Two New Works In Progress

I have two new works in progress to share.  The first one a set of napkins.  I will be embroidering an Autumn motif on each one.
For my first napkin, I am stitching this beautiful leaf garland.

This is the Fishbone Stitch that I am using for the leaves.  I love this stitch because it is easy to do and fills a leaf shape so nicely! 

I really like the cream colored fabric that I am using for the napkins.  This is a fabric I have had for a long time and I think it will be perfect sewn up into napkins.  I have already used some of this fabric for a table topper.  You can see that project {here}.  

My next project is a tea towel embroidered with tiki-statues and interesting border.  You may remember when I was planning this - you can read about it {here}.  Since that post, I have made some progress:

I have finished the border. I did the whole thing in Stem Stitch.  The floss is perle cotton {dmc color variations 4200}.  

Now I need to choose the floss colors for these three.  Should be fun!

Autumn Projects - Part Five

You may remember way back to my list of Autumn projects? 

Finally...I finished the third one!

The last time I posted about this, I had just started stitching this border on the lower edge of a tea towel:

I was also considering different trims to use once this towel was hemmed:

I have finished all the embroidery and instead of using one of the trims, I decided to add a line of decorative stitching. 

I measured 1/8" in from the bottom of the tea towel and using a water soluble marker, drew a stitching line parallel to the bottom of the tea towel: 

Then I stitched a line of Double Knot Stitch.  I used perle cotton floss, this is color variations by DMC #4130.

I think this looks so pretty!  The line of Double Knot Stitch is a nice echo of all the French Knots in this border.

Here is a list of the floss colors and numbers that I used for my project:

Autumn Projects - Part Three

 I have an update on my progress of the two remaining Autumn projects.  {As you may remember I finished the first of the three here}.

The second project is this leaves and acorn border for my tea towel:

And the third is this little owl. 

For both of these projects, I am still experimenting with colors and stitches.   In the case of this owl I love the coral, black mustard and blue color palette but I am trying to get just the right combination of stitches - especially for the leaves! 

In the case of the tea towel, I am also thinking about trims.  I love a pom-pom trim on a tea towel. 

I am thinking maybe the smaller sized pom-poms would suit the border a little better than the large?

I guess I will have to wait until I finish the stitching!

Autumn Projects - Part Two

I have an update on one of my projects from my Autumn Projects post {here}.   You may remember, I was going to stitch this small table topper and I was deciding on floss colors

I decided to go with the perle cotton in this beautiful color variation.  This is DMC No. 4128.  I am very happy with the selection! 

 It really compliments the fabric and I just love the effect that the color variation gives.  For the embroidery,  I used the Lazy Daisy, Stem, and Straight Stitches.

After I did all the embroidering on this, I cut piece of white fabric to use as a backing piece.  

I pinned the two pieces right sides together

and sewed around the edges.  I left about a 2" opening so that I could turn the piece inside out and have the seam and raw edges inside and the right sides out.

Before I turned this inside out, I cut each corner on a diagonal so that it would reduce bulk and be easier to turn the corners. 

I turned it right side out and then I hand stitched the 2" opening closed.

This table topper really matches these wood pieces.   I am looking forward to using it with them!

Some Autumn Projects

I wanted to share a picture of these sunflowers that I planted last spring.  They are all in bloom now and so gorgeous!  
I think the beautiful Autumn colors in this picture make a nice palette for some embroidery projects.

My first project is an embroidered table topper.  I am using this rectangle of beige colored cotton.  The fabric measures 11-1/2" x 14" but I am going to hem the edges.

I transferred this Autumn motif on the four corners of the fabric.  I plan on using a combination of floss colors. 

I love the yellow, burgundy and orange perle cottons I have here:

I also want to make an Autumn-themed kitchen towel.  I am going to transfer one of these motifs as a border - I think I will use the top one with the acorns:

My third project is an embroidered owl.  Specifically, the owl on the left in this picture.  I love the leaf garland!

I have transferred him to this white fabric:

And as soon as I decide on colors, he is ready for stitching!

Sunflower Colors

The beautiful weather we have had this summer has been nice!  I have enjoyed it so much, especially with this sweet friend:

Rego

I do love to see what blooms this time of year, my sunflowers:

white dahlia:

I have also enjoyed home grown tomatoes!

All these beautiful colors are making me think of some sunflower projects I would like to stitch:

Blending filament on an Autumn wip

I'm just starting to stitch this autumn leaf border. Notice the sparkly addition to my floss?

It is blending filament!  I have three of these now - gold, silver and multicolor {you may remember the multicolor from this post}

I am using the gold along with this variegated pearl cotton floss.  I have these two fabrics, both are cotton and each has a cream colored background with a pattern in white.  They are both beautiful!  The fabric pictured on top has a small leaf motif and the fabric on the bottom has a heart and flower motif:

I decided to use the fabric with the small leaf motif:

I am using a leaf border from the Autumn pattern.  Perfect for this fabric!

I cut the border out and transferred it to the fabric with my water soluble pen:

and started stitching.  You can see the size difference between the blending filament and the pearl cotton.  I just love the added sparkle! 

Progress report - autumn stitching

These gorgeous autumn colors

from my back yard have reminded me

that I need to share a progress report on one of my many works in progress! Do you remember this project?  I am really pleased with the progress I have made so far!

A closer look will show the different stitches I am using.  For the sunflower, I used the split stitch for the petals and stem stitch for the center.  I still want to add some sort of filling stitch for the sunflower center.  Perhaps french knots?  The zinnia (on the bottom left) is being done in satin stitch with two different floss colors for the petals.  The chrysanthemum (bottom right) is done in back stitch in two rows with two different colors.  I am not sure if I am done with that yet either! I may fill it in with more stitching.  The little acorn needs to be filled in still, I am not sure how I am going to finish it.  I am thrilled with how the pumpkin is turning out!  I did the stem in back stitch and the ribs in split stitch:

I am filling the pumpkin using the long and short stitch.  The unique color comes from combining three strands each of two different colors of floss. I love the effect!