Original floral design with over 30 models

Ribbon Embroidery Di van Niekerk’s

& Stumpwork

NEW EDITION

The new edition of this best-selling book, first published in 2004, is a must have for all lovers of ribbon embroidery and stumpwork. It is suitable for first-time embroiderers as well as those who wish to brush up on certain techniques. In addition to modified text to suit techniques and materials available on the market today, the names and colours of the threads and ribbons used in the design have been updated. Also included are lots of new photographs and a revamped layout.

The book remains unique in its combination of ribbon embroidery and stumpwork. The 12 panels are each individually explained with step-by-step photographs and instructions, including a comprehensive guide to all the needles, thread and ribbons required. There are over 30 models to learn from, making this the ideal book for anyone wishing to learn how to make many different flowers, leaves and little creatures in a gorgeous flower sampler. A comprehensive stitch glossary with illustrations of more than 40 stitches is an excellent reference that can be used for much more than just the book sampler.

The interesting techniques in this book can also be used for crazy patchwork, quilts, fibre arts, card making, box lids and enhancing knitted and felted backgrounds or clothing and accessories.

Di van Niekerk, author of 10 books on embroidery, is a

professional fibre arts teacher and designer and has her

own range of silk and organza ribbon and printed panels for

embroidery that are exported worldwide. Her best-selling

books have been translated into many languages. Her

mission is to teach silk ribbon embroidery, integrating it with

other crafts such as card making, jewellery making, knitting,

crazy quilting, fibre art and dress design and to show just

how easy, enjoyable and rewarding this hobby really is.

METZ PRESSwww.metzpress .co.za

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ContentsIntroduction 7

Getting started 8Transferring pictures and designs onto fabric 8

Requirements 14

Stitch gallery 22

Stumpwork techniques 32

ProjectsPanel 1 42An aloe & a spider’s web

Panel 2 46A daisy, a snail & wild sorghum

Panel 3 52Narcissus, a lily & a ladybird

Panel 4 58Agapanthus, hollyhocks, delphiniums & beetle daisies

Panel 5 66Irises, rock roses & forget-me-nots

Panel 6 74Hydrangeas & wisteria

Panel 7 80Red hot pokers, arum lilies & a Natal lily

Panel 8 88Fuchsias

Panel 9 94Foxgloves, rain daisies, a dragonfly, wild dagga & rock roses

Panel 10 102Orange tree & forget-me-nots

Panel 11 108Pansies, tulips & a butterfly

Panel 12 116Daffodils, lavender & violas

Lilac borders 123

Patterns 124

Suppliers 126

Index 127

Contents

STITCH GALLERY

French knot

Couching

Overcast stitch

Twisted ribbon stitch

Stitch galleryBack stitch 29

Bullion knot 27

Cast-on stitch 29

Chain stitch 29

Closed-base picot stitch 30

Couching 23

Detached buttonhole stitch 26

Detached chain/lazy daisy stitch 31

Fly stitch 27

Folded straight stitch 24

French knot 23

French knot rose 31

Grab stitch 27

Long and short buttonhole stitch 26

Long and short stitch 26

Looped blanket stitch 26

Looped bullion knot 27

Loop stitch 28

Open-base picot stitch 30

Overcast stitch 23

Padded fly stitch 27

Padded straight stitch 24

Pistil stitch 28

Raised stem stitch 25

Ribbon stitch 23

Running stitch 26

Satin stitch 28

Seeding stitch 25

Spider’s web rose 31

Stem stitch 25

Straight/stab stitch 24

Twisted detached chain stitch 29

Twisted ribbon stitch 23

Twisted straight stitch 24

Whipped chain stitch 29

Whipped spider’s web stitch 28

Whipped stem stitch 25

Whipped straight stitch 24

Woven filling stitch 28

TechniquesThreading a needle 30

Covering a bead 29

Stitchgallery

Ribbon stitch23

3736 Working with beadsBeads can be covered with ribbon, thread or you could use smaller beads for dramatic effect. Beads can be stacked to create dimension or used for padding. Experiment with different shapes and colouring materials.

Padded shapesPadded shapes can be used with great success to add subtle dimension or an air of luxury to an otherwise ordinary design.

Pad with a layer of feltThe arum lily leaf was padded with a layer of felt fabric. Refer to panel 7 (see pages 83–84) for detailed instructions.

Cut out leaf shapes from white or green felt fabric and attach them onto the background with tiny stab stitches.

Cover each felt shape in satin stitch.

Felt shapes are also used in goldwork to create an interesting texture in a design.

Covering a bead with ribbonWooden or glass beads can be covered with 2 mm or 4 mm silk ribbon to create fruit with a lovely, natural

texture. Silk ribbon covers beads faster than threads do, and is perfect for quick projects.

