NOTEBOOK COVER
Using a few more techniques and stitches, this pretty project is a great one for honing your skills.
Calico, 44cm x 24cm A5 notebook 18cm diameter embroidery hoop Template, downloaded from thesimplethings.com/blog/ embroidery-hoop-template Heat-erasable fabric pen Scissors Stranded cotton skeins, 1 each in light blue, dark blue, light brown, dark brown, chestnut, cream and pink Needle Pins Iron 1 Fold the fabric around your notebook. Decide where you want the centre of your design to be and mark this point. Mount the fabric in the hoop with the marked point in the centre. Transfer the design from the template to the fabric using a heaterasable fabric pen, with the centre of the design over the marked point.
2 Cut your thread to about 50cm, then separate into individual strands and recombine the number of strands as required. To start the design, use long and short stitch in one strand of light brown for the arms and legs. Work the face, neck and waist in satin stitch in one strand of light brown. Do the skirt with long and short stitch in three strands of chestnut, the T-shirt in long and short stitch in three strands of cream, and shoes in satin stitch in two strands of cream.
3 Use stem stitch for the hair and bun using three strands of dark brown.
4 From the top of the pile working down, stitch each book as follows. Book 1: satin stitch using two strands of light blue. Book 2: cover in stem stitch using two strands of pink, pages in long and short stitch using one strand of cream. Book 3: cover in stem stitch using two strands of chestnut, pages in long and short stitch using one strand of cream.
Book 4: satin stitch using two strands of pink. Book 5: satin stitch using two strands of dark blue. Book 6: cover in stem stitch in two strands of light blue, pages in long and short stitch in one strand of cream. Book 7: satin stitch in two strands of chestnut. Book 8: cover in stem stitch in two strands of dark blue, pages in long and short stitch in one strand of cream.
5 Work the plant in dark blue. The stem is made in stem stitch with one strand; the leaves use satin stitch in two strands. Work one vertical half of a leaf at a time. Work the plant pot in stem stitch in two strands of light brown.
6 To finish, turn the raw edges of the fabric under by 1.5cm to the wrong sides and press. Hem in running stitch in two strands of cream. Fold the fabric around the notebook, ensuring it’s centred, then fold and pin short edges around front and back covers to form slip pockets. Remove the notebook, press with an iron, then slip stitch the pockets in place at top and bottom.
Taken from Love Embroidery magazine. For more inspiration, pick up a copy and head to buysubscriptions.com/tryloveembroidery for a special subscriber offer.
Galvanised milk churn | £45
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