Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 35 i Love Embroidery

Love Embroidery FRESH IDEAS WITH THREAD After all the hustle and bustle (and indulgence) of the holidays, we’re all ready to reconnect with the everyday things that bring us joy. And, quite naturally, at the very top of our list is stitching. That and re-organising all of our threads by colour, right? No, just us then! When we aren’t busy stitching (or sorting out those threads), we’re planning our next makes, and this gorgeously textured bedding by Portia Lawrie (see page 42) has certainly caught our eye. As well as ticking all of the boxes for 2023’s interiors trends, it’s a wonderful project for you to dip into post-work. Just imagine it draped over your lap as you sit on the sofa couching the design elements in place while catching…

C ommunity forger, embroidery dreamer and content creator – that’s Bess Wilkins. She’s based in Queensland, Australia, where she runs Life with Bess. It’s an online space replete with embroidery supplies and her monthly Pattern Club. Then there’s Stitching & Co, her podcast for creatives. Bess herself is a lifelong maker. “I’d grown up being very creative,” she tells us. “I did sewing and photography and scrapbooking and beading – you name it! When I was a kid, I did cross stitch and knitting with my grandma. I’d always wanted to try embroidery, after dabbling in school, but didn’t pick it up again until 2020, when Covid lockdowns started to happen. I couldn’t really go anywhere and I had a heap of thread and fabric, so I picked up embroidery…

Stitch Guide Turn to PAGE 67 MATERIALS Linen fabric: 15x15cm, light peach Egyptian cotton fabric: 15x15cm, white Stranded cotton: 1 skein each of light blue, light green, dark grey, rust Embroidery hoop: 11cm diameter Tealight holder: 3cm diameter, 5cm height Quilt wadding: 9cm diameter, plus extra for filling Machine thread: 1 spool of light peach Superglue Basic embroidery kit STITCHES USED Backstitch, French Knot, Lazy Daisy Stitch, Straight Stitch NOTES Find the template on p72. We used a Stoneware Tealight Holder from www.hm.com 01 01 Transfer the design from the template onto the centre of the light peach linen fabric using your preferred method; we used a heat-erasable pen and lightbox. Mount the linen in the hoop with the cotton fabric behind, making sure the design is central. 02 02…

FREE PATTERNS Visit our website www.gathered.how for simple tutorials like this! 01 02 03 04 05 06 MATERIALS • Cotton fabric: 30x30cm, purple • Stranded cotton: 1 skein of white • Embroidery hoop: 20cm diameter • Basic embroidery kit STITCHES USED Backstitch, Couching Stitch, French Knot, Lazy Daisy Stitch, Stem Stitch, Straight Stitch NOTES • Find the template on p74. • The design in worked using white stranded cotton throughout. • Turn to p67 for our guide on how to finish the back of your embroidery hoop. 01 Transfer the design from the template onto the fabric using your preferred method. We used white carbon paper to make the design easier to see on the darker fabric. Next, mount your stitching into your hoop 02 Begin by working the hand…

HOW TO TRANSFER TRACING Place light-coloured and fine fabrics over the design and trace over it. For thicker or dark-coloured fabrics, a light source such as a window or lightbox makes this process much simpler. TRANSFER PENS AND PENCILS Choose a colour that will show up on the fabric. Use a permanent marker if the stitching will cover the lines, or a removable marker if you need to erase the lines afterwards – test on a scrap of fabric first so you know it can be removed. IRON-ON TRANSFERS Press your fabric, then place your transfer sheet ink side down on top and press with a hot, dry iron (taking care with heat-sensitive fabrics). You can reuse the transfers three to four times depending on the type of fabric you…

Feeling a little bit flat after all the festivities? We’ve got the perfect pick-me-up. Now is the time to put your feet up, flick through your fave stitching mag and start plotting the next project for your embroidery hoop. And whoa, have we got some beauties for you to choose from. To kick things off, Elena Caron is sharing an exclusive portrait hoop, featuring a rather charming bearded chap and lots of stunning blooms to stitch. Her tutorial also introduces watercolours into the mix, so if you haven’t tried painting onto fabric before, this is the project for you. As an added bonus, most of the makes in this issue can be stitched from your stash using things from around the home or found in thrift shops – highlights include…

Spread good cheer... ...throughout the year with Christine Leech’s Year of Embroidered Envelopes. We get it. It’s cold outside, payday feels like forever away, and never mind that summer holiday! January gets a lot of bad press, but actually, if you utilise that time to try new things, it really isn’t all bad. We love the idea of starting the year by stitching something to open every month. Stow a voucher for a family experience, use them as a way of setting intentions, or to store threads for your next project. As ever, Christine’s designs are bursting with colour and an opportunity to expand your stitching skills, this year and beyond. www.sewyeahsocialclub.com…

01 02 03 04 05 06 01 Transfer the design from the template onto the centre of one panel of lilac fabric using your preferred method. We used a heat-erasable pen and a lightbox, however, a brightly lit window works perfectly well as a light source, too. Next, mount your stitching into your hoop with the design central and the fabric taut, like a drum. 02 Begin by working the row of teardrops on the bottom arch in two strands of deep yellow, first filling the shape with Long and Short Stitch, and then outlining them using Backstitch. Then, use Stem Stitch in two strands of orange to stitch the inner line of the scallop shapes and three strands of dark blue to stitch their outlines. Use two strands of…

