Side-view carnation

Please follow these instructions to embroider a carnation, seen from the side.The thread used is pearl cotton no:8.

This flower design is my own creation.You are not allowed to copy the tutorial and produce it as your own whether on print or electronic media, on your blog or youtube channels.You are allowed to show the finished work but please link back to this page for the tutorial.

Embroider a serrated-edged (zig-zag) buttonhole/blanket stitch petal as shown.

Work 2 more layers of zig-zag stitches (total 3 layers).

With 2 strands of thread, work buttonhole knots on the 3 layers.

Gather the buttonhole/blanket stitch petal and embroider satin stitch, done from top to bottom to form a calyx.

Buttonhole-knot carnation

Everytime I tried to embroider a carnation, it would end up looking like a rose.So, after a few trials and errors, I came up with the method shown below.

This flower design is my own creation.You are not allowed to copy the tutorial and produce it as your own whether on print or electronic media, on your blog or youtube channels.You are allowed to show the finished work but please link back to this page for the tutorial.

In a circle, draw a spiralling line from the center to the top.Work zig-zag/serrated stitches on the line.

Fill the stitches with buttonhole knots starting from the center to the top.This is how the flower looks like.Since this is done with the 6-strand thread, the petals look too thick for a carnation.Satisfied with this method, I proceeded to try this with pearl cotton no:8 thread.

This is the result.The circle is 2.5cm in diameter.2 strands were used for the buttonhole knots.The spiral line should be made closer compared to the one using the 6-strand thread (more layers).For easy stitching, push down the petals done in the previous line so that the zig-zag stitches could be seen.

In my next post, I will show you how to embroider a carnation, seen from the side.

Free ribbon embroidery pattern 1

After I published my last post, I realized that some computer viruses managed to creep into my PC and paralyzing the anti-virus.Since then, I’ve stopped surfing the internet and only occasionally log in into my BLOGGER account.My PC is now unprotected, so I haven’t decided whether to continue posting or wait till the problem is solved and since the anti-virus licence only expires in March, I am putting off calling the technician so that I won’t have to pay him twice.What I miss the most is visiting other blogs.I promise, I will catch up with you all after the problem has been fixed.

I would like to share with you a ribbon embroidery pattern that I’ve done.

The basket is stitched using beads.Then, I made the spiderweb roses.The leaves are lazy daisy/detached chain stitches.Lastly, I made the 5-petal flowers.

This is the close-up of the basket.

To learn all the stitches and flowers, please go to Carol’s wonderful blog.Please click here for the link.

Happy stitching!

Kamal kadai leaf

I love anything that got to do with weaving.That’s why I love kamal kadai embroidery method.Although I’ve learnt this technique many years ago, only through Deepa’s blog that I found its name.She has given a tutorial on how to embroider kamal kadai flower.Lakshmi has also given a detailed explanation on this method and the threads used.Please click here for her link.

I’ve seen designs which use the same method for leaves, as well.But, since the flower made with this method has a flat tip, I feel it’s not suitable for a leaf.You could try the method shown below to embroider a kamal kadai leaf.

This leaf design is my own creation.You are not allowed to copy the tutorial and produce it as your own whether on print or electronic media, on your blog or youtube channels.You are allowed to show the finished work but please link back to this page for the tutorial.

This is the template of my leaf.

Bring out the needle at B.Pull through.Enter at D and come up at C.Wrap the thread under the needle and pull through.Enter at A (one fly stitch made).

Work another fly stitch connecting D, E, F, A.

The right side of the leaf is done in the same manner.

Embroider straight stitches  at AB, AF and the right side.

Starting from the base, start weaving the leaf.Use the needle to push down the thread as you weave and don’t pull the thread too tight.

Weave all the way to the tip, leaving the 4 pointed tips at the left and right.

Weave the pointed tips separately.This leaf is quite big.

I.ve made a smaller one, here.

If you’ve embroidered any designs based on kamal kadai technique, I would love to see them.Please give a description and leave the link to your post so that other readers could view them, as well.Happy stitching!

Mirror work 2

I’ve created this mirror/shisha work out of flower stitch 2.

This mirrorwork is my own creation.You are not allowed to copy the tutorial and produce it as your own whether on print or electronic media, on your blog or youtube channels.You are allowed to show the finished work but please link back to this page for the tutorial.

