Vlad’s Broom Closet
Design by Nancy Wahler of Faith wurks Designs
Skill Level: Confident Beginner Materials
• 11" x 12" piece 28- count clay marbled
Jobelan from Wichelt Imports Inc.* • One skein each Anchor® or DMC® six
strand embroidery floss* • One spool each Kreinik Blending
Filament* • Size 24 tapestry needle *See Where to Find It on page 110. Stitch Count: 72H x 87W Design Size: 51⁄8" x 6¼"
Instructions:
Cross stitch over two threads using two strands of floss.
Backstitch (bs) over two threads using one strand of floss or blending filament, unless otherwise noted.
Work straight/ long stitches for broom bristles using three strands of floss, unless otherwise noted.
Work tacking stitch, as for couching, below the broomsticks at the top of the bristles using the same three strands of floss for the bristles. Note: Work tacking stitch after bristles are placed.
Work Smyrna cross stitch for purple broom using two strands 112/3837 over four threads.
Work French knot where appears using one strand 403/310 and wrapping floss around needle twice.
Finishing Materials & Instructions
• 6" tree twig • 4" bundle of broom straw • 4" jute twine • 10" x 13" piece coordinating
cotton fabric • 10" x 13" piece black cotton fabric • Two 6½" squares batting • One skein black pearl cotton #5 • One each button from Just Another Button Company™: large Dracula 4622.L, fraidy cat 4587* • Tacky glue • Framing tape • 6½" square foam core • 9¾" x 8¾" rectangle foam core • 9¾" x 8¾" rectangle mat board • Coordinating thread *See Where to Find It on page 110.
To create broom embellishment, bundle the broom straw and attach to the bottom of the twig with three to four wraps of the jute twine. Tie a knot on the
back and secure with a tiny bit of glue.
Press stitched piece from reverse side, straightening as much as possible. Attach buttons using two strands of coordinating floss and referring to photo for placement. Trim stitched piece to 2" from stitching on all sides.
Run a strip of framing tape on top of the 61/2" square of foam core. Apply both batting squares on top with a bit of tape in between the two layers to hold together; trim to fit if needed. Place strips of framing tape along all four sides of the back of the foam core square (batting will be on the top side).
Center your stitched piece on top of the batting side of the foam core square, bring the fabric edges to the back side and press onto the tape. Trim excess fabric if needed. Miter the fabric corners and glue down as flat as you can with tacky glue.
Cover the foam core rectangle with the coordinating fabric using the same steps as the stitched fabric. Cover the mat board rectangle with the black fabric. Run strips of framing tape on the back side of the mat board rectangle and attach the covered mat board rectangle on the strips with edges of rectangles even.
Apply framing tape to the back of the covered foam core square and center it on the fabric-covered rectangle; press firmly Note: Twisted- Cording Instructions appear on page 107.
Using the pearl cotton, make cording. Using tacky glue, attach cording around the edges of the stitched piece as well as the fabric-covered rectangle. Referring to the photo for placement, attach broom embellishment with tacky glue.