Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 54 i Love Embroidery

FRESH IDEAS WITH THREAD Once upon a time there lived a fairytale princess who spent all her days stitching in her huge castle garden...well, a girl can daydream, can’t she? This month, daily life meets fantasy with Georgie Emery’s regal hoop infused with dreamy jewel-like emerald, ruby, and golden tones surrounded by whimsical flowers. If escapism’s a huge part of why you love to stitch, you’re in for a treat this month as we dive down to coral reefs, unwind with French Knots, work a pretty little scene of buzzing bees, and more...…

Templates for digital readers on p73 01 02 03 04 05 06 MATERIALS Printed cotton fabric from your kit, or any cotton fabric: 16x16cm, cream Stranded cotton from your kit: or 1 skein each of brown, green, purple Embroidery hoop from your kit: or 11cm diameter Fabric paint: peach, yellow (optional) Fine paintbrush (optional) Basic embroidery kit STITCHES USED Backstitch, Brick Stitch, Couching Stitch, French Knot, Lazy Daisy Stitch, Satin Stitch, Straight Stitch, Whipped Backstitch NOTES The template for this project is printed on the fabric in your kit, but you can also find it on p73. If the fabric moves around in the hoop, wrap the inner hoop with bias binding for extra grip. 01 The design is printed on the fabric in your kit. You can also transfer…

MATERIALS Cotton fabric: 25x25cm, light teal Stranded cotton: 1 skein each of beige, dark blue, light blue, navy blue, blue-grey, light blue-grey, green, emerald green, light green, dark moss green, light grey, gold, bright gold, peach, pink, dark pink, dusty pink, light pink, raspberry pink, red, butter yellow, light yellow Embroidery hoop: 18cm diameter Felt sheet: 17cm diameter, white Basic embroidery kit STITCHES USED Backstitch, Brick Stitch, Chain Stitch, French Knot, Lazy Daisy Stitch, Leaf Stitch, Long and Short Stitch, Satin Stitch, Split Stitch, Stem Stitch, Straight Stitch NOTE Find the template on p74. 01 Transfer the design from the template onto the fabric using your preferred method. We used a heat-erasable pen and a light source. A heat-erasable pen is one of the most useful tools you can use…

O ver the past six issues, the queen of thread painting, Emillie Ferris has taught us how to blend stitches seamlessly, just like a pro. In Parts 1-5, we’ve mastered four essential embroidery stitches using a rich palette of hues to capture the beauty of this stunning Painted Lady butterfly. For the final part, you’ll continue working the pleasing symmetry of the forewings in a soothing rhythm of Long and Short Stitch, then all that’s left to do is find the prime spot to display your handiwork. Don’t worry if you missed any of Parts 1-5 in issues 49-53, you can still buy the back issues to complete your set. The LE team has loved seeing how all your butterflies have flourished over the months, so please do share…

The summer months give us the chance to be a bit braver with our wardrobe. We're talking bright colours, fun prints and, of course, the chance to elevate our mostloved garments with stitches. This issue's summer upgrades will carry you through all this season's invitations in style. Give the cult crossbody bag a fabulous floral glow-up for your day-to-day outfits; embellish a super-cute beach cover up for your hols; and turn heads at garden parties and weddings with an attentiongrabbing hair bow. And it's not just your outfits that get an upgrade. Our summery home décor round-up includes fruity bedding, seasideinspired felt bunting and a swoon-worthy tropical hideaway hoop. Which project will you start stitching first? Nikki Morgan, Editor…

MATERIALS Cotton/linen bedding set: white Linen fabric: fat quarter, orange, green, yellow Stranded cotton: 1 skein each of orange, bright green, teal, emerald green, olive green, yellow Embroidery hoop: 13cm diameter Iron on adhesive: 1m Basic embroidery kit STITCHES USED Blanket Stitch, Couching Stitch, Full Knot Stitch, Leaf Stitch, Split Stitch, Straight Stitch NOTES Find the templates on p75. You will need to adjust the amount of fruit motifs needed depending on the size of your bedding. You want enough to cover the front of the duvet cover and pillowcases with around 25cm gap between them. 01 Before beginning, check that all the fabric and threads are colourfast and can be machine washed. Back the linen fabric fat quarters with iron-on adhesive. Using a lightbox or window, trace the fruit…

