Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 44 i Love Embroidery

FRESH IDEAS WITH THREAD Shhhh! Can you hear that? The little ‘pop’ your needle makes as it pushes through your fabric? A magical moment in time when nothing else matters, and it’s just you and your stitching. It has to be one of our most favourite sounds in the world. Well, that and the thud of the latest issue of LE dropping through our letterboxes! Why? Because this gentle sound not only connects us to embroiderers of the past (yes, they’ll have heard it too), it also enables us time to focus on the present as we carefully work each stitch, and gives us permission to daydream about things we would like to sew in the future. Long live the pop...and projects like this stunning portrait by Rachael Dobbins (p34),…

Template for digital readers on p74 MATERIALS Printed cotton fabric from your kit, or any cotton fabric: 16x16cm, white Stranded cotton from your kit or: 1 skein each of beige, brown, green, red, white Embroidery hoop from your kit or: 11cm diameter Basic embroidery kit STITCHES USED French Knot, Satin Stitch, Split Stitch, Straight Stitch NOTES The template for this project is printed on the fabric in your kit, but you can also find it on p74. If you find your fabric moves around in the hoop, try wrapping the inner hoop with bias binding as this will help the hoop to grip the fabric better. 01 The design is printed on the fabric in your kit so you can get stitching straight away. Alternatively, you can transfer the design…

Stitch Guide Turn to PAGE 67 MATERIALS Square cotton-blend white napkins Stranded cotton: 1 skein each of beige, red, teal, green, light yellow  Embroidery hoop: 13cm diameter Adhesive water-soluble stabiliser Fusible interfacing Kitchen roll tube, half per napkin Baker’s twine Small gift Basic embroidery kit STITCHES USED Backstitch, French Knot, Lazy Daisy Stitch, Satin Stitch NOTES Find the templates on p76. RS = right side(s). 01 Transfer each of the festive template designs onto one corner of a napkin (one design per napkin). We used an erasable pen and adhesive water-soluble stabiliser. Now, mount the first piece of fabric into a hoop so that it is taut like a drum. 02 For the ‘JOY’ design, use six strands of red to outline the word in Backstitch and then fill the…

G ifts, glorious gifts... it’s never too early to start ‘em. And this issue’s machine makes will ensure you have plenty of time to stitch up gorgeous ones for you, and for your loved ones. First up is Andrea Walpole’s sweet dancing penguins design (see p58). She’s machine embroidered four of these dapper Antarctic dwellers onto a cool crisp tea towel made from denim – but the wintry motifs could easily be rearranged or used individually to embellish table linens, cushions, shirts, and anything else you fancy! Meanwhile, Tallia Bills-Moore has three festive food-and-drink-themed designs for you to sew (see p60), which can be used to make present toppers and tags, greetings cards, cake decorations, brooches and more. Pop on some festive tunes and get sewing!…

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. Plain weave is the most common type of weave and includes…

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Well, almost… not quite yet… but very soon. Yes, Christmas IS on the horizon – and if you are anything like me, you’ll already be making promises to yourself to be more organised than last year. After all, we need to give ourselves plenty of time to stitch all of those gorgeous gifts for friends and family, AND carve out some time to indulge in festive projects that are just for us. From a set of colourful felt decorations to a pair of Turkey Stitch trees, we’ve got your Christmas stitching sorted this issue. So pop on some festive tunes (is it ever too early?) and delve into a magical world of Christmas delight as you whip up our seasonal projects and…

MATERIALS 1mm wool-blend felt sheet: A4, green, red, dark gold, brown, peach DMC Stranded Cotton: 1 skein each of 347 (coral), 400 (brown), 434 (tan), 722 (peach), 3850 (green) DMC Diamant Thread: 1 spool each of D3821 (gold) 2mm seed beads: gold, red 3mm cupped sequins: gold, red 5mm cupped sequins: gold 6mm bugle beads: bronze 8mm acrylic teardrop gems in light gold 6mm satin ribbon: 15cm gold x3 Waxed freezer paper Toy filling Beading needle Tassel: gold (either shop bought or homemade) Basic embroidery kit STITCHES USED Backstitch, Blanket Stitch, Fly Stitch, Straight Stitch, Whipped Backstitch Picture this: it’s Christmas morning, and you and your loved ones are gathered around a beautifully decorated tree strung with twinkling fairy lights, glittering tinsel – and a set of fabulous, felt baubles…

