget about the other colors in your cross stitch rose pattern. You'll want to consider the material and any other stitching that will appear in the pattern. If you consider the information above, you will be assured of choosing a great project -- and much appreciated gift for that special someone.
Article Source: Free Articles - http://www.articlesworldonline.com
Obtain your free quality-report from Patterns Patch cross stitch community. There are more than 150 cross stitch patterns available for John Wigham's club affiliates with some suitable for a cross stitch rose pattern.
Please Rate this Article
5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
Not yet Rated