01 02 03 04 05 06 MATERIALS Linen long tail hair bow: light pink Stranded cotton: 1 skein each of coral, green, pink, terracotta, yellow Embroidery hoop: 10cm diameter Basic embroidery kit STITCHES USED Fishbone Stitch, French Knot, Lazy Daisy Stitch, Long and Short Stitch, Pistil Stitch, Satin Stitch, Stem Stitch NOTES Find the template on p75. We purchased this Blossom linen hair clip bow from www.vetchandclover.etsy.com 01 Start by transferring the design onto the fabric using your preferred method. We used a lightbox and a heat-erasable pen to trace the design onto adhesive soluble stabiliser. Peel off the backing paper and stick in place on the tails of the bow. Now, mount one of the tails in the hoop, making sure it is supported but not pulled too taut,…

GETTING STARTED Prepare your sewing machine by attaching a freemotion embroidery or darning foot. Next, drop the feed dogs – the mechanism that grips and pulls fabric through your sewing machine. Your sewing machine manual should tell you how to do this. Now mount your fabric into a hoop. Do this in reverse to the normal way, with the inner hoop uppermost. Make sure the fabric is really tight in the hoop, as this stops the threads from warping and makes the process easier. Start with test fabric to make sure the tension is correct, and the bottom thread doesn’t show though. Remember, the stitch length is determined by the speed at which you stitch: the faster you go, the shorter your stitches will be. When machine embroidering, try…

From me to you Finding gifts that won’t get the recipient hinting for the receipt isn’t always an easy task. And someone who knows all about this is Hannah Read-Baldrey, owner of Makebox & Co. In her new book, Couture Craft Gifts (£16.99), she shares luxury handmade ideas that won’t cost a fraction of the wares in those fancy gift shops we spend far too much time in. Think soy wax candles, stitched frames, sweet treats – you’ll want to make them all! www.davidandcharles.com Tropical crush Whether it’s a classic piña colada or a fruity rum punch, it’s safe to say we’re obsessed with all things pineapple at this time of year! This month, we’re focusing our adoring eyes and our needle and threads on Pattern and Stitches’ tropical hoop.…

“Embroiderer Victoria Richards chats to us from the comfort of her quirky home studio at her parents’ house where she resides in picturesque south-west Devon. Surrounded by her dad’s old school desk, an antique chair, and some old tins for her threads, the charming, characterful workspace is where you’re most likely to find the artist and her beloved tabby cats Cosmo and Meeko, with a lull of Midsomer Murders or Agatha Christie’s Poirot in the background. “I like using old, used things for storage and working with – they have more character and somehow feel cosier,” Victoria enthuses. She stores the rest of her embroidery things, such as felt, hoops and wool, in a WWII government ammunition chest that she picked up at an auction house, attracted by its history…

01 02 03 04 05 06 MATERIALS V-neck beach cover up: teal Stranded cotton: 1 skein each of aqua, blue, coral, green, light green, orange, pink, yellow Embroidery hoop: 13cm diameter  Adhesive soluble stabiliser  Sulky Tender Touch Permanent Stabilizer (optional) Basic embroidery kit STITCHES USED Backstitch, French Knot, Lazy Daisy Stitch, Satin Stitch, Straight Stitch NOTES Find the template on p76. Check the labels of the threads you are using before you get stitching to make sure they are colourfast – this will prevent the dye leaching out and staining the fabric when it is washed. 01 Always prewash any garments to reduce the risk of shrinkage after stitching, as this will make the embroidery baggy. Allow the garment to dry completely. Transfer the design from the template onto the…