Stitch Guide Turn to PAGE 67 MATERIALS ● Calico cotton fabric: 17x17cm, natural x2 ● Stranded cotton: 1 skein of light pink; 2 skeins each of bottle green, forest green ● Embroidery hoop: 11cm diameter x2 ● 10mm pom pom x8 (per hoop) ● Basic embroidery kit STITCHES USED Satin Stitch, Turkey Stitch NOTE ● Find the templates on p75. 01 Transfer the two tree designs from the templates onto the fabric using your preferred method. We used a heat erasable pen and a light box – but you could use a brightly lit window instead. Then, mount the fabric into the hoops with the designs central and the fabric taut. Begin by working the design featuring the rug. Start with the rug itself, using vertical Satin Stitch in six…

Stitch-along PART 1 We promised you another stitch-along and this time it’s a fabulously festive one! Designed by Kseniia Guseva (aka @faimyxstitch), this three-part pattern depicts a cosy Christmas interior – complete with a decorated tree, lots of presents, a fireplace strung with berry-red stockings and a luscious, evergreen wreath. It’s the best of the holidays in a hoop! In part 1, you’ll create the foundation of your living room scene by stitching together three fabrics, before adding in the roaring fire and sash window. Each issue, Kseniia will show you how to work new embroidered elements into your design – so follow along, and your cheerful scene will be finished in time for Christmas and ready to display, or gift to someone special! Don’t forget to use #LEstitchalongs or…

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…

GIFTS PATTERNS HOMEWARES TOOLS FASHION Winter wonderland No one does statement embroidered homewares quite like Jan Constantine, and her new collection, Edelweiss has a decidedly festive twist! Cleverly uniting traditional Christmas motifs with modern-day fabrics in a regal palette of blue and red, it features every seasonal accent your heart could dream of – from cosy cushions, to striking stockings, co-ordinating decorations, tree skirts, bunting and more. www.janconstantine.com Deck the halls We’re quite picky with what we put on our Christmas trees. After all, many of our decs are either handmade (hello cover star) or packed with childhood memories – AKA those wonky ornaments we made as kids. But just occasionally one will catch our eye, and this decorative ampersand bauble is one of those decs! Featuring pretty metallic stitching…

“I’m all about people making stuff and then proudly displaying it. I think we should all proudly display the things we make!” Eppie Thompson is determined get you creating with confidence. It’s a can-do attitude reflected in her embroidery kit and course business, The Fabled Thread. Established in 2020, The Fabled Thread (TFF) offers a vibrant selection of beginner-friendly patterns inspired by fables and fairy tales and is one of the most exciting newcomers on the embroidery block. Like many crafty endeavours before it, TFF was born out of day job dissatisfaction. Feeling the pressure of a job in finance, Eppie was on the hunt for a hobby that would offer some respite from all-things-office. From pottery to papermaking, the self-titled “craft-dabbler” tried her hand at several arty pastimes, but…

MATERIALS ● Linen fabric: 25x25cm, natural ● Stranded cotton: 1 skein each of brown, dark brown, golden brown, burgundy, cream, green, leaf green, dark grey, dark orange, dark burnt orange, burnt orange, peach, red, dark red ● DMC Metallic Pearl thread no.5: 1 skein of gold (5282) ● DMC Etoilé Stranded Cotton: 1 skein each of black (C310) ● Tulle: 10x12cm, white x2 ● Embroidery hoop: 15cm diameter ● Basic embroidery kit STITCHES USED Backstitch, Bullion Knots, Cast-on Stitch, Couching Stitch, French Knot, Granitos Stitch, Satin Stitch, Whipped Backstitch 01 Transfer the design from the template onto the fabric using your preferred method. We used a heat erasable pen and a light source. Then, mount the stitching into the hoop with the design central and the fabric taut like a…

GETTING STARTED Prepare your sewing machine by attaching a freemotion embroidery (aka a darning) foot. Next, drop the feed dogs – the mechanism that grips and pulls fabric through your sewing machine. Your sewing machine manual should tell you how to do this, but there is usually a lever to pull at the back of the machine. Start with test fabric to make sure the tension is correct and the bottom thread doesn’t show through. Remember the stitch length is determined by the speed at which you stitch – the faster you move your fabric, the longer your stitches will be. When machine embroidering, try to work in one continuous line. If you do need to stop, make sure you lower the foot so you don’t have jumps in your…

E mbroidery wasn’t Sara’s first crafting love – here, the Norfolkbased designer and teacher tells us how her stitching journey began… How did you start stitching? I’ve been a crafter since learning to knit in 2013. From there, I learned cross stitch and crochet – but I didn’t learn embroidery until 2017. My stepdad sadly passed away in January of that year, and I was looking for something to distract me from my grief, so decided to learn a new craft – embroidery. It helped me get through a really difficult time, and I will be forever grateful for that. Where do you get the inspiration for your modern embroidery designs? Everywhere! I love trying to recreate the textures and colours you see in nature with embroidery thread. Some of…