Beloved and "How to Stitch"...

I've been stitching this for Valentines Day...

...but more about that after I answer some questions.

Every day I receive emails, or messages on social media, asking for advice about how to stitch, what pen to trace with, how to use a stabiliser...and many other similar questions. 

Most of the answers can be found in two posts I made specific to these queries and I have buttons and links to these in my blog sidebar, but it occurred to me the other day that many of you don't read blogs on a computer, but on a smart phone or blog reader instead. This means you won't see the sidebar so you miss all the great links I share.

Today I'll pop some links in this one blog post so those of you who never see them have an opportunity to discover things you may not have known existed.

Firstly, how to improve (or do) backstitch and lazy daisy stitch - the two stitches I use a lot in my designs.

I have a very detailed step by step tutorial with free practice pattern here.

Wondered what I like to use when I create and stitch a design?

I've shared all my bits and pieces in this blog post.

Would you like to download and sew some of my free patterns?

They are listed here.

Enjoy making a project by following a tutorial?

Links to my tutorial blog posts are here.

I hope these posts and links answer many of your questions as well as giving you some fun things to make!

Now, back to what I've been stitching today!

It's a new design by my friend Allie Hartom of Allie Oops Designs and as soon as I saw it on her blog I was scanning my fabrics for the 'perfect' one because I always choose fabric before threads.

This is probably one of the most important helps I can give you in preparing a design to stitch.

When you choose the fabric first you now have the exact thread colour chart you need right in your hand!

I simply adore the word "beloved".

Allie has featured her stitchery on the cover of a rice bag (the kind you heat in the microwave and use to soothe aching body parts) but I've decided to feature her design on a cushion to celebrate Valentines Day 2017.

Do you like the fabric I chose for the borders and cushion backing? 

It's a Bonnie & Camille print but the name of the actual range is missing from the selvedge as I only bought 1/2 metre so the full information was chopped off. 

If you know, leave a comment to tell us all would you please?

My stitchery background is cream hanky linen (you can read about hanky linen in my stitching essentials blog post) and I've gathered some co-ordinating threads from my DMC and Anchor supplies...

Because I can't resist a touch of tiny applique you'll see the heart shaped V in Allie's original design has become an applique heart on my block.

I should have the Beloved pillow completed over the weekend so I'll show it here on the blog next week.

Want to stitch this pattern too?

You'll find Allie's "Beloved" design here.

(oh, and it comes with a tutorial to make the heat pack!)

Mr E has been unwell the past 24 hours so we never got to have our lamb dinner on Australia Day.

Hopefully after another night's rest he'll be feeling fit and refreshed for the weekend and we'll have a belated celebration dinner then.

It's awful when loved ones are under the weather and you can't 'make it better'.

May your weekend be extra lovely,

hugs

Some stitching tutorials...

I've had quite a lot of requests on both my Elefantz Facebook page and on Instagram lately for stitching tutorials.

These are things I have shared in the past so here's a recap for those lovely gals who need some hints and tips for sewing tiny backstitch as well as a few other stitches.

Read THIS blog post from two years ago which covers backstitch and lazy daisy stitches as well as offering you a free practice pattern...

Another detailed embroidery tutorial was shared HERE in October 2014 as part of a 5-day series of blog posts taking readers step by step through the process of making a Holiday Hostess table runner. I did a few videos for this...

Perhaps you want to make the table topper as well?

Follow the links below the photo.

Day 1 - here

Day 2 - here

Day 3 - here

Day 4 - here

Day 5 - here

Another question that keeps popping up is what supplies I use when I stitch. This is also a question which has been answered in a blog post.

You can read it HERE.

Hope you enjoy trying the patterns and stitches!

If you have other questions write them in the comments section below and if I can answer them I will.

Bless you heaps,

Tutorial - "Sew Sweet Roses"...

I am asked to share many things on the blog, but the number one request (by a large margin)  is "how do you make such neat tiny stitches?"

In the past I've shown a couple of different backstitch tutorials but this time I'm going to take you through some 'extras' and hopefully this will be the tutorial I can refer future blog readers to when they email and ask that same 'how' question.

The design I've prepared, "Sew Sweet Roses", is a tiny one because my latest request was from Glenda, and she specifically asked about stitching the small Shabby Roses blocks in the Churn Dash Stitchalong I'm currently hosting.

Start by downloading the free pattern sheet HERE and grab yourself a piece of solid quilting fabric to trace it onto, but don't trace it yet!

Look at the pattern, and look at what I've traced...

Can you see that I have not traced the leaves?

When you are preparing a design that includes sewing lazy daisy stitches don't trace the whole shape, only place a small dot where they start and where they finish. This will prevent tracing lines peeping through as often happens with a lazy daisy.

Fuse a piece of fabric stabiliser behind the block. My favourites are Weaveline, Staflix or Whisperweft.
Weaveline and Staflix are as thin as tissue paper but are actually a fine fabric.
Whisperweft is woven, and is the stabiliser I chose to use when putting together this tutorial...

Gather what you need to begin stitching the block.

I use a size 9 embroidery needle, and never use a hoop. Instead, I rest the base of my palms on a small 'sewing cushion'...

Thread your needle with two strands of embroidery cotton. (I've used some DMC threads for this stitchery)

We'll start with the vase. Bring your needle up from behind the block and out along the traced line...

This is what it looks like behind the block. No knot, and just a little tail of thread. You can easily hold this tail in place with one of the fingers on your non-stitching hand...

