First off, I want to thank everyone for the wonderful response to Applique Block 1. I pretty much love those little cardinals and I am glad you guys do too. There will be more of those in the coming months, along with an assortment of flowers etc etc etc.
Since these blocks are a bit more intricate than the Mimi’s blocks from last year, and since they are only 9” I thought it was time to start embroidering the stems so I could have room for all the other pretty stuff. Here’s how I did it:
You can see from the pattern that the center is marked with diagonal lines. Fold your fabric square in half twice diagonally and place over the patterns, aligning the folds with the lines.
I marked my lines very lightly with a permanent marker (Pigma Micron sepia .05) These lines won’t rub off and get covered nicely by embroidery thread.
To embroider I use this really great hoop that Sandra Leichner sells in her shop. (Click here to buy it)
Since I haven’t mastered the art of sewing and taking pictures at the same time I am just going to have to describe what I did. I used a chain stitch with 2 strands of embroidery floss. Here it is all done.
For you newbie embroidery folks out there, I found this absolutely terrific website for embroidery:
Mary Corbet's Needle n' Thread
Here is a link to her page on the chain stitch
Tomorrow I will have a tutorial on how I pre-assembled those little birds. They are not as hard as they look.
PRIZE ALERT: The prize for Applique Block 1 is your very own cute little embroidery hoop! Just post a picture of you block in the Jingle Belle's FLICKR group and I will pick a winner when the next applique block goes up!
I love Mary Corbet's Needle N Thread blog! I've subscribed to her for a long time and she gives great "how to" tips, besides it being fun to watch her projects just as I do yours.
Posted by: Michelle Shook | 01/29/2013 at 11:35 AM
Birds are very cute. Are you going to give us any fabric selection info, eg what reds for the birds?
Posted by: Jeanette Shouse | 01/29/2013 at 05:29 PM
Just look at your PERFECT tiny little stitches! Do you ever do videos? I'd love to see a video of your perfect little stitches because I do stitch work, but somehow they don't end up perfectly spaced, and with the threads looking like THAT!!
Posted by: Marcia K | 01/30/2013 at 05:52 AM
yes, these tiny stems would do well with embroidery and I am so happy you provided the link you did... it is fantastic! Now if I only had the time to actually do some of it!
Posted by: Eden Hunt | 01/30/2013 at 07:05 PM
Beautiful block Erin, thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Connie | 01/31/2013 at 08:22 AM