Double-Sided Fun: Spring/ Summer
Skill Level: Beginner Materials
• 10" x 10" piece (Birdhouse) and 10" x 14" piece (Spring) 30- count parchment linen 1110 from Weeks Dye Works™ * • 10" x 10" piece (Bumblebee) and 10" x 14" piece (Summer) 30- count cocoa 1223 linen from Weeks Dye Works™ * • One skein each Weeks Dye Works™
Hand Over Dyed Floss* • One skein each The Gentle Art
Sampler Threads* • One skein each The Gentle Art
Simply Shaker Sampler Threads* • One skein each Classic Colorworks
Hand Dyed Cotton Floss* • Size 24 tapestry needle
Stitch Count
Birdhouse: 55H x 55W Spring: 49H x 110W Bumblebee: 55H x 55W Summer: 49H x 110W
Design Size
Birdhouse: 33/4" x 33/4" Spring: 33/8" x 73/8" Bumblebee: 33/4" x 33/4" Summer: 33/8" x 73/8" Instructions: Cross stitch over two threads using two strands of floss. Work adjacent 3/4 and 1/4 cross stitches where small symbols appear.
Finishing Materials & Instructions
• 1 yard coordinating cotton fabric • Two 4"x 4" x 2" blocks plastic foam • Two 4"x 8" x 2" blocks plastic foam • Two 4"x 4" x 4" pieces quilt batting • Two 4"x 4" x 8" pieces quilt batting • 3/4 yard coordinating cotton fabric • One sheet 1/8"-thick foam- core board • 11/4 yards 1/2"-wide coordinating ribbon
for Birdhouse and Spring blocks • 11/4 yards 1/2"-wide coordinating ribbon
for Bumblebee and Summer blocks • 11/4 yards jumbo yellow rickrack trim • Flat-head straight pins • Eight pearl head straight pins • White craft glue • X-Acto® knife
Press stitched pieces from reverse side, straightening as much as possible. Trim each stitched piece to 11/2" from stitching on all sides.
Using trimmed stitched pieces as templates, cut one piece each size from coordinating fabric for backing; set aside.
Using plastic foam blocks as templates and X-Acto knife, cut pieces of foamcore board to fit front, back and sides of each block. Pieces should fit together to enclose plastic foam block.
Pushing flat-head pins completely into foam, pin front and back foam-core pieces to one foam block. Pin side pieces in place in the same manner. Repeat with remaining foam-core pieces and plastic foam blocks.
From quilt batting, cut two pieces the same size as block fronts/ backs for each block. Glue one piece of batting to front and one to the back of each foam block. Repeat with remaining pieces of batting to glue to block fronts and backs.
Center a stitched piece on front of one block. Fold excess linen at top over top of block; pin to secure. Repeat on remaining sides, pinning generously and stretching fabric gently to keep it centered. In the same manner, add one piece of backing fabric on back of same block, pinning along sides. Repeat with remaining stitched pieces, backing fabric and plastic foam blocks.
Measure perimeter around sides of one block for length and across a side for width. Add 1" to length and double the width and cut one strip of coordinating fabric to that size. Fold long edges of fabric strip to middle of strip, wrong sides facing; press flat. Fold under 1/4" at each end of strip; press. Pin end of strip in place at bottom left corner of block; wrap strip around block until beginning point is reached; pin to secure. Repeat with remaining blocks.
Measure perimeter around sides of one block. Add 1" to that measurement and cut one piece of 11/2"-wide ribbon to that length. Wrap ribbon around block, starting and pinning at bottom center. Repeat with remaining blocks.
Measure perimeter around sides of one block. Add 1" to that measurement and cut one piece of rickrack trim to that length. Beginning at center bottom, wrap trim around block and pin in place, centering rickrack on 11/2"-wide ribbon. Repeat with remaining block.
Holding pieces of 1/2"-wide ribbons together, ends even, tie a knot in the center. Pin knot to center top of Birdhouse/ Bumblebee block as shown; trim ribbon ends at an angle. For blocks' “feet,” pin one pearl head pin in each corner of block bottoms.