Hoop-La! - Spring 2014.pdf

Rebecca says Id had the idea for a tea-related pattern for

a while (as I love to drink it!) but other

projects kept getting in the way. One night when I was frustrated

with my current project, I pulled out some graph paper

and finally drew up a pattern for this little tea cup. It was just

what I needed, a cute project that stitched

up quickly.

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TIME FOR TEAThis sweet cross-stitched coaster, designed by Rebecca Greco of Hugs Are Fun, makes a perfect present for a tea-loving friend

Enjoy Your Morning Cuppa!

HOW TO MAKE

1 Put your aida in an embroidery hoop and tighten. Starting in the centre of the design, follow the chart to cross stitch the teacup and heart. Here weve used DMC colours 413, 666 and 964, but of course you can use any colours youd like, so get creative!

2 Cut out two felt circles, each 5in in diameter. You can use the same colour for both or vary them. We used a dark pink and a light pink to add some extra colour to our coaster.

3 Cut the aida into a circle around your teacup, approximately 3in diameter.

4 Centre the aida fabric onto one of the felt circles and sew it on. You can use any stitch you like for this, but blanket stitch in a contrasting thread gives a nice pop of colour.

5 Attach the second felt circle underneath in the same way.

YOU WILL NEED 5x5in 14HPI aida fabric DMC embroidery threads in 413 (grey), 666 (red) and 964 (turquoise) Wool-blend felt Embroidery hoop

A bit moreRebecca sells modern cross stitcheries at www.hugsarefun.com. A trained graphic designer, she now designs her own cross stitch patterns and sells finished makes online. Rebecca particularly loves cross stitching onto laser-cut jewellery as well as experimenting on paper, ornaments and even office supplies!

Starting in the Centre of the DesigN, FolloW the

Chart to Cross Stitch the Teacup and Heart.

Find us on www.facebook.com/hooplamag 75

MAKE IT YOUR OWNWe've given you the measurements and details for the pinboard weve created here, but of course you can adapt this design to any frame size you prefer.

Mandy says... Even with the advent

of Pinterest, I still enjoy using a real pinboard to store

notes and inspiration. This project uses

simple embroidery to help keep your board

organised!

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PRETTY PINBOARDThis quick project will help you keep your stuff organised Mandy Pellegrin from Fabric Paper Glue explains how

Crafty yet OrganIsed Love it!


YOU WILL NEED 10x12in 11HPI aida fabric Embroidery threads 12x12in piece of cork tile 8x10in photo frame Stapler

HOW TO MAKE

1 Beginning 1in from the left edge of your aida, and 1in from the top, stitch four of the arrow boxes, using running stitch as shown on the chart. Leave 10 squares of aida between each box, and work each in a different colour. Each box is 18 squares tall by 27 wide (A, B & C).

2 Carefully cut your piece of cork tile down to 8x10in to fit your frame (D).3 Wrap the embroidered fabric around the cork, and staple into place (E).4 Put your fabric-wrapped cork tile into the frame (F). 5 Use the boxes to create categories for your business cards, magazine clippings, sticky notes and more whatever you want to pin and organise!

Step-by-step

A b C

USE THE BOXES TO CREATE CATEGORIES FOR YOUR NOTES

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A bit moreMandy Pellegrin is a crafter based in Nashville, Texas. She describes her website Fabric Paper Glue (www.fabricpaperglue.com) as my creative outlet for sharing

handsome crafts, delightful beverages, and fun stuff for fashionable sensibilities. Find Mandy on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest as fabricpaperglue.

d fe

TOP TIPChoose your thread colours to match the

dcor of the room your pinboard will be

displayed in.

PRETTY PINBOARD CHART


BUT WAIT! THERE'S MOREFor a faster project, try stitching small clusters of hexagons instead of a border. Or why not decorate place mats and other table linen as well?

Becca says... The building I live in was built in the 1920s,

and is full of period details, including little hexagon tiles on the

kitchen counters. One hot summers day, I

got the idea that the hexagons would make a lovely embroidery pattern. That design, combined with the colours of rainbow sherbet from the

freezer, inspired this pretty project!

