Free embroidery pattern

Here is a free flower pattern:



Click on the image for a larger version. The outlines are easy to trace although this is a watercolor painting. So I did not create a line drawing for this pattern.

Here is the smaller version:



This will look great on household linens, hankies, napkins, etc.

Stitch suggestion: You can do redwork using this design by stitching only the outlines or you can use any of the filling stitches (long and short, chain stitch filling, stem stitch filling, etc.) of surface embroidery.

Color choice: Choice of colors can be your own according to the color of the ground fabric. Using different shades of a same color will make this design look great.

Some interesting embroidery Web sites

The following are some of the interesting Web sites I found on the Internet today:

You will find beautiful, free applique and redwork patterns here provided by Anne Sutton, designer and owner of this site. Very pretty patterns. I love her Web site:
http://bunnyhilldesigns.com/dynamic/?page=Free%20Patterns

Here is a sample:



Please visit her Web site if you want to buy or download her patterns.

If you want to learn Indian embroidery techniques, Bhavani Harikrishnan teaches you a step-by-step kutchwork and kasuti embroidery tutorials. An useful one:
http://kutchwork-tutorial.blogspot.com/2006/05/kutchwork-introduction.html
http://kasuti.blogspot.com/

This URL discusses of the history of crewel embroidery and shows images of antique textile designs. An interesting one:
http://www.meg-andrews.com/articles/crewel-woolwork.php

You will find a lot of embroidery projects and stitching techniques here:
http://www.embroiderersguild.com/stitch/projects/crewel/crewel.html

This Web site is owned by Phillipa Turnbull. She displays her kits on this Web site. You will admire at her wonderful collection of needlepoint and crewel kits:
http://www.crewelwork.com/
http://www.crewelwork.com/CrewelKits.asp

An interesting blog run by Cathelina and Constance about medieval embroidery.
http://borninthewrongage.blogspot.com/

Redwork lovers will surely love this blog:
http://redwork-in-germany.blogspot.com/2007/05/liebst-du-der-rose-pracht-habauf-die_06.html


You will find patterns and projects on all sorts of embroidery:
http://www.embroidery-methods.com/The_Embroidery_Sampler-backissues.html

Hope you have a nice time browsing these links!

Embroidered handkerchief

After learning the long and short techniques from Trish Burr's book, I was very enthusiastic to try it out.

I found a small design from a pattern book and decided to embroider it using long and short stitch on a cotton handkerchief. I would have selected a pattern from Trish's book, however, I was not able to go out and purchase the threads as it was raining heavily. So I decided to use that small design and the threads I had in stock.

It was nice sitting by the window on a chilly, rainy afternoon and doing embroidery. I always like watching rain whilst embroidering or drawing. I continued embroidering till midnight taking breaks in between. The below photographs show the progress on the first day.





I thought I could complete the project the next day, however, I was not able to as I had to concentrate on my office works. The images below show the recent progress of my little project.

I am hoping to finish it as early as possible but i am not able to.

Long and short stitch embroidery by Trish Burr---It's not just a book, it's a treasure!

Recently, my sister gifted me the embroidery book "Long and short stitch embroidery: A collection of flowers" by Trish Burr. It is a must-have for any embroiderer interested in this type of embroidery. After reading this book I was able to understand what mistakes I have been making in my previous long and short embroidery projects. You can get Trish Burr's books from this Amazon link if you live in the United States.

This book is very useful and you can improve your long and short embroidery skills by carefully following the tips and techniques given by Trish.


The long and short flower photos are lovely. They look like real flowers. What a talent the author has! Trish is really a great embroiderer! Her perspicuous way of teaching the long and short embroidery techniques is to be appreciated! There are lots of small to large flower projects with clear instructions for beginners to advanced-level embroiderers.





Out of all these beautiful projects, my most favorite ones are the hibiscus and red bearded iris.








Thanks Trish for this well-written and beautifully compiled book. I love this book and am totally addicted to it. I highly recommend this book to any embroidery enthusiast who wants to improve their needle painting embroidery skills.

Grab your copy of this awesome book through this link and Trish Burre's other books through this link, if you live in Europe.

Braided Rug

Yesterday I decided to try something different than my usual embroidery projects. So I thought of making a braided rug. I collected some scrap materials I found at our home. I forgot to take pictures of the progress. However I am planning to post a tutorial on how to make a braided rug next time I create new one.

Here is the picture of the final product:

I think overall the final product is good though it is not a perfect one, and I am quite happy with the color combination.

Autumn rose---progress

I have completed the center monogram design in my autumn rose project. I have used satin stitch (two strands of Anchor threads) for the roses that surround the monogram S. However, after I found out that one strand will be better for satin stitch than two strands I switched over to one. The leaves are stitched with one strand of floss and I think they look smooth than the flower petals stitched with two strands.

Thanks to Mary Corbet of http://www.NeedlenThread.com for her suggestion in one of her posts on using one strand for satin stitch instead of two.

Pictures:

Bunch of flowers project completed

I completed the bunch of flowers embroidery on a pillow cover. Now with the fall rose project on hand I am planning for my next embroidery project.

Here are the images of the completed project: