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SWEET PEA PROJECT – Level Beginner

Introduction

This project is aimed at the beginner. It is recommended that you get

detailed instructions on the technique from either the DVD The Long &

The Short Of It or one of my previous books such as Long & Short Stitch

Embroidery: A Collection Of Flowers.

Materials

Piece of cotton satin fabric approx 28 x 32cm

DMC Stranded Cotton as per list

Crewel Needle size 9 /10

Preparation

Wash and iron the fabric.

Transfer the outline onto the fabric.

Draw in guidelines with a pencil.

Mount in hoop or frame ensuring that the fabric is drum tight.

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TRANSFER OUTLINE ONTO FABRIC

Fabric

Ensure that you purchase a fabric that has a very close weave such as:

1. Cotton satin available on my website www.trishburr.co.za

2. Good quality linen for surface embroidery (not cross stitch linen)

3. Cotton such as quilting cotton with a high count.

Print out the sweet pea outline and tape onto a window. Place the fabric on top of

this and tape in place. Make sure it is centred. Trace the outline with an hb pencil.

PREPARATION

Mount into a hoop ensuring it is drum tight.

Follow the instructions for stitching below.

315

316

472

838

3011

3012

3354

3726

3727

3740

3688

3836

3835

DMC Thread List

Outline For transferring

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A3727 B 3836 C3835 D3740 E838

A3727 B 3836 C3835 D3740 E838

A3727 B 3836 C3835 D3740 E838

Step One Outline the back petal as shown with 2 strands A in split stitch.

Step Two Fill the back portion with long and short stitch starting with shade A as shown.

Step Three Change to shade B and continue the first row as shown.

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A3727 B 3836 C3835 D3740 E838

A3727 B 3836 C3835 D3740 E838

A3727 B 3836 C3835 D3740 E838

Step Four Bring shade C back into the first row as shown.

Step Five Continue filling the back portion with C D E until complete.

Step Six

Fill the front portion with long and short stitch using shades A & B as shown. You will need to stitch more than one row of each colour to bring it down into the petal.

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A3727 B 3836 C3835 D3740 E838

A3354 B3688 C316 D3726 E315

A3354 B3688 C316 D3726 E315

Step Seven Continue filling the front section with shades B C D E until complete.

Step Eight Outline the next petal with split stitch in 2 strands A. Work the first row in shades A & B as shown.

Step Nine Continue adding rows in shades B C.

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A3354 B3688 C316 D3726 E315

A472 B3012 C3011

A472 B3012 C3011

Step Ten Continue filling the petal with shades D & E until complete.

Step Eleven Stitch the stem in adjacent lines of split stitch using one line each A B C. Do not outline the stamens. Fill with long and short stitch starting with the one furthest back (left) then the centre and finally right. Shade with A B C.

Step Twelve Do not outline the leaves. Fill with long and short stitch in shades A B C.

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STITCH GLOSSARY

Starting & Ending Off

On a line – make a tiny stitch about 1cm away from the starting point.

Make another one or two tiny back stitches back towards the starting point.

These stitches will be covered up as you stitch.

In a motif – make a tiny stitch inside the motif. Make a second tiny stitch at

right angles to this and back into (piercing) the first stitch. You now have

your securing stitch. Cut the tail off at the back of the work and begin

stitching.

French Knots in 3 steps

1. Bring the needle up through the fabric and twist once around

the needle.

2. Insert the needle back near close but not into the original hole.

3. Push the needle back down into the fabric while holding the

thread. A knot is formed.

Split Stitch

This is like back stitch but you need to pierce

the previous stitch before making the next

stitch.

Satin Stitch

The stitches are worked evenly side by side

across a motif.

To work padded satin stitch fill the motif with

straight stitches first as shown, then cover

with satin stitches.

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Long & Short Stitch

1. Outline the motif with split stitch.

2. Stitch the first line of long and short stitch from inside the motif and over the split stitch outline. This first row will be more like staggered satin stitch. The

stitches will be about 1cm in length.

3. Work from the centre out towards one side of the motif and then go back and complete the other side.

4. You may need to change the angle of your stitches occasionally to follow the shape of the motif (the curve). Go back and add in little wedge stitches in the

gaps.

5. Complete the first row, the stitches should be very full and close together.

6. Start stitching the second row. Bring the needle up through the previous stitches and down in the fabric. Make staggered stitches across the motif in line

with the guidelines and then go back and fill in the gaps.

7. You need to go right back about two thirds back into the previous row and bring some of the stitches forward. This will make sure that the stitches are

staggered and no hard lines form.

8. Work all other rows as for row two.

Long & Short Stitch Tutorials

For detailed information on this technique it is

recommended that you refer to the DVD The Long

& The Short Of It or the book The Beginners Guide

To Needle painting.