Choose a bead with a large enough hole for a no. 20 or 22 chenille needle to pass through effortlessly. Ask for

these at beading shops and take your needle with you to check the size. Refer to the orange tree on pages 105

to 106 for step-by-step instructions.

Working over beadsFor a rounded flower like a tulip, you can use a bead to lift it off the surface of the design. Secure an oval necklace

bead and cover it with silk ribbon. (See step-by-step instructions for the tulip in panel 11 on page 112.

Filling a shapeFilling a shape like a basket (or a pot) after it has been attached onto the

design adds another dimension — the shape is in higher relief than usual.

Make a separate basket as shown for the orange tree in panel 10 (see

pages 104–105). Stitch along the edge and cut out the shape leaving a

small seam.

Gather the thread to pull the seam to the back of the pot and secure it onto

the design with tiny stitches. Leave the bottom edge open and fill with toy

filling or shredded batting. Close the open edge with tiny stitches.

43

NeedlesStraw needle no. 3

Soft sculpture or doll’s needle

Crewel needle no. 8

An aloe & a spider’s web

You will need

Extras § #26 cake-decorating wires § Silver spider earring or nose ring

Stitches § Straight/stab stitch (page 24) § Overcast stitch (page 23) § Bullion knot (page 27) § Needle weaving – open-base picot (page 30)

§ Needle weaving – closed-base picot (page 30)

§ French knot (page 23) § Seeding stitch (page 25) § Back stitch (page 29)

ThreadsStranded cotton No. 61 Pine Needles

Silk or rayon No. 56 Nasturtium

Silk or rayon No. 31 Flame Lily

Perlé No. 8 No. 67 Sage Green

Stranded cotton No. 66 Rustic Brick

Silver metallic thread

1Panel

Aloe

4948

Keeping your work clean As the embroidery design is

handled so often while being

worked, it is quite easily soiled,

especially along the edge where

it is stretched in the frame.

To prevent these unsightly marks,

it is advisable to create a mask

from another layer of fabric or

sheets of tissue paper.

Cut a piece of white fabric the

same size as your printed block.

Lay the hoop on top of it and

mark a circle 3–5 cm (1½–2 in)

inside the hoop’s edge and cut

along the drawn line. Lay this

“window” on top of your design.

Insert the layers back into the

hoop. Remove the layer once

your embroidery is completed.

Cling wrap or three layers of

tissue paper can also be used

instead of fabric.

Hints

Snail

ShellOutline the rounded edge and the part alongside the

body, in one strand of Rustic Brick and use stem stitch.

Then use two strands of Rustic Brick and a padded satin

stitch (i.e. stitch over the outlined stem stitch). follow the

direction of the stitches on the completed picture.

Thread up with two strands of Rustic Brick and start

with chain stitch from the section closest to the body.

Continue with the chain stitch in circular shape to

complete the whorls.

You will need

Stitches § Stem stitch (page 25) § Padded satin stitch (page 28) § Chain stitch (page 29) § Straight/stab stitch (page 24)

ThreadsSilk or rayon No. 81 Sugar & Spice

Stranded cotton No. 66 Rustic Brick

Stranded cotton No. 54 Moss Green

Needles

Crewel needle no. 7

BodyUse two strands Sugar & Spice thread and outline the

body in small stem stitches. Fill in the body with stem

stitch, referring to the picture for stitch direction. Sew a

few straight stitches on top of the stem stitches with one

strand of Rustic Brick to add brown shadows on the body.

Embroider the tentacles

With one strand Rustic Brick, work two straight stitches

for the top tentacles and one straight stitch for the third

tentacle at the mouth.

Complete the snail

Add a row of stem stitch in Moss Green at the base of the

body so that the snail is not floating in the air.

FlowersThread a no. 18 chenille needle with Buttercup ribbon

and work every alternate petal in a detached chain/

lazy daisy stitch.

Embroider the centreThread the crewel needle with two strands of Baobab

thread. Fill the centre of the daisy with French knots

(some knots with two wraps around the needle and

others with only one wrap for an interesting effect).

§ Vary the lengths of the petals using the colour print on your fabric as a guide. The detached chain stitches are long and thin – this is achieved by pulling the ribbon tighter than usual. A longer anchoring stitch is also useful.

§ Work the remaining petals in detached chain stitch alternated with twisted straight stitch in the spaces between the petals to prevent the daisy from becoming too full and heavy.

