Perfect peace
USE YOUR SEWING MACHINE TO CREATE THIS DELICATE FLORAL DESIGN WITH A JOYFUL MESSAGE THAT WILL BRIGHTEN YOUR WALLS
Designer Emma Giacalone
MATERIALS
Cotton fabric: 30x40cm Heavyweight iron-on interfacing: 30x20cm
Machine sewing thread: black, $/""+0 +! / +$" ,# ,/ ) ,),2/0 Dowel rod: 15cm
Ribbon or string to hang
Basic embroidery kit
NOTES
Cut the fabric in two pieces measuring 30x20cm each, one for the embroidered banner front and one for the banner back.
Press the interfacing on the WS of the banner front fabric, then transfer the design from the template onto the centre of the RS of the fabric using your preferred method. We used a heat-erasable pen. Trace the design as well as the outer edge cutting lines.
Start by stitching the lettering. Slowly guide the machine along the lines of each letter. Sew around each letter at least twice, to make sure it’s really bold and clear once the traced guidelines are removed. We’ve stitched the words ‘find’ and ‘the’ twice and ‘joy’ four times so they stand out.
For the plants and flowers, start by tracing the leaves first. You can use more than one shade of green for contrast if you prefer, though this is not essential. Sewing organic shapes like plants can be done in one continuous line. Starting at the bottom of the stem, stitch up to the top, sew around the top leaf and then work your way down to the bottom. Repeat this for each stem; they will extend a little into the seam allowance as drawn on the template so that they’re stitched into the seam when making up. Add circles
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Once the embroidery is complete, cut the banner front out along the outer edge cutting lines. There is extra allowance included on the top edge to form the casing. Place the cut-out banner front RS facing on top of the banner back fabric, then cut around it. Pin the banner front and banner back fabrics RS facing, then stitch together all around using a 1cm seam allowance, but leaving the top unsewn. Snip the points off the banner to reduce bulk in the seams.
Turn RS out and press on the banner back; this will also remove the pen marks if you’ve used a heat-erasable pen, but won’t flatten the stitching. Topstitch carefully around the outside edges of the banner to neaten and decorate.
Fold the top edge of the banner over by 1cm to the back and press, then turn it over again by 2cm and press. Stitch the turned-over edge into place across the bottom to create a casing channel. Thread the dowel through the casing, then tie string or ribbon to each end for hanging.
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