Nothin' but the Stitchin'
Need a little brush-up on your embroidery-stitch-how-to to complete you Heart Fulls ornament?
If so, you are in the right place.
The stitch instructions presented here are not a comprehensive list of stitches. This Stitch Library will discuss how to make any of the stitches mentioned in connection to those used to make your Heart Fulls Heart Ornaments.
I will show the stitches I like to use on the heart designs. By no means should you feel limited by my stitch choices. Feel free to embellish your ornament as you wish! If you like more embellishment, add more! If you prefer to use different stitches, use them.
Use this Stitch Library as a starting point. The Stitch tutorials are listed in alphabetic order.
New to Heart Fulls? CLICK HERE to learn more!
A word or two about knots
Generally, any of my counted stitchery or surface embroidery is a no-knot zone. However, with wool, I find it a bit easier to start with a quilter's knot that is anchored behind a wool element. The fluffy wool along with the stiff interfacing used in the Heart Fulls ornaments tend to make the knots difficult to detect.
As an alternative, you may choose to use an 'away knot', then, after the stitch is complete, weave the thread end into the back of the stitches and snip. Also a double backstitch (a stitch on top of a stitch) on the back of your work is a great way to secure the thread at both ends, leaving a bump-less, knot-less surface.
Happy Stitching!
Blanket/Buttonhole Stitch
One of my favorite stitches to secure applique and to bind the ornament edge.
I usually use 12-weight perle cotton and size 5 embroidery needle for securing wool applique and 5- or 8-weight perle cotton and size 3 embroidery needle for the binding edge. As a right-handed stitcher, my blanket stitches are worked from left to right.
Chain Stitch
Connect lazy daisy stitches end to end to make a chain stitch. A great way to add texture and to emphasize design lines.
Fly Stitch
The Fly Stitch is one of my favorite stitches! I often use it to add veins to leaves. It's easy to do and creates a huge design impact.
French Knot
When making French Knots, a Milliner needle is the secret sauce, hands down. French knots can be tricky, but with a little practice and the correct needle, the French knot can become your favorite stitch. It adds mega texture to your project.
Lazy Daisy
Loops that finish and end in almost precisely the same place. Finish the stitch with a tiny stitch to couch the loop end. Link them together to make a chain, group them around a center point to make a daisy, use them by themselves to make a tiny leaf, or add them to a variety of stitch combinations to add interest. A very verstatile stitch
Portuguese Knotted Stem Stitch
One of my favorite line stitches with a characteristic thread 'pearl' wrapped around each stitch to add texture and dimension to an otherwise plain stem stitch.