Divide a 4cm diameter circle into 12.Transfer the 12 points onto the fabric.Draw straight lines connecting 2 opposite points and passing through the center.Draw more lines to form a star.Place the mirror (I’ve used a 1.25cm diameter mirror) in the middle and fix it with 4 straight and 4 diagonal stitches as shown (it is better to first fix the mirror with fabric glue).

These are the points on each petal.

Bring the needle up at the point shown (near A).

Bring the needle under the foundation stitch and pull through.

Bring the needle under the foundation stitch again but don’t pull through the needle yet.

Take a small stitch and bring the needle up at A and wrap the thread under the needle.

Pull through (it is important to use the same tension here, all around the mirror to produce beautiful, rounded center).

Go back into A and come up at B, wrap thread under the needle and pull through.

Enter at point C.

Come up at the point below D.Bring the needle under the foundation stitch.Pull through.

Go back under the foundation stitch.Without pulling through, take a small stitch and come up at D.Wrap the thred under the needle and pull through.

Repeat DE as in AB and enter fabric at C.

Continue in the same manner for the last part of the petal.

This is the stitch, done half-way.

The completed mirror work.

To learn how this is stitched without mirror, please click here.

Flower stitch 2

The flower made with this stitch is bigger compared to the previous one (Flower stitch ) but the method is almost the same.

This flower design is my own creation.You are not allowed to copy the tutorial and produce it as your own whether on print or electronic media, on your blog or youtube channels.You are allowed to show the finished work but please link back to this page for the tutorial.

Divide a 4cm diameter circle into 12.Transfer the 12 points onto the fabric.Draw a small circle in the middle of this circle (just big enough to fit in a sequin).draw straight lines connecting 2 opposite points and passing through the center of the circle.Draw more lines to form a star.

These are the points on each petal.

Bring up the needle at A.Pull through.Go back into A and bring the needle up at B.Wrap the thread under the needle and pull through.

Go back into B, come up at C, wrap thread under the needle and pull through.

Enter the fabric at D.

Repeat the same for AE à EF à FD.

This is the final part of the petal.

Continue in the same manner for the other petals.

Decorate the center with a sequin, stone or beads.

This stitch can also be done on a mirror.The tutorial is here.

Flower stitch

The following stitch could be used to embroider small flowers. Each petal consists of 3 lazy daisies stitched close to each other.

Embroider the first lazy daisy, on the left.

Rather than holding down the loop on the same point, enter the fabric at point A (this will be the tip of the flower).

Stitch another lazy daisy in the middle and enter at the same point, A.

This is the last stitch and one petal is made.

This is how the flower looks like. Each petal measures less than 1cm in length.

Free pattern 1 - Underwater scene

This is the completed underwater scene pattern.

As you can see, this is only a simple pattern, measuring 10”x 10”. I just wanted to show the endless ways you could use buttonhole knots to create beautiful embroidery.

Please follow these links for step-by-step instructions:

  Step 1 – Plants

Step 2 – Starfish

Step 3 – Coral 1

Step 4-Coral 2

Step 5- Fish 1

Step 6-Jellyfish

Step 7-Fish 2

Step 8-Seahorse

                                                                  

                                              

Underwater scene 8

For the last sea creature for this underwater scene embroidery, my choice is a seahorse. For this, I’ve used pearl cotton no:8 thread.

I began at the tip of the tail. Here, I,ve made 2 rows of buttonhole/blanket stitch.

Then, slightly above the stitch, I made a horizontal bar (straight stitch). Work buttonhole knots on this bar, facing downwards. Continue making another bar and fill it with buttonhole knots. The bar in the picture is the third one.

Filled with buttonhole knots.

Here, I’ve almost completed the tail. That is the last bar. For the tip of the tail, I,ve used only one strand for the bars and buttonhole knots. As the tail became wider, I use 2 strands for both. At the end of the buttonhole knots on each bar, enter the fabric at a point a bit further to give the skin a spiked look. The fin was done with buttonhole/blanket stitch and a straight stitch for the mouth.

As you can see here, I’ve filled the stitches with buttonhole knots. For the fin, please refer frilled buttonhole stitch.

The body was divided into 3 parts. The first part has been filled the same way as the tail (2 strands). Work from bottom to top.

The second part has also been filled.

And, this is the final part. This fellow is my favourite.

I,ve come to the end of this underwater scene embroidery. I’ll show you the full pattern in my next post since I’ll have to stitch some more of the tiny fish that I’ve shown in my last post. From time to time, I’ll try to embroider more sea creatures.

To view completed pattern, please click here.