To begin the backstitch, do exactly what the name suggests. Take you needle back, behind the exit hole of your first thread, and push through to the back of the fabric, and up again through the front, just ahead of the original stitch. Keep your other hand securing that little tail at the back for a moment longer...

Now you're going to bring the needle 'back' again. This time push it into the original stitch hole. When you do this, you automatically secure that tail of thread behind the block. Don't tug hard on the thread, it only needs a gentle pull to sit flat...

When you've stitched the full vase make a small knot behind and trim your thread.

Now we'll stitch the small shabby roses.

Again using two strands of thread, begin your rose the same way you began the vase, and always begin stitching a shabby rose from the centre...

NOTE: The key to a neat circle of  roses is to keep your stitches very small, but I'll share more about that at the end.

Continue around the rose...there are 18 tiny stitches in my sweet little rose!

When you finish a rose, secure the thread behind the block before you move on to the next rose. Never carry your thread across from one shape to the next.

Now I'll show you how to make a lazy daisy leaf around the roses.

Secure the green thread on the back of a previously stitched shape, one that is closest to your leaf...

There are two dots marked on your fabric for each leaf. Choose your leaf, and bring the needle and thread up through the dot closest to the rose. I'll begin with the leaf at the top right of the vase...

Bring the thread across the front of the needle entry hole to create a circle of thread around the needle. Push the needle back through the same exit hole...

...and out again, but this time through the other marked dot for this leaf.

Let the needle exit above the circle of thread, and gently pull the thread to reduce the circle to an elongated daisy petal shape...

Bring your needle over the front of the lazy daisy stitch and push it through to the back of the fabric. Secure the thread in a knot behind and trim the end.

Stitch the rest of the roses and leaves.

Add some extra running stitches inside the vase if you like...

Now about those tiny stitches.

Do you know how many backstitches you personally sew to an inch?

Draw yourself a true one inch line on some fabric...

Using two strands of thread, backstitch along the line. When you've stitched your line, count how many backstitches you have made.

I stitch 15 to the inch, but from what I've seen in my years of embroidery, most people don't.

The reason my little shapes, whether they be flowers, birds or bees, look so good in photos is wholly due to the small size of my stitches. But you don't have to stitch 15 to the inch for that result; 12 stitches to the inch also brings a lovely rounded result.

Here's the difference between 15, 12 and 8 stitches to the inch. Do you see that the larger your stitches the more difficult it will be to achieve circular and rounded shapes?

If you're not happy with how the curves look in your stitched projects try practicing smaller stitches. 

It makes all the difference, and you'll be surprised at how quickly you'll master those smaller stitches if you...s l o w...d o w n...when you stitch. After all, it's not a race to the finish but a piece of art made by your precious hands.

Another little tip I shall leave you with about backstitch is to be sure and let your stitches share the same entry and exit holes in your fabric, thus avoiding a gap between them.

No gap between the stitches creates a lovely flowing continuous line...

But gaps? The flow is missing...

 I hope this tutorial has helped answer a few of those questions many of you have asked?

Don't forget to download the free practice block HERE and let me know if you've improved your backstitch after stitching it. 

After all, it's like with me and sewing those pesky little hexies...only practice will improve my skill.

My completed mini-stitchery now features on the cover of a small notebook. What will you make with yours?

hugs

Block 9 of "Promises & Borders"!

Yes, I am a day early this month!

You see, after a wonderful day out on the bike with Mr E, I have succumbed to a head cold. My nose is doing a wonderful impression of a dripping tap right now, and I have a sinking feeling that the next few days will see me laid low. 

Therefore, I thought I'd share Block 9 of my free BOM for 2012, "Promises & Borders" a day early.

I love this verse, and as it is such a simple and straightforward promise, I thought a simple border would be perfect.

James 4:8

You can download Block 9 HERE on my free BOM page. 

*****

I get a lot of emails asking me how I stitch wording to look as though it's been hand written. 

Well, first of all, let me say 'thank you' for all your sweet compliments on my stitching. You are all very kind.

Let me encourage you, now!

Anyone can stitch wording well. Here are my tips...

* Use just one strand of thread in a colour dark enough that the verse can be read.

* Sew with tiny stitches. 

* Don't rush your stitches. Most of the untidy backstitching I've seen had been made by people who are rushing through their embroidery and doing larger and larger stitches so they can finish quicker and start on their next project. 

* If you want a project to look lovely, take your time with it.

* If it's not looking good, UNPICK it. Seriously, I do not hesitate to unpick a stitch that's too long, or hasn't stayed on the traced line. It's worth it in the end!

 Look at this one I've done below to show you how untidy a stitch can be when it's not made in the same hole as the stitch below. (Click on the photo to enlarge it)

I unpicked that stitch. 

When I made the stitch again, I made sure my stitches all understood they must share their entry and exit holes. Now the 'w' has lovely curves!

*****

So basically, it's as simple as this. When you make a backstitch, you must return the needle to the same hole you made with the previous stitch.

You must not have any gaps between each of the stitches in a letter...

...and you must keep your stitching right on top of your traced line so that when you finish, all you see are the neat stitches flowing together.

I hope that has helped those who asked. 

*****

Now, it's time to take my box of these...

...and go to bed with a good audio book and some hand sewing.

Hopefully this head cold will pass quickly, as I want to enjoy the next two weeks with Mr E home on holidays.

Hugs

Jenny

xx