SIX APPEALBecca Lees geometric tea towel was inspired by a vintage kitchen and a tub of ice cream!

Time to get Busy as a Bumble bee!

http://www.facebook.com/hooplamag

YOU WILL NEED Tea towel 3 colours of embroidery thread (we used light pink, light green and orange) Hexagon template or stencil Erasable pen Embroidery hoop

HOW TO MAKE

1 Press your tea towel, then use your hexagon template and erasable pen to trace hexagons into a honeycomb pattern (A). Youll be making a border, so its best to place your rows of hexagons 23in up from the bottom edge of the tea towel. In the tea towel shown here, rows 1, 2 and 3 are constant,

but we occasionally skipped row 4 to create an interesting pattern (B).

2 Put your tea towel into your hoop and start backstitching around each hexagon (C). To keep your stitching nice and even, aim to have three stitches on each side of each hexagon (D).

3 Here, the top row is worked in orange, the second row in mint green, the third in pink, and the fourth (bottom) row is in orange. This way you wont end up with two hexagons of the same colour right next to each other.

4 Continue until all of your hexagons are stitched (E), rinse out your pen marks, give your tea towel another good press and youre done (F). Now to make some matching napkins

Step-by-step

A

D

b

C

e f

Meet the designer

BECCA LEEYou seem super-crafty! Why do you like embroidery in particular?I find that I tend to like crafts that result in something pretty that you can use or wear, like making a scarf, or embroidering a tea towel like this one. I enjoy embroidery in particular because its a great way to add interest and beauty to day-to-day items.

What inspires you in your makes?Im very inspired by vintage fashion and decor. I also look to the details in my daily life for inspiration, and often find that something as simple as a sunset or a pretty tile pattern can inspire a whole slew of ideas.

Tell us more about Ladyface!Ladyface Blog is a lifestyle blog where I share DIY projects, recipes, personal style and snippets of my daily life. I started Ladyface less than a year ago, when it had really sunk in that I wasnt spending enough time doing things I love like cooking and crafting. My blog has really revitalised my creativity and has helped me feel inspired on a daily basis. Its also opened up some great opportunities and introduced me to some really amazing people!

In the years to come I hope my blog can inspire my readers and encourage them to explore their creativity.

Becca Lee lives in Seattle with her cats Buddy and Hank. An admin assistant by day,

she loves to craft, sew, cook and listen to music and blog about it at www.ladyfaceblog.blogspot.com.

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http://www.ladyfaceblog.blogspot.com

LETTER LOVE

Stitched initials on a plain cushion make for a sweet personal touch. We like the calming colour scheme too. From Home-made Vintage by Christina Strutt (12.99, CICO Books).

LESS IS MOREWe love the way these purses highlight just a small section of the print with embroidery it gives a stylish, professional look to the project.

Hiromi says... Sashiko is a very old

form of decorative reinforcement

stitching. I love to attach traditional

techniques to modern designs, and Im happy to share this tradition

from my home country.

84

we've Gone Dotty for Sashiko!

SIMPLE SASHIKOFall in love with these beautiful polka-dot purses by Hiromi Widerquist


YOU WILL NEED Half-linen polka-dot fabric Quilting weight cotton fabric for the lining Fusible interfacing Olympus Sashiko threads in Aqua (08), Sky blue (09), Purple (19), Yellow (16) and Orange (4)

Zip, 23cm long Sashiko needle or sharp embroidery needle

Bead for zip pull Sewing machine and thread

All measurements given opposite are in cm

PREPARE YOUR FABRIC

1 Start by measuring and cutting out your fabric as follows: 1 main piece of polka-dot fabric,

measuring 24x30cm. 1 piece of fusible interfacing,

measuring 24x30cm. 1 piece of lining fabric, measuring

24x29.5cm. 2 tabs of polka dot fabric, 3x4cm each. 2 zip ends of polka dot fabric, each

measuring 2.5x2.5cm.

2 Now place the interfacing onto the wrong side of your polka dot fabric with the rough side facing down, and iron to fuse it in place.

