Shhh...Baby's Sleeping Embroidery Pattern Packet

This gorgeous organdy ribbon is for a new project I am working on. This ribbon is so light and ethereal and I love the color! Notice my gauzy, artsy picture - it hides the wrinkles in the ribbon on the top spool (i accidently caught the end of the ribbon with the vacuum cleaner hose when I was vacuuming my craft table. It sucked up quite a bit of ribbon before I was able to grab it!) I didn't really know which width I would need so I bought 7/8" and 1-1/2" . I will be using the ribbon to make a nursery doorknob hanger - to hang this little pillow:

It is going to say "Shhh...Baby's Sleeping" ! This is the title of my new embroidery pattern packet:

I just listed this in my etsy shop and I think it is a wonderful set of images for any baby boy's nursery! I am thinking that I may add some powder blue pom-poms to the bottom of the pillow as well. I will post some pictures as soon as I am finished.

beautiful floss

These two beautiful floss colors are just perfect for spring! The minty green is dmc 955 and the pink is dmc 3608.I am stitching up this little flower and you might notice I am using a variety of stitches. So far, I have used the stem stitch for the outside border, the back stitch for the stem and the chain stitch for the flower petals - I am not sure if this looks too heavy...may have to take that out depending on what it looks like when all the petals are done - and finally the very impressive ;) threaded back stitch for the inner border!

I love the way the threaded back stitch looks using the same color for both the back stitch and the threading floss. According to 100 stitches, the threading back and forth through the back stitch can be done like the way shown above, or with two separate threading floss threads like this.

These beautiful pink and green colors are reminding me of some beautiful pictures I've taken. First of this gorgeous embroidered trim tape I just bought at JoAnns:

I don't know what I am going to use it for, but I just love it! Second, of this incredibly beautiful camellia bloom: this camellia is such a reliable bloomer every winter. I planted it in my yard right next to a white blooming camellia. The white camellia is tucked a little further under the trees and because of the shade it is a little later to bloom. It is full of huge buds so as soon as they bloom, I will definitely post some pictures!

100 Stitches - scroll stitch

The scroll stitch is the latest stitch I have just learned. Such a beautiful stitch, 100 Stitches suggests using it for a border stitch and I agree - it would be gorgeous to use on a border...provided you have a lot of practice!

This disaster is my first attempt:


What's wrong? I'll explain at the end of this post. For now, here are the steps: first, come up through the fabric:

Next, make an easy loop to the right of where you came up, and insert the needle into the fabric inside the loop - if you look closely, you can see my faint pencil line indicating the stitching line. Notice (and remember) that the needle is going into the fabric perpendicular to the stitching line!

Make a small stitch and make sure the loop stays under your needle as you draw it through:

Now pull it all the way through and carefully guide (this is where the practice comes in) the thread to form this knot:

Now go through the fabric again at your preferred distance from the first stitch to form your next stitch. Just repeat the exact stitch:
And carefully pull the thread through:

Until you have a nice long line of stitches that would make a beautiful border!
I have concluded that in the disaster picture, I was following the steps from 100 Stitches and they instructed you to use a slanted stitch inside the loop - slanting to the left, not perpendicular to the stitching line. I did and I just couldn't form the knot evenly. Out of frustration, I did some internet research and at needlenthread.com found an extremely helpful tutorial for this stitch! Once I followed these instructions, I was able to make an even smooth line of scroll stitches!

I used six strands of dmc #907. This stitch is #32 and is in the looped stitches section of 100 Stitches.

Chenille needles and cupcake embroidery

Here is a picture of my new absolute favorite embroidery needles - these are dmc chenille needles. They are size 24. I love these needles for three reasons - first because of the nice sized eye - long and oval and very easy to thread. Second, because they are extemely sharp. Third, because they are short in length so they seem easier to manipulate. I bought these at Michaels.

I also have some cupcake embroidery wip pictures - this first one is so sweet ;) and I especially want to point out the leaves at the top of the cherry stems. I actually used the fish bone stitch! It is just the thing for leaves - I think they look so beautiful! I am really excited to be using stitches I have learned because of the 100 Stitches project!

This last picture is of a just finished stitching. In this picture you can also see my new plastic embroidery hoop! I love the color and I am really liking the way it firmly holds fabric. I still love my wood hoops but they don't seem to keep the fabric as taut as this new plastic hoop.

100 Stitches - vandyke stitch

This very complicated looking stitch is the vandyke stitch.

I found it to be a really easy and satisfying stitch to learn! Here are my steps - first, come up through the fabric on the left hand side of an imaginary stitching line.

Next, go back into the fabric to the right of the stitching line and at a point diagonally above where your thread first came up. Just make a straight horizontal stitch here.

Now cross over to the right hand side of your stitch line and go back into the fabric even with where your thread first came up.

Pull the thread through to the back and then come up - this forms a loose x shape. Come up again on the left side, directly below the spot your thread first came through.

Now bring the needle under the x shape with out catching any fabric and carefully pull it all the way under the x shape.

This draws the bottom half of the x together a bit - now go back down into the fabric on the right side below the previous stitch and thats it!

Just continue these steps and you will make a nice complicated looking line of stitches! 100 Stitches suggested not pulling any of the stitches too tightly. This takes a little practice, if you pull the stitches too tightly, the center braid line will look uneven and wavy.

I used 6 strands of dmc 907. This is stitch #34 and is in the looped stitches section of the 100 Stitches book.

wip from a new pattern packet

Here is a picture of my latest work-in-progress: Cupcakes!

When finished, this will be a three-tiered cake stand loaded up with delicious looking cupcakes!

I am using quite a few different color combinations and stitching combinations. The chain stitch in a lovely pale pink for the border of the cupcake paper:

The lazy daisy stitch and plenty of french knots in lavender and yellow:


And of course the running stitch in pink and red and my favorite back stitch outlining everything!

This cake stand pattern is just one of the "main patterns" I have in this new pack. I will be blogging the other main pattern soon - it features three cupcakes on doilies lined up in a row with the word cupcakes! below them. I have already sized it to fit into a picture frame and I can't wait to finish it!

100 stitches - fish bone stitch

100 Stitches time again! I have just learned how to do the fish bone stitch! I am really excited about this beautiful stitch. According to the 100 stitches description, this is an excellent stitch for filling small shapes. So to practice the stitch, I drew a leaf shape with a center line marked...

I am using six strands of this beautiful green - dmc color 907. I will refrain from saying "i love this color!" since I say that in nearly every 100 stitches post!
The first step is to come up through the fabric and go back down through your fabric making a small straight stitch. Come up again next to the straight stitch and make a slanting stitch that slopes across the center line and goes back through the fabric at the base of the first straight stitch.


Now come up through the fabric on the opposite side of the first straight stitch, make a slanted stitch again sloping to the center line and overlap the base of the second stitch.

Just continue working opposite sides of the shape, always slanting your stitch to the center line and always overlapping the base of the stitch before.
This was a very easy stitch!
This stitch is #11 and is in the flat stitches category of 100 stitches.