Embroidery

 

Learning to hand embroider (stitches are:  stem, French knots and lazy daisy)

1.  Cut length of floss.

2.  Split floss in hand - three strings each.

3.  Floss has a grain.  The inside edge is the short edge.  The outside is where you tie your knot.  Thread needle.  Roll a small knot in the bottom of string.

4.  Push needle through the back on the line.  The first stitch seems longer but it really isn't.  Insert needle from top, on line, and bring needle back up half way through the stitch, on the line.  With this fabric the first stitch will be about 8 threads.  Remaining stitches will be about 4 stitches past the last stitch, and come up in the previous hole.  Make sure the thread is always the same direction.  I'm making my threads always inside the circle.

5.  Continue working both circles around, one at a time with small stitches or add leaves at each intersection on the second loop.

6.  Add leaves around vines if not added previously.  

7. Optional: Make flowers as desired using 5 or 6 stitches as leaves and add three knots on top in center of flowers.