ADD THE EMBROIDERY

3 Embroider the Sashiko design of your choice on to your main piece of polka dot fabric. For the red dotty purse, use our illustration as your guide to stitch the lines in sky blue backstitch and the flowers with aqua straight stitches.

4 If you prefer the green dotty purse, see our close-up photo (below) for how to position your stitches.

MAKE THE PURSE

5 Start by preparing your zip. Mark the central 22cm section (this is the bit that will show), then move the zip end into the middle and secure the two ends with a couple of hand stitches (A).

6 Now add the zip ends. Place one of your fabric zip ends (that you cut at the start) over the end of your zip, right side down, then stitch it in place along the line you marked in step 5. Trim away any excess (B). Repeat on the other end of the zip. This will keep your zip neat.

To create the diamond design, embroiderthe lines in running stitch and the flowersand squares with straight stitches.

If you wish, you can use an extra-long Sashiko needle to work several running stitches at once before pulling through.

7 Now prepare your tabs. Take one of the fabric tab pieces and fold in the long outer edges. Press and stitch to hold the edges in place. Now fold in half lengthways, and repeat with the other tab. Place on top of your embroidered fabric, right sides together, 2cm from the top. Stitch in place, 0.7cm from the edge (C).

8 To assemble the purse, lay down your lining fabric with the short edge at the top, right side up. Place the embroidered polka-dot fabric on top, short edge at the top, right side down. Sandwich the zip in between the two pieces, right side up, so one edge runs along the top of your fabrics. Pin in place. Sew along, 0.7cm from the top (D).

9 Open up the fabrics and fold the purse back on itself. Sew the lining and fabric to the other side of the zip pin it in place and sew along, 0.7cm from the top. Now sew the sides of the purse make sure your zip is open first! Sew up the sides, 1cm from edge (E). Leave 10cm gap to turn.

10 Flatten the four bottom corners of your purse. On each corner, measure a line that is 90 to the side seam and 4cm long. Stitch across. Trim the excess from all four corners to keep them sharp (F).

11 Gently turn the purse through the gap you left and hand stitch to close the gap. Push the lining into the purse. Iron the purse, using a pressing cloth if needed (G).

12 Thread the bead with two Sashiko threads and make a knot. Secure it to the zip pull (H).

Use just two simple stitches to great

effect!

Create the stars by working straight stitches from the edges of the dots to the middle, leaving a gap in the centre.

TOP TIPPull your threads through gently

to avoid puckering the fabric.

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A b

c d

e f

g h Hiromi Widerquist is a Japanese maker and designer living in the US. She

blogs about her embroidering life at www.harujiondesign.blogspot.co.uk and sells her makes at www.harujiondesign.etsy.com.

http://www.harujiondesign.blogspot.co.ukhttp://www.harujiondesign.etsy.comhttp://www.facebook.com/hooplamag

http://www.siestaframes.comhttp://www.siestaframes.comhttp://www.coleshillaccessories.co.uk

Mollie says... I love books of all kinds, and I love

embroidery just as much. Pairing these

two things just seemed logical

especially when I can add a happy little face

to my stitching!

LOVE READINGNever lose your place again, with Mollie Johansons sweet bookmark

Snuggle up With a Good Book!


Step-by-step

D f

A

E

b C

TURN TO PAGE 97 FOR TIPS ON TRANSFERRING TEMPLATES ONTO FABRIC

HOW TO MAKE

1 Trace the pattern onto the fabric using an erasable pen. Stitch the design using six strands of thread for the main book outline and three strands for everything else. Use lazy daisy stitches for the leaves, French knots for the eyes and backstitch for the rest (A).

2 Cut a 3in circle out of card and pin it to the back of your embroidery so that the design is centred on the circle. Trim around the circle, leaving a seam allowance of at least in.

3 Using sewing thread (embroidery thread will work if you use several strands), stitch a row of running stitches

YOU WILL NEED 4x4in fabric 3x3in felt Embroidery threads in black, white, red, green and pale blue Sewing thread 18in faux-suede cord Erasable pen Small embroidery hoop Thin card (for circle template)

around the seam allowance. Be sure you have a good-sized knot to start with so it doesnt pull through the fabric (B).