LEARN MORE Visit our website www.gathered.how for a simple step-bystep guide to French Knots 01 02 03 04 05 06 MATERIALS Calico fabric: 25x25cm, natural Stranded cotton: 1 skein each of bright blue, green, orange, purple, red, violet, yellow Embroidery hoop: 15cm diameter Felt sheet: cream, 14cm diameter  Low-tack tape  Basic embroidery kit STITCHES USED French Knot NOTE Find the template on p74. 01 Begin by inserting the fabric into an embroidery hoop. Loosen the screw, and separate the inner and outer rings. Place the inner ring on a flat surface and lay the fabric, right-side down, over it. Press the outer hoop over the top of the inner hoop, then tighten the screw slightly. Pull on the fabric’s edges to make it taut, then fully tighten the screw. 02…

CALL 03330 165 408† OR VISIT WWW.OURMEDIASHOP.COM/BACK-ISSUES TO ORDER AND WE’LL SEND YOUR MAGAZINE STRAIGHT TO YOU!* ISSUE 48 Hygge-inspired portrait Celestial hoop 3D butterfly wings tutorial Surrey Stitch masterclass Cosy slippers how-to Cardi hack Profile: Georgie Emery GIFT 31 herb garden transfers ISSUE 50 Pansy wreath 3D duckling design Easter egg decorations International Women’s Day hoop Butterfly Stitchalong Part 2 Profile: Emily Botelho GIFT 23 spring-themed transfers ISSUE 52 Soothing coastal hoop Floral motif T-shirts Felt flower crown Umbrella hoop Mini maritime scenes Stitch-along Part 4 Profile: Anuradha Bhaumick GIFT Dandelion greetings card kit ISSUE 49 Secret garden hoop Part 1 of Emillie Ferris’ NEW Butterfly Stitchalong Joy cushion Bright collar hack Pancake hoop Love notes Profile: Megan Zaniewski GIFT Sweet Pea Thread Set ISSUE 51 Chic floral jeans…

This month’s small but mighty machine embroidery makes, both designed by LE fave Talia Bills-Moore, are going to help you clear some space in your stash! First up, you’ll be refashioning a pre-loved teacup into a pretty and practical pincushion using a mix of felt, fabric, beads, buttons,sequins, and of course, hand and machine stitching. Then it’s time to get ready for wedding season! Not only are we excited about dancing until our feet hurt, but weddings are also one of our top occasions to craft for. And Talia has some quick-make luggage tags for the lucky honeymooners that can be worked in scraps of fabric to match the couple’s colour scheme, and double up as tags for their big day gift too. Win win!…

YOUR BASIC EMBROIDERY KIT For the majority of the projects in this issue you will need the following items. There are different types available, so read on to choose the correct materials for each project. Fabric Thread Needles Scissors Embroidery hoop Transfer pens/pencils FABRIC Embroidery can be worked on a wide variety of fabrics or ready-made items. It’s best to choose fabrics with a fairly smooth surface as heavily textured surfaces will prevent the stitches from lying f lat. For beginners, it’s best to start with 100% plain-weave cotton. When choosing fabric, consider its intended use, how much wear it will get, and how often it will need to be washed. Fabric can be categorised by its weave and fibre content. Plain weave is the most common type of weave…

HOW TO TRANSFER TRACING Place light-coloured and fine fabrics over the design and trace over it. For thicker or dark-coloured fabrics, a light source such as a window or lightbox makes this process much simpler. TRANSFER PENS AND PENCILS Choose a colour that will show up on the fabric. Use a permanent marker if the stitching will cover the lines, or a removable marker if you need to erase the lines afterwards – test on a scrap of fabric first so you know it can be removed. IRON-ON TRANSFERS Press your fabric, then place your transfer sheet ink side down on top and press with a hot, dry iron (taking care with heat-sensitive fabrics). You can reuse the transfers three to four times depending on the type of fabric…

H aving recently graduated with a PhD in History of Art Dr Cai, or Craft by Cai as you might be more familiar with, is a keen cyclist, constant crafter, and proud cat parent living in the heart of Birmingham. Cai identifies as non-binary and here they tell us more about how this translates through their patterns – and why their grandmother’s wise words always keeps them crafting… When did you start stitching? My first memory of stitching is from my early childhood, carefully sewing a running stitch around the lines of a duck drawing. Since then, I regularly have a sewing needle, knitting needle, or crochet hook in my hands. I definitely got my natural affinity for crafting from my grandmothers: Nana is a seamstress and Granny knits and…