Rockin’ Robin

Stitch this sweet robin to a home-made cushion using soluble canvas

You will need

• DMC soluble canvas

• Ready-made cushion cover, approx 30cm x 30cm (this branch design is ideal)

• Cushion pad

• Embroidery hoop

• Embroidery silks in brown, red, white, grey, gold and black

• Embroidery needles

To Make

❶ Cut a piece of soluble canvas a couple of cm larger than the robin (actual size of robin: approx 7cm x 7cm). Remove the cushion pad from the cover. Position the piece of canvas on the front of the cover and tack in place. Place in an embroidery hoop.

❷ Embroider the cross stitch robin, starting at the centre, following the diagram opposite. Divide your embroidery threads into two-strand lengths. Where possible, stitch in rows, working diagonally from bottom left to top right of each square to the end of each row; then come back along the row, completing the stitch from bottom right to top left, until the area is stitched as charted. End threads by running the needle under the last few stitches at the back of the fabric, and then trim the ends.

❸ When the robin is completed, dissolve the soluble canvas, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Allow the fabric to dry completely.

❹ Turn cushion cover inside out and press the seams. Turn the right side out, and insert the pad.