4 When you have stitched all the way around the circle, pull the thread to gather the edges in around the template. Secure the end with a few stitches and a knot. Finger press the edges of the gathered circle, then carefully remove the template (C).

5 From felt, cut out a circle that is just a bit bigger than your finished fabric circle (D).

6 Fold the faux-suede cord in half, and using sewing or embroidery thread to wrap, tie the cord together about 2in from the folded loop (E). Place the folded cord between the embroidered circle and the felt so that the wrapped section is hidden just in from the edge of the circles. Pin the layers together.

7 Using embroidery thread and running stitch, sew around the edge of the circle. Be sure to stitch through the cording to secure it (F). When youve stitched all around the circle, secure the thread with a knot hidden between the layers.

Mollie blogs at www.wildolive.blogspot.co.uk, where you can find embroidery patterns, projects and printables. She also sells her goodies at www.wildolive.etsy.com.

TOP TIPYou can buy faux-

suede cord as used here from www.cc-craft.

co.uk it's easier to stitch through than

leather cord.

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http://www.wildolive.blogspot.co.ukhttp://www.wildolive.blogspot.co.ukhttp://www.wildolive.etsy.comhttp://www.cc-craft.co.ukhttp://www.cc-craft.co.uk

Follow our simple illustrated guides to work all of the stitches weve used throughout the magazine theyre

easy when you know how!

sTiTch lIbRarY

BACKSTITCH!Bring your needle to the front and make a small, straight stitch. For additional stitches, bring your needle up an even distance away from your previous stitch. Then pass it back through your fabric at the same point as your previous stitch. Continue in this way along the line, always working the stitch back towards the previous one.

My favourite stitch is backstitch it is flowing and creates unity.Michelle Kreussel

LOOPED BACKSTITCH!Work a line of backstitch, then bring the needle and thread through from the back. Now keeping the needle at the front of the work, insert the needle through the second sewn stitch of the first pair, vertically from top to bottom, and pull through. Insert the needle from bottom to top through the previous stitch to create a loop, and continue in this fashion, adjusting the tension as needed.

BLANKET STITCH!Bring the needle up at the edge of your outline, then down again slightly to the right and a small distance away from the edge. Now come up again along the edge, to the right of your first stitch, with the thread under your needle. Gently pull the needle through to form a neat loop, and continue in the same way.

THREADED BACKSTITCH!Work a line of backstitch. Now, with your needle and thread at the front of your work, insert the needle through the first stitch from top to bottom, then through the next stitch bottom to top, and so on along the line. You can also work along the stitches again in another colour, working the opposite way each time to create double-threaded backstitch.

Keep an even tension for the perfect finish!

Ideal for adding texture

as well as colour

Stitch library

92

!BUTTONHOLE STITCH!Bring your needle and thread through the fabric from back to front, then insert the needle back through the fabric a short way up and to the right. Without pulling the thread through, bring the needle back through the fabric below this stitch and to the right of the original thread. Ensure you catch the thread under the tip of the needle. Pull gently and continue in the same way.

!CHAIN STITCH!Bring the needle up through the fabric, then down again in the same place. Without pulling the thread through, bring your needle up slightly to the side, making sure that the loop of thread is caught under the needle. Pull the needle through slowly to form a neat loop, and continue in the same way.

!FLY STITCH!Bring the needle up through the fabric, then down again slightly to the right, without pulling the needle through the fabric. Come up again below the stitch and push the needle over the thread, then pull it through. Complete a short straight stitch over the thread to secure the V shape. You can work rows of fly stitches to create a scallop stitch effect.

!CROSS STITCH!Stitch a small, diagonal straight stitch, then work another stitch over this to form a cross. If stitching on a block fabric such as aida, work the stitches from the corners of each square as shown. Ensure the top thread of each cross is worked in the same direction.

An easy stitch thats great for detailed colour

Right now my favourite is chain stitch it looks like tiny crochetAlyssa,Penguin & Fish


!FRENCH KNOT!Bring your needle up through your fabric and wrap the thread twice around the needle. Hold the end of the thread firmly and take your needle down through the fabric, very slightly to the side of where you came up. Slide the twisted thread down the needle, so it rests on the fabrics surface, and take the needle through the fabric. Keep your thread as taut as possible, and gently pull it through to tighten the knot.

