I would like to dedicate this Pincushion series to my mom, who recently passed. It has been hard and I so appreciate your kind comments and your patience in waiting for this next step. She was my mentor, my best friend and my greatest supporter. It just seems so appropriate to create the Mum flower this week. How perfect! I know she is looking down on us and enjoying the creativity we share. Here is to you MOM! I love you!
This project has been chosen by DMC in the Mid-Summer Inspiration Feature! That makes all of us stars! How exciting is this. It is such an exciting year for Fiberluscious and all of my fellow fiber artists. I had 10 followers for the first 2 years of my blog. I've been growing fast and I am so grateful for all who have joined me. We've come along way baby!
Lets create some mums!
This is such an easy section. The new stitches to learn are the straight, stem and fly stitches. The french knot was created in the Lovely Lavender section.
You can find great videos on the web to learn these stitches. I have a page on my blog showing all of the embroidery stitches we will be using on this pincushion. Find them here.
The illustration below will show you the steps for creating the Mums for Mom section. I'll also talk you through them.
I have a Downloadable Instruction Sheet for the Mums for Mom Instruction Sheet you can use to create this section. It includes the DMC colors used along with a stitch legend and step by step instructions. Find it here.
If you need help with how to create each stitch, go to my Stitch Tutorial Page. Just follow the steps. If you would like to print the below image, you can just click Here.
Step 1
The tutorial download has the pattern for this section on it. Here is the actual size image. I recommend that you sketch this one out freehand. It can be hard to sketch on bumpy fabrics. So, loosely sketch your flower design onto your linen. Be sure to use a water soluble or friction (heat erasable) pen. You don't have to be exact.
As you can see here, I actually made a few adjustments as I stitched so each part of the flower fits in with the leaves, stems and buds.
Step 2
Begin by stitching the deep orange petals using a straight stitch. Its one of the easiest and most commonly used stitches in all of embroidery. Be sure to leave a small opening in the center of the flower to allow for more petals and french knots. I used a deep orange color - DMC 900.
Stitch with 2 strands of floss for this section.
You will need to stitch all of the large flowers first. Don't forget to tie off your threads before you move on to each flower.
Step 3
Next add the inner, lighter orange petals to each mum.
These should be shorter than the deep orange. Again, you need to preserve a small spot in the center for your french knots.
I used a golden yellow for this demo so you could see them better. For the actual mum use DMC 921
Just a thought- you don't have to create orange mums. You can even add a few more layers and make this flower a zinnia. Its all up to you!
Step 3
Add about 3 french knots in the center of each flower using a bright yellow floss. Aren't they cute?
Step 4
I used a bright green, DMC 904 for the stems, buds and leaves. It is easiest to start from the bottom and work your way up to the top of each stem. That way you won't have to tie off so often.
Use a stem stitch for the main stems. Use a few back stitches before you add each leaf or flower buds. Here is how it should look and a fast tutorial for the stem stitch.
When you get to the leaves attach them with one back stitch. The leaves are created with a fly stitch. I'll show you a bunch of fun leaf stitches at the end of the tutorial.
Here is how to make a fly stitch and how it should look when you stack a few fly stitches together to create a leaf. As you work up the leaf shape, start small. Gradually wide your stitches. The last few stitches should get narrower quickly. To create the point, add one straight stitch to the tip of the leaf. Easy peasy!
Next create the base for each bud. This is accomplished with 3 lazy daisy stitches. Start with one center stitch. Then add one stitch on either side of the center stitch. Keep them small.
We learned the lazy daisy stitch in the lavender section. If you need a reminder just go the stitch tutorial section of my blog.
Step 5
Finish the bud by adding a few lazy daisy stitches to the green base stitches from the last step.
You will simple add 3 or 4 lazy daisy stitches as in the base in green. Use the deep orange floss, DMC 900.
Here is what it should look like.
You are finished with this section! I use the some of these same stitches to create my other embroidery works.
For landscapes, the straight stitch is essential in creating grass, short stems. Put them together to create the satin stitch. Line them up one after another and you have the back stitch.
The stem stitch is perfect when your stems curve. The tighter the curve, the smaller your stitches should be. The stem stitch is often used in lettering.
If you want your stem stitch to look thicker of if your curves look choppy, wrap your stem stitches. Just bring another strand of floss up at the beginning of the stitch line and wrap each stitch. Don't pierce the fabric again until you get to the end of the stem.
I stitched a little sampler to show you how to create other types of leaves. I labeled each stitch used. Look them up on the web and give them a try.
If you are just starting today with this pincushion, here is what you missed. Click on each section to find the original post or PDF file.
Past Posts
Embroidery Floss Basics
Part One Pattern Template, Tools and Tips
Lovely Lavender Section
Click on these downloadable sheets (PDF files) to tie it all together.
Embroidery Floss Basics
Summer Garden Pattern Pattern Template
Lovely Lavender Section Guide
Mums for Mom Section Guide
Tip
Be sure not to float your threads across blank spaces as they will show from the front. To avoid this I just weave the floating threads into existing stitches on the back of my work.
When I create knots I use a quilter's knot at the start.
When I am at the end of a section I just make a knot with one loop. Before I cut my strands I weave a few stitches after my knot into existing stitches. I've seen this done on vintage linen towels and I think it makes the knot less likely to work its way out, especially when the stitched article will be washed. It also makes the ends invisible from the front.
Thanks for stitching along with me. I promise that the next step will not take as long as this one did. I have a busy Etsy shop right now so I'm guessing it will take 2 weeks for the next section.
As we repeat some of the stitches these will be easier for you and I.
Lets try the Sunflower Section next! Its so pretty. It is a bit more time consuming to create, so we will start it before the holidays start creeping up on us.
Have fun with your mums! See you soon!