Mr. Crow’s Pumpkin Patch

Skill Level: Intermediate

Materials

• 12" x 10" piece 32- count vintage butter

cream Aida from Lakeside Linens* • One skein The Gentle Art Sampler Threads* • One skein each The Gentle Art Simply

Shaker Sampler Threads* • Size 26 tapestry needle *See Where to Find It on page 65. Instructions: Cross stitch over two threads using two strands of floss.

Finishing Materials & Instructions

• Fat quarter coordinating fabric • 9" x 7" piece low-loft batting • Four 8" x 6" pieces Bristol board • 1 yard 1/2"-wide rickrack • Buttons from Just Another Button Company: small blackbird #1106. S, tiny green pumpkin #2242.T and small gold wild pumpkin #2294. S • White craft glue • Spray tacky glue • Clothespins

Cut two 10" x 8" pieces and one 12" x 8" piece from coordinating fabric. Set aside

Press stitched piece from the reverse side, straightening as much as possible. Trim stitched piece so that there is a 2" border around the stitching.

Lightly spray one piece of Bristol board on one side with tacky glue. Center and place tacky side down on the batting. Trim batting so there is none hanging beyond the edges. Note: As you’re working, make sure that

all the edges are even and the stitched piece is straight.

To make the front piece, center the stitched piece over the batting, making sure to keep stitching equal distances on the sides. Turn over and fold linen over edges of board, mitering corners. Hold in place with clothespins. Glue down the edges of the stitched piece to the board using white glue. Let dry. Use white glue to add rickrack to the back edges, letting one side of rickrack stick out beyond edge of stitched piece. Let dry.

Lightly spray one piece of Bristol board on one side with tacky glue. With wrong side facing board, center a 10" x 8" fabric piece on glue side of board. Turn over and rub board to help hold fabric in place. Turn the edges of fabric over board and glue down edges using white glue. Repeat with a second piece of Bristol board and remaining 10" x 8" fabric piece. Set both fabric-covered pieces aside to dry.

To make the hinge piece, use the 12" x 8" piece of fabric and remaining Bristol board. Spray tacky glue onto one side of the board and place the fabric on it so that there is a 2" border at the top edge. This will act as the top hinge. Glue down the other three edges only as on the fabric-covered boards.

Lay the hinge piece right side down on a flat surface so that the raw edge (hinge) is at the top. Mark the bottom center. Place approximately 1" at the end of a 6" length of rickrack on the bottom center mark and leave the rest hanging out. Use white glue to glue one of the fabric-covered pieces to the wrong side of the hinge piece, making sure to keep the bottom and sides even. Press together.

Lay the remaining fabric-covered piece right side down on top of the hinge piece. Line up the corners and sides so that they are even. Place tacky glue on hinge and fold down on to the wrong side of the facing piece. Press to hold. Place approximately 1" on opposite end of the 6" length of rickrack on the bottom center of facing piece. Make sure not to twist the rickrack.

Glue the front stitched piece, with right side up, to the wrong side of the facing piece. Place assembled piece in plastic bag and press under something heavy for at least an hour.