T he shelfie is the design lover’s selfie! It’s all about capturing that special corner of your home and Louisa Burtonshaw’s interiors wall hanging on the next page ticks all the boxes. The secret to creating your perfect shelfie? It’s all about choosing fabric scraps with a dreamy combination of patterns and textures. And speaking of the home, Talia Bills-Moore has designed a beautiful winter garland for you to whip up. It’s just what we all need to cheer up our homes after all of the Christmas decorations have come down. Turn to page 62 to see the full tutorial and to find out how to add definition and sparkle to your machine stitching. 01 02 03 04 05 06 MATERIALS • Cotton fabric: 35x45cm, beige • Scraps of fabric…

MATERIALS • Wool felt: 50x25cm, white • Cotton fabric scraps: assorted shades of green and silver • Glitter felt scraps: assorted shades of white, silver and green • Machine thread: one spool each of black and white • Small button: grey • Assorted sequins • Assorted seed beads • Ribbon: 3mm and 9mm, 1m long • Bondaweb: 30x30cm • Sewing machine with an open toe freemotion (AKA darning) foot • Hot glue gun • Basic embroidery kit STITCHES USED Machine Straight Stitch NOTE Find the templates on p78-79. 01 02 03 04 05 06 01 Start by tracing the foliage patterns onto Bondaweb. Refer to the templates for the number of pieces of each shape required. Flip the templates over to the reverse side and, using a lightbox, trace around…

Good intentions We’re heading into January with huge smiles on our faces, anticipating the endless opportunities to boost our stitching skills. Turkey Stitch is something that we’re always keen to practise and FaimyXStitch’s Treehouse in the Forest design features lots of dreamy details including cascading tree branches created using this very stitch. It’s available to buy as a PDF pattern along with Kseniia’s signature cityscapes, pretty florals and more. www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Faimyxstitch Fresh threads Is there an item of clothing that has stood the test of time more than a jean jacket? Give yours a 2023 refresh now and it will be ready for those transitional spring days that lie ahead. Indonesian artist Putri ships this stunning cactus design as a full kit to the UK, or you can download the PDF…

MATERIALS Duvet cover set: blush Stranded cotton: 2 skeins each of dark beige, brown, light brown Pearl Cotton no.8: 1 ball each of black and cream Jersey fabric scraps: light brown Cotton piping cord: 5 metres Cotton yarn: 1 ball of light beige Lightweight fusible interfacing Sewing machine with coordinating machine thread Thick card: 20x6cm Craft knife Rotary cutter (optional) Cutting mat Quilter and standard rulers Heat-erasable pen Basic embroidery kit STITCHES USED Couching Stitch, Running Stitch, Straight Stitch 01 01 To start, mark out your design using 01 a ruler and a heat-erasable pen. Measure the width of the duvet (we used a double) and divide it into equal-sized columns and three rows, to create a grid. Next, draw a pair of parallel lines in the top and bottom…

01 Trim a selection of fabrics into pieces to cover any frays or holes. Be sure to keep the patches 2-4cm larger than the holes. Apply a small piece of fusible webbing tape around the edges of each patch, on the right side of the fabric. With the jeans turned inside out, position the fabric pieces over the holes, RS down. An embroidery hoop is not essential for working sashiko stitches. You can simply slide one hand inside to hold the fabric and use the other hand to work the stitches on the surface. Of course, you can use a hoop to hold the fabric if you prefer. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, bond the fabric patches into place using an iron. Be sure that the webbing tape isn’t visible through…

GETTING STARTED Prepare your sewing machine by attaching a freemotion embroidery (AKA darming) foot. Next, drop the feed dogs – the mechanism that grips and pulls fabric through your sewing machine. The manual should tell you how to do this. For this project, we stitched without a hoop as the design is backed with stabiliser, which will stop the machine from eating the fabric and help with manoeuvring the fabric around as you work. Start with a piece of test fabric to make sure the tension is correct and the bottom thread doesn’t show though. Remember, stitch length is determined by the speed at which you move your fabric – the faster you go, the longer your stitches will be. When machine embroidering, try to work in one continuous line.…

MATERIALS TECHNIQUES STITCH GUIDE TEMPLATES YOUR BASIC EMBROIDERY KIT For the majority of the projects in this issue you will need the following items. There are different types available, so read on to choose the correct materials for each project. • Fabric • Thread • Needles • Scissors • Embroidery hoop • Transfer pens/pencils FABRIC Embroidery can be worked on a wide variety of fabrics or ready-made items. It’s best to choose fabrics with a fairly smooth surface as heavily-textured surfaces will prevent the stitches from lying flat. For beginners, it’s best to start with 100% plain-weave cotton. When choosing fabric, consider its intended use, how much wear it will get, and how often it will need to be washed. Fabric can be categorised by its weave and fibre content.…