!HOLBEIN STITCH!Work a line of running stitch, then change your thread and work back along the line in the same way, filling in the gaps between each stitch. You can create two-colour running stitch by using different colour threads for each direction.

!RUNNING STITCH!The simplest of all the stitches just bring your thread in and out of the fabric along the line. Try and keep all your stitches the same size.

Practice makes

perfect!

LAZY DAISY STITCH!Bring the needle up and then down again at the same spot to form a loop, but dont pull all the way through. Bring the needle up again a short distance away and pass it through the loop, then back down in the same place it came up.

LONG AND SHORT STITCH!This is a textured variation on satin stitch. Work the first row of stitches along the edge using alternate long and short stitches. Work the following rows using long stitches, so the top of each stitch goes into the row above it. Work the final row using just short stitches.

You can make almost any design just by alternating length and directionChlo Owens

Stitch library

94

!SATIN STITCH!This is a great stitch for filling in solid areas of fabric. Bring your needle up at one side of the area to fill, then down at the opposite side and back up at next to your first stitch, ready for the next. Keep the stitches close together, and try not to twist your thread as you work.

!SPLIT STITCH!Bring the needle up through the fabric, then down a small distance to the right. Bring the needle up again through the middle of the stitch youve just made, splitting the thread. Continue in the same way, and make sure you always split the thread in the centre to form even stitches.

!STRAIGHT STITCH!Work a short straight line along the fabric, bringing the needle up at the start of the line, and back down at the end. Longer straight stitches are also called long stitches, and you can work several straight stitches into a central point to form a star stitch. Tiny straight stitches dotted on the fabric form seed stitch.

!STEM STITCH!Bring the needle up just above the design line, then take it back down through the fabric a short distance away, just below the line. Come back up above the line again, to the left and in the centre of the stitch youve just created. Continue in the same way, always working back on yourself.

Well-named stitch it s ideal for plant

stems!

Cover large outlines quickly you can really speed along!Christine Leech

You can create endless designs with backstitch and satin stitchBecca Lee


1

4

8

9

6

5

EssenTial Supplies1 THREADS

Theres a thread for almost every occasion and your local haberdasher can help you find the right one for your project. Many embroidery projects use stranded cotton, which is a great all-purpose thread. With stranded cotton, each thread length is made up of six strands of cotton twisted together. Project instructions should say how many strands to use; if not, just choose what looks best!

2 EMBROIDERY HOOP (not shown)

Hoops really are a stitchers best friend! A wooden hoop, secured with a screw at the top, is perfect for keeping your fabric taut as you work, ensuring a neat, even tension for your stitches. They also make great quick-and-easy frames when youre done!

3 THIMBLE

If youre regularly stitching or working with thicker fabrics, a thimble will save you from pricking your finger.

4 EMBROIDERY SCISSORS

At about 13cm long, these are much smaller than fabric scissors. The fine, straight blade makes them good for trimming stray threads.

5 NEEDLES

You can get specialist needles for embroidery, but its handy to have a pack of assorted general-purpose sewing needles. For basic stitches, youll need an embroidery or crewel needle with a sharp tip, which is ideal for fine details such as backstitch and French knots.

6 FABRIC

Embroidery can be worked on almost any fabric, but always check the instructions for advice on which sort to use. If youre after a specific amount of fabric, youll find its usually sold by the yard or metre. However, many fabrics are sold in fat quarters, which measure about 18x22in.

If youre new to stitching, there are a few items you should stock up on get yourself kitted out using our list below

7 PINS

Use these to hold pieces of fabric together. Regular dressmakers pins can be fiddly, so try pins with larger heads these lie flat so you can iron over them.

8 FABRIC SCISSORS

Keep your fabric scissors sharp by only using them for fabric. Look for some that are about 20cm long and have a curved handle to enable accurate cutting on flat surfaces, with pointed tips for precision.

