Peony Buttons
Perk up some plain pillows with delicate pastel peonies. Stitch these designs on slightly higher-thread-count linen to fit on premade buttons, or follow the instructions presented.
Skill Level: Easy
Materials
• Six 7" x 7" pieces 28- count blue spruce
Cashel linen from Zweigart®* • One skein each DMC® or Presencia®
six-strand embroidery floss* • Size 24 tapestry needle *See Where to Find It on page 63.
DMC® Presencia®
3348 4550 yellow green, lt.
470 4885 avocado green, lt.
blanc 1000 white
blanc bl 1000 white
772 77 4586 yellow green, vy. lt.
772 4586 yellow green, vy. lt.
77 772 4586 yellow green, vy. lt.
33 3364 5151 pine green
33 3364 5151 pine green
64 644 8400 beige gray, med.
33 3364 3 5151 pine green
64 642 8404 beige gray, dk.
74 746 7128 off white
746 74 7128 off white
72 727 1094 topaz, vy. lt.
72 725 1140 topaz, med. lt.
783 1109 topaz, med.
782 1072 topaz, dk.
3824 1307 apricot, lt.
3341 1307 apricot
3340 1325 apricot, med.
3778 7670 terra cotta, lt.
3830 7685 terra cotta
818 1637 baby pink
776 1645 pink, med.
33 3326 1645 rose, lt.
89 899 1651 rose, med.
33 335 1661 rose
309 1661 rose, dk.
32 326 1667 rose, vy. dk.
81 815 1915 garnet, med.
38 3823 1128 yellow, ul. pl.
744 1010 yellow, pl.
74 743 1062 yellow, med.
35 353 1468 peach
74 742 1068 tangerine, lt.
35 352 1314 coral, lt.
35 351 1485 coral
35 350 1344 coral, med. 37 3777 1996 terra cotta, vy. dk. bs 64 640 8404 beige gray, vy. dk.
Stitch Count
Varies 20–21H x 21–22H
Design Size
1½–15⁄8" x 1½–15⁄8"
Instructions: Cross stitch over two threads using two strands of floss.
Backstitch (bs) over one square using one strand of floss.
Work French knot where appears using two strands 3823/1128 and wrapping floss around needle once.
Backstitch (bs) Instructions
727 1094 stamens (blue lines)
640 8404 white flower 4
782 1072 yellow flower 2
3777 1996 orange and pink flowers 1, 3, 5 and 6
Finishing Materials & Instructions
• Fabric and polyester fiberfill to make three 12" square pillows.
• 1⁄8 yard light fusible interfacing
• Cardboard
• Pres- On Self-Stick Mounting Board
• Two 2½" yellow round concave buttons (Hobby Lobby)
• Four 2½" ivory round concave buttons (Hobby Lobby) • Sewing needle
• Coordinating thread
• 6 cotton balls
• White craft glue
• Waxed twine
Make three pillows by cutting six 15" x 15" squares of fabric. With right sides together, sew pillows on three sides with 1/4" seam allowance. Fill with polyester fiberfill. Hand-sew remaining side of pillow with invisible stitch.
Press stitched pieces from reverse side, straightening as much as possible. Trim each piece to 3/4" from stitching on all sides. Iron fusible interfacing to reverse side of stitched pieces.
Using cardboard, create two circle templates, one with a 21/4" diameter and one with a 13/4" diameter.
Peel backing from mounting board. Center reverse side of stitched-piece circle on nonsticky side of mounting board. Fold edge of stitched piece over the mounting board so that edges stick to sticky side of mounting board and fabric is taut.
Place two concave buttons in center of premade pillow. With twine, sew the buttons together tightly.
Pull apart a cotton ball into a disk shape slightly smaller than design circle. Place a dab of craft glue on cotton ball and stick it to center of a button. Glue design circle on top of button over cotton ball.
Repeat with remaining stitched pieces.