89

FOXGLOVES, RAIN DAISIES, A DRAGONFLY, WILD DAGGA & ROCK ROSES

Foxgloves, rain daisies, a dragonfly, wild dagga & rock roses

Foxgloves

You will need

NeedlesChenille needle no. 20

Chenille needle no. 18

Stitches § Straight/stab stitch (page 24) § Ribbon stitch (page 23)

Ribbons

4 mm silk ribbon No. 31 Marine

4 mm silk ribbon No. 43 Candyfloss

4 mm silk ribbon No. 73 Dazzle

7 mm silk ribbon No. 36 Avocado

Stems

Thread the no. 20 chenille needle with 4 mm Marine

ribbon. Start at the base between the leaves as shown.

Make a long straight stitch, stitching from the leaves all

the way to the tip of the foxglove plant.

Take the ribbon to the back of your work and bring to

the right side again on one of the tiny leaves at the top,

pulling the stem taut.

HintFor a thinner stem, twist the ribbon before inserting the needle to the back of your work. Make a few tiny straight stitches to form the green tips of the flower.

9Panel

119118Leaves and stems

With the Philodendron ribbon, make

the two stems: bring the needle up

at ground level, twist it clockwise

and make a long straight stitch by

inserting the needle into the base of

the flower.

Repeat with the other stem, but twist

the ribbon anti-clockwise. Insert into

the flower, as before. Secure the

twisted stem with one strand Moss

Green thread. Bring needle up close

to the ribbon stem and make tiny

stab stitches, catching the ribbon.

With the same thread, whip the

stems for an interesting effect.

Make the leaves in the same way

using twisted straight or twisted

ribbon stitch, working from the

ground up and outwards.

HintStart with the underneath leaves first and make the remaining leaves on top of the others for a realistic finish.

FlowersPetals

There are five visible petals on these

daffodils. Make five detached chain

(lazy daisy) stitches with the Custard

silk ribbon to form the petals.

Stay within the painted colour as

you insert the needle to the back of

your work so that the petals do not

become too long.

Trumpets

Cut a 6 cm (2, 36 in) length of Dark

Peace Rose organza ribbon. Seal

the two raw edges with a flame.

Fold double to form a circle.

With one strand of the Clotted Cream

thread, sew tiny running stitches

along the singed edges to secure.

End off.

Sew running stitches along one edge

of the ribbon circle. Use the Clotted

Cream thread with a knot at the long

end. Gather up to form a trumpet.

Pull the thread taut and stitch the

gathered part together to secure.

Leave the thread hanging. You

will need this thread to attach the

trumpet to the background.

The trumpet looks rather large for

a daffodil, but this is necessary as

you will fold this gathered trumpet in

half to make a double trumpet. The

second skirt (underneath) tends to

protrude a bit but this will be fixed

later as you stitch the trumpet onto

the background.

Attach the trumpet

Thread up with the hanging thread

and insert the needle from the front

(about 2 mm or 1/16 in on the inside

of the yellow petals) and take the

needle to the back.

Bring it out at the gathered edge of

the trumpet again. Do this a second

time and secure the trumpet. Insert

the needle into the folded trumpet

skirt and exit about 3 mm (almost ⅛

in) away from the edge of the second

skirt. Bring the needle out along the

gathered edge again. Pull the thread

to allow the inside skirt to be tucked

inside the top skirt. Do this a few

times until you are happy that the

two edges have lined up well.

Thread up with a fresh thread when

necessary. Neaten the trumpet

shape by tucking in the two edges

on the right and the left-hand sides

using tiny stab stitches. Catch some

of the ribbon and tuck it in as you

insert the needle to the back.

Make the frilly edge

Use one strand of the Clotted Cream

thread and make loosely-woven,

looped blanket stitches along the

edge to form a frilly border. (See

page 00 for looped blanket stitch.)

Use the same thread and tiny stab

stitches to secure the frilly edge to

the background fabric in places.

Pull the trumpet into shape with the

thread and tiny stitches until you are

happy with the flower.

Optional

Use one or two yellow

stamens. Cut 1 cm (3/8 in)

lengths. Pick up some clear

glue on the raw edge of the

stamen and carefully insert

inside the trumpet so that

the rounded yellow stamen

just protrudes from the edge.

Hold it in place with a chenille

needle until the stamen is

glued in place. Wipe the

needle clean after use.

HintRemember that stitches in ribbon are longer and larger than one expects. When making ribbon and chain stitch, stay inside the painted section (1 – 2 mm or 1/16 in inside the outline). Once the stitch is formed, the ribbon will have spread, making a larger stitch.

RIBBON EMBROIDERY & STUMPWORKOriginal floral design with over 30 modelsDi van Niekerk

210 x 260 mm128 ppFlexiboundRRP: R220.00ISBN 978-1-928201-60-1Publication date: March 2016

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