Botanic beauty

Stitch our stunning cover star T- shirt

Let your stitching do the talking with this gorgeous embroidered T- shirt, a botanical beauty that’s a plant lover’s dream.

HOW TO MAKE THE T SHIRT

Step one If it’s new, wash the T- shirt before you start – the design will pucker if the fabric shrinks. Step two Position the templates inside the T- shirt and pin in place. Use the pen to trace the design onto the fabric, then carefully place the fabric in the hoop without stretching it. 1

Step three Embroider the turquoise leaves using light green thread and fishbone stitch. Use the same thread and backstitch for the stem. 2 Step four For the two three- leafed green sprigs, use dark green thread to outline them with backstitch, then fill the shapes with satin stitch. Use the same thread and backstitch for the stems of these sprigs. 3

Step five For the emerald green leaves at the neck of the T- shirt, use green embroidery thread and satin stitch. Start the satin stitch across the widest point of the leaf; this helps get the angle of the stitches. Start each stitch from the outer edge and into the centre line of the leaf and work your way down each side. The stem is in backstitch. 4

Step six To complete the three- leafed sprigs, using pale peach thread, stitch up through the centre of each leaf and in a diagonal straight stitch to the inner edge of the green satin stitch.

Repeat these stitches, filling the centres with diagonal straight stitches. 5

Step seven For the pink flowers, use apple green thread and split stitch for the stem, pale peach thread and satin stitch for the outer petals and peach thread and long and short stitch for the inner petals. The leaves are stitched in satin stitch, using apple green for one side and lime green for the other. 6

Step eight Work the small red and yellow flowers using red thread, yellow thread and satin stitch. 7

Step nine For the branch of leaves along the shoulder, work the stem in backstitch and lime green thread. Referring to the image as a guide for colour placement, outline each of the leaves with backstitch and either dark green, lime green or pastel green. Fill in the leaves with satin stitch and the corresponding thread colour. 8

Step ten To finish, neaten any long threads on the back and remove any visible pen markings following the manufacturer’s instructions. 9

Step eleven Finally, turn the T- shirt wrong side out and gently press the back of the embroidery to release any remaining wrinkles. 10

Designed by Georgie K. Emery, @ georgie. k. emery