9 TAPE MEASURE

Measuring your fabric correctly is one of the essential elements of creating a

perfect design (measure twice, cut once!), so make sure you buy a tape measure thats at least 150cm long and shows both metric and imperial units.

10 ERASABLE PEN (not shown)

These pens are perfect for marking out a design on your fabric. When youre done, simply wash out the pen marks (or some pens will fade with air contact after a certain amount of time). One note of caution though dont iron the design until youve removed the pen marks, or they may be permanently set into the fabric. You can also use fabric pencils or blue coloured pencils as alternatives.

Keep all your stitching bits and pieces together

and organised!

7

3

96

Using TemplAtesMany embroidery projects use templates, which youll need to transfer onto your fabric to recreate the design. Heres how

Before you start tracing, make sure your fabric is wrinkle free. Plan carefully where you want to place the

design and make sure you leave yourself enough space. Check the project instructions for details of whether you need to enlarge your template on a photocopier. You can enlarge or reduce any design to suit your specific project.

The simplest way to transfer a design onto your fabric is to trace it. Hold the fabric right side up and place it over the template. Secure with masking tape so that it cant slip. Trace over all the lines using an erasable pen or fabric pencil. If you struggle to see the design through the fabric, trace the design onto tracing paper using a fine black pen. Then tape the design and fabric to a window or a light box, and trace the design. To help with this, you could turn your fabric upside down and stretch it into a hoop or frame so that the right side of the fabric

is in the back of the hoop and the wrong side is flush against the design surface. Make sure the template is easy to see, then draw around it. Finally, remove the fabric from your frame and reinsert it right side up, ready to embroider.

If your fabric is too thick to do this or you find it impossible to trace using the window, trace the design onto tracing paper first then secure to your fabric with pins. Following your pencil lines, tack around the design using small, even stitches in a contrasting coloured thread. Score along your tacking stitches with the tip of a needle and then remove the paper by simply tearing, and youre ready to go.

TRACE YOUR PICTURE directly onto your fabric using a washable or fading fabric pen, available at most craft and sewing shops

PLACE DRESSMAKERS carbon paper face down onto your fabric, position your picture on top and trace using a blunt pencil

Alternatively, try dressmakers carbon paper. First, trace the design onto plain paper. Cut a piece of dressmakers carbon paper to fit the size of the design. Place the carbon paper over your fabric, where you want to place the design, with the dark side next to the fabric surface. Place your paper template on top and trace over the outline using a blunt pencil or similar. Remove the carbon paper and

THE SIMPLEST WAY TO TRANSFER A DESIGN ONTO YOUR FABRIC IS TO TRACE IT USING AN ERASABLE PEN OR FABRIC PENCIL

you will have created a dark outline for your embroidery design.

Once youve drawn your design onto the fabric, place it into a hoop. This will provide the correct tension, your stitches will be neater and it will prevent the fabric from puckering. If youre right-handed, work the embroidery stitches from right to left if youre left-handed, work from left to right instead.

97 Find us on www.facebook.com/hooplamag

French knots are one of the prettiest embroidery stitches around and also the most versatile. Get

inspired by these gorgeous creations

French knotWAYS WITH A5

DOTTY DESIGNSThis cushion from Mary Gamelin Creations has a clean, graphic style.

RAINBOW BRIGHTDozens of French knots make for apretty graduated effect, by Bearatam.

COOL OMBRENeon bright threads

create a modern ombre look on this vest by

Printosaurus.

FRENCH KNOTS LOOK GREAT ON THEIR OWN FOR POPS OF COLOUR

HOT SPOTSWe love the French

knot flowers in this girls hair,

by LiliPopo.

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From www.printosaurus.org, $50/30

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21

LOOK OF LUXURYThis unique piece from The Chest of Drawers combines hundreds of tiny French knots with glass seed beads and vintage pearls.

From www.marygamelin.etsy.com, $28/17

Turn to Page 94 for

our Easy French Knot Guide

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FUN M0DERN EMBROIDERY... Projects from the best & brightest new designers

Exclusive interviews with your favourite makers Templates & guides for stitching success!

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Hoop-La! - Spring 2014.pdf