The Year of the Stitch at Elefantz - Fly Stitch...

It's a new month and time to walk you through a new "Year of the Stitch at Elefantz" tutorial.

The stitch for February is 'fly stitch', and we're going to make some leaves...

I only really 'got' this stitch last year, and practiced by making a flurry of fly stitch leaves all across my "Partridge & Pear" Christmas wall hanging...

  

It's a beautiful stitch if you want to add some body to a simple leaf shape, and that's what we're doing today.

You can begin by downloading my free practice design HERE...

You'll need a small piece of fabric, two strands of green embroidery thread (DMC, Anchor, Cosmo etc - your choice), and a new embroidery needle because too often we forget to change our needles and wonder why hand stitching is becoming a bit tough on the fingers.

Trace the design and if you want to follow my usual stitchery preparations, fuse some fabric stabiliser behind it. I like to use Weaveline or Whisperweft, and I never use a hoop - but prepare your block in the manner that best suits you.

I start my leaf at the stem with a couple of small back stitches (my tutorial for back stitch is HERE)...

Your needle is now just ahead of your previous thread entry hole, so stitch back into that hole but instead of bringing the needle up ahead as with a back stitch, this time we'll bring the needle through at the left bottom edge of the leaf shape, and back over and through the right side of the leaf, and bring the needle up along the middle line again, behind the loop you've made...

Take your needle and thread over the loop and down through the middle line of the leaf to the back again. This will secure the vein of the leaf.

Bring the needle back out along the left edge of the leaf and repeat this process following the shape of the leaf...

Now, I'm really not the best at describing steps in tutorials with my words - which is why I use a lot of photos - but I hope that combined with the photos they are clear enough for you to understand the process of making a fly stitch leaf.

When I finished my little sample block I made a small pin-book featuring this design on the cover.

Pincushions are great for use at home, but what about when you are away from home and want to take a few pins with you? 

This would be perfect.

If you decide you really enjoy making fly stitch leaves and want to make my Partridge & Pears wall hanging after you finish the 'pins' sample block, I've listed the complete step by step pattern HERE in my shop for the rest of February at just $3.95 for an instant pdf download.

I've also included a smaller framed redwork version of Partridge & Pears in the pdf pattern, complete with all stitchery instructions. It's mostly basic back stitch with a tiny bit of satin stitch (remember my back stitch tutorial HERE).

The Partridge & Pears double pattern will be available in the shop until February 28th only. 

If you make the sample fly stitch block and use it in a project I'd love to see a photo. Just click on the 'contact me' button under my blog header to email your photo to me, and I can share it on my blog because you'll be an inspiration to others!

It's Friday! \o/

Just need to send off my free Friday Newsletter to all subscribers (details HERE), and then I get an early mark for the weekend.

It's raining so I guess I'll just have to stitch. 

No complaints, eh?

hugs

Dressing up, and what's to come...

Next time I decide to dress my blog on a Sunday afternoon (that became a late Sunday evening),  please remind me I am nuts.

But dressed it is, and what do your pretty eyes think of it?

As you know, dear Blossom took my sketch for a new logo and brought it perfectly to life, and now I have dabbled with new skills myself and made a cute Ellie grab button that you can easily 'grab' and put on your blog sidebars!

See it over there in the left hand of my blog?

Just cut and paste that code under the sweet Ellie button, and add it to your blog sidebar (using the HTML gadget in your blog layout if you use Blogger)!

Thank you to everyone who has purchased my first pattern on Craftsy!

"Partridge & Pears" has been very popular, and I hope you like the extra bits and pieces I've included in the pattern to help you with the different embroidery stitches. 

 

I know I shared late last year that I really wanted to finish with pdf patterns and start over with paper patterns. It probably seems I have drifted backwards now?

Well, one thing I have learned is that you can simplify life by doing some things the old way, but the reality of technology is that 'it is here', and pretending that it's not doesn't change the obvious.

I have been blessed with meeting blog followers from all over the globe these last few years, and the one resounding thing that comes through your emails is that you love the convenience of pdf patterns.

There are also lovely ladies in some countries who can only purchase overseas patterns via email and pdf.

So I apologise to everyone who felt let down when I crossed over to just paper patterns.

I hope you can once again enjoy the ease of acquiring a new Elefantz design every now and then with the click of keyboard.

Visit my Craftsy Shop HERE.

Over the coming week I will be uploading more patterns.

Someone else who has started a Craftsy Shop is my friend, Stephanie. She is a wonderful designer - but nothing like me! She has no desire to hand embroider, but boy can she bring a quilt to life, and her bags are lovely too.

If you're over Craftsy way, you might like to browse her store. She has also written a thoughtful, and very informative, blog post about her decision to start selling her patterns via pdf, and the reasons behind her pricing.

You can read it HERE.

I'll leave you tonight with a recipe our family often indulge in on cool autumn nights. 

Blackberry Swirls!

I shared it here on my blog years ago, and recently a lovely blog reader emailed to ask for it again, so it seemed a good idea to share it with everyone once more.

Even though it's called "blackberry" swirls, we have used boysenberries, blueberries, raspberries, loganberries...whatever you use this is YUM.

Recipe can be found HERE on my recipes page.

 

Tomorrow I have some more exciting news to share...and this has something to do with it. 

 ...Shabby Roses Angels...

 Don't forget, tomorrow is Monogram Monday, so your free ~H~ will be ready to download, too.

God bless, and chat soon,

Hugs

Jenny

xxx