Following my usual form, embroidery is back in my sights as "craft of the week". My friend Jan got married yesterday in Prague, and my husband and I were guests at the wedding. Before leaving the States, it was important for me to come up with a gift that I could make them that would be meaningful (and practical).
As I mentioned in a previous post, I joined an embroidery pattern program so that I could get my hands on cool new patterns to make for the house. I noticed how easy it looked to put together a pattern and then make it a reality, so I thought it'd be a nice idea to draw something up for Jan and Eva and then put the pattern to fabric.
I began by following a very thorough tutorial by Sublime Stitching - How to: Tracing Paper & Transfer Pens. The tutorial is fantastic in that it provides tips on easy pattern transfer to the fabric. Some artists recommend using a light box or window and tracing your pattern onto the fabric - which I've tried, and not been too good at. With the Sublime Stitching method, you use their in-house transfer pens (they come in several colors - I bought red, green and blue!) and a strong tracing paper. After drawing the pattern onto the tracing paper, you use an iron and just iron the pattern onto the fabric - that easy!
Remember - when text is in your pattern, make sure you write it backwards, so that when it transfers, it transfers correctly! This is something I messed up more than once!
As I mentioned in a previous post, I joined an embroidery pattern program so that I could get my hands on cool new patterns to make for the house. I noticed how easy it looked to put together a pattern and then make it a reality, so I thought it'd be a nice idea to draw something up for Jan and Eva and then put the pattern to fabric.
I began by following a very thorough tutorial by Sublime Stitching - How to: Tracing Paper & Transfer Pens. The tutorial is fantastic in that it provides tips on easy pattern transfer to the fabric. Some artists recommend using a light box or window and tracing your pattern onto the fabric - which I've tried, and not been too good at. With the Sublime Stitching method, you use their in-house transfer pens (they come in several colors - I bought red, green and blue!) and a strong tracing paper. After drawing the pattern onto the tracing paper, you use an iron and just iron the pattern onto the fabric - that easy!
Remember - when text is in your pattern, make sure you write it backwards, so that when it transfers, it transfers correctly! This is something I messed up more than once!
I bought DMC threads in whatever colors I thought might work. I really like the mix of greens on the leaves, and the yellow pop against the maroon. You could re-do the pattern in any color you wanted! That's part of the fun with making your own patterns.
This was the first pattern I'd ever used colonial knots on as well - I followed Sarah's example (here) - her step-by-step, photographed approach made this knot easy to figure out quickly!
I've got several more patterns in mind to try. Cacti, portraits, pets - there are no limits! I hope that you give it a go! For starters, I've included two of my patterns below for you to try at home! Just print them out, trace them on, pick your colors and sew away! Be creative and have a great time!
Until next time,
Naomi
This was the first pattern I'd ever used colonial knots on as well - I followed Sarah's example (here) - her step-by-step, photographed approach made this knot easy to figure out quickly!
I've got several more patterns in mind to try. Cacti, portraits, pets - there are no limits! I hope that you give it a go! For starters, I've included two of my patterns below for you to try at home! Just print them out, trace them on, pick your colors and sew away! Be creative and have a great time!
Until next time,
Naomi
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