HUMMINGBIRD HOOP
Pattern at 100%
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Fabric: 35x35cm, cream
Stranded cotton: see Thread Colours Metallic thread: see Thread Colours (optional)
Transfer pen or pencil
Embroidery hoop: 15cm diameter Basic embroidery kit
STITCHES USED
Backstitch, Chain Stitch, Fishbone Stitch, French Knots, Granitos Stitch, Satin Stitch, Split Stitch, Straight Stitch
NOTES
Find the template on p58.
Nature scenes are a speciality for embroidery artist Jessica Long, and this month’s cover project is her latest creation! The design features a majestic hummingbird hovering alongside tropical blooms. The little bird’s throat is worked in metallic thread, so if you haven’t tried embroidering with metallics before, here’s a perfect opportunity. You’ll find additional tips for working with these threads, in our Essentials section on page 52.
01 Before you begin, make sure your fabric is stretched tightly in the hoop. Not only will it ensure your design transfers without distortion, it will help you keep your stitches neat and prevent any warping of the fabric. Transfer the design from the template using your preferred method. We traced ours using a heat-erasable pen.
Begin by stitching the filaments of the hibiscus stamens in Chain Stitch using three strands of orange. Start the filament at the flower centre and work outwards.
FLORA
02 Next, fill the two small hibiscus flowers. Using three strands of orange red for the pink hibiscus and dark fuchsia for the purple hibiscus, use Backstitch for the centre lines radiating from each petal centre. Also outline the sides of the petals in the same colour.
Fill in the remainder of the petals with rows of Backstitch using three strands of salmon for the pink hibiscus and light fuchsia for the purple hibiscus. The stitches should radiate from the centre of the flower outwards.
03 Fill the largest hibiscus with rows of Backstitch using three strands. Use dark pink for the centre lines and side outlines. Use medium pink to follow along the dark pink lines. Fill in the rest of the petals with light pink. Use one strand of dark pink to outline the petal edges with Backstitch, ensuring you work these right at the edge of the stitching already worked for a neat outline.
04 Use two strands of dark green to fill in the solid coloured leaves with Fishbone Stitch. Work around the petals, changing to Satin Stitch when the leaves narrow.
05 Fill the striped leaves with Satin Stitch using two strands, alternating between medium green and grass green. Work around the petals and flower stamen, stitching right up to the other elements. Mark the fabric with a pen to help keep the stripes and Satin
DMC Stranded cotton, 1 skein each: 14 (light green), 309 (mid pink), 326 (dark pink), 335 (light pink), 608 (orange), 702 (grass green), 718 (medium fuchsia),
743 (yellow), 844 (grey), 906 (dark green), 907 (medium green), 915 (dark fuchsia), 954 (mint), 3607 (light fuchsia), 3706 (salmon),
3801 (orange-red), 3850 (dark teal), 3851 (light teal), BLANC (white).
DMC Light Effects embroidery thread: 1 skein of E718 or stranded cotton 718 (medium fuchsia).
Stitches even, as you’ll get neater stripes.
06 Once the leaves are stitched, return to add the vein details. Use two strands of dark teal to create Straight Stitch veins on the solid coloured leaves. Use three strands of light green to create a Backstitch vein down the centre of the Satin Stitched leaves.
07 Stitch the tiny flowers with six strands of orange-red using Granitos Stitch. Some are placed on top of already-worked stitches, so make sure they lie flat on top and don’t distort the stitching beneath.
08 Stitch the palm fronds in Split Stitch using three strands of dark teal.
09 Add yellow French Knots for the anthers of the Hibiscus stamens using six strands of yellow, changing the number of wraps to create different sizes of knots.
HUMMINGBIRD
10 Work the hummingbird outlines in Split Stitch using two strands of grey. Use Satin Stitch to fill the eye and beak with two strands of grey. Fill in the throat with Satin Stitch, using two strands of metallic medium fuchsia, or stranded cotton if you prefer.
11 Fill in the head and back with Satin Stitch, using two strands of light teal.
Outline the stomach in Split Stitch using two strands of mint. Use the same thread to fill the gaps in the wings with Satin Stitch, then fill the gaps in the tail feathers with Split Stitch.
12 Finish the hummingbird by filling in the tummy in Backstitch with two strands of white. For the eye, use one strand of white to outline the bottom of the eye in Backstitch and a short Straight Stitch to create a highlight inside the eye.
To frame in the hoop, pull the excess fabric tight with running stitch. Ensure the design is centred and the fabric is taught. Pull the ends of the running stitch tight and tie together.
Jessica Long lives in Arizona with her husband, her son and two cats. After working in biotech for a decade, she picked up embroidery to relax and feed her creative spirit while on maternity leave… and was hooked!