See project details from Hooked for Life

SUPPLIES

• blue colored pencil
• embroidery needle
• 8" X 10" Canvas
• 1 inch blue painters tape
• paintbrushes
• black cotton embroidery floss

INSTRUCTIONS

NOTES:

Optional: Prep your canvas by applying one coat of Deco Art Americana White and allow it to dry.

1. Trim out the inside of the painted element “blobs”, and trim the paper down to 8” x 10” or smaller.

2. Using painter's tape, tape the paint elements page onto the face of the canvas. Trace the blob shapes lightly with a colored pencil.
3. Paint the top right blob with the Cadmium Yellow and the lower left one with Open Water. Allow to dry completely.

4. Trim the leaf PDF down until about 1” of white paper extends beyond its lines. Orient the element as shown in the photo and tape into place with painters tape. It is important that the leaf outline not extend into the outer 1.5” of the canvas because the stretcher bars get in the way of the embroidery needle, but otherwise you can change the angle to suit yourself.

5. Using the size embroidery needle you plan to stitch with prick evenly spaced holes into the canvas, through the paper, following the outline of the leaves. Make each hole approximately 1/4” - 3/8” apart. Be as consistent as you can, and make sure that your holes are not any closer to each other than 1/4”. If they are too close the canvas will begin to lose its integrity as you stitch. Notice that at the bottom of the stem the holes are on an angle from each other at the thickest part.
6. Remove the paper. You should see an outline of your design in holes.

7. Cut a strand of embroidery floss as long as you are comfortable working with. I usually cut mine to about 24” - 28”. Knot one end. I used all six strands in this piece. If you want a finer line you can use fewer strands at a time.
8. There are two different ways to do the stitching. You can use whichever method is more comfortable for you.
9. Backstitch: Beginning at any point around the outline, bring the threaded needle up through the canvas from the back to the front.

10. Bring the needle down through the canvas in the hole before the hole in which the needle came up.

11. Bring the needle up in the hole after the hole you first came up in.

12. Bring the needle down in the hole you first came up in.

13. Continuing on in the direction in which you are stitching, bring the needle up in the next empty hole, bring it down in the occupied hole before it.

14. Double Running Stitch: Beginning at any point around the outline, bring the threaded needle up through the canvas from the back to the front. Bring the needle down through the next available hole. Bring the needle up through the next available hole. Keep going up and down all the way around. Your outline will look like a dotted line.

15. When you have gone all the way around the outline, go around one more time, filling in the blank spaces between the dashes. Bring the needle up before a blank spot, bring it down after the blank spot.

16. When you have completed the second round of stitches you will have a solid outline.

17. That’s all there is to it! After learning the basics you can create all kinds of fantastic embroidered art.

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