I cannot count my day complete
'Til needle, thread and fabric meet.
~Author Unknown

Sharing a common thread with those who love the art of hand embroidery

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Use your imagination.............

even when it comes to the most simple of designs...............

You can make this flower simple and sweet 
by working the outline stitch on both the center and the petals............

and it can look like this.................

but, by using the same color and working the satin stitch in the center,

and still using the outline stitch on the petals, but with the same petal color,
adding just a few straight stitches around the center.............

the same flower can look like this.........blooming with a little more...........
life.

but I want it to "breathe with life".................
I used  3 shades of pink for the petals........one dark, one medium, and one light.
Stitch around the center with the same yellow color............

get brave and cut out the center...........making sure to not cut the stitches..............

and now you have a hole...............

which, by using the same color and working the closed buttonhole stitch around the center edges,

and adding a few threads  criss crossing through the opening,
you have an interesting center.

Now on this flower, you will need to start with the dark pink and work the long and short stitch around the center all the way around. In the middle of the petals, work with the medium pink and work the long and short stitch on each petal all the way around, leaving the tips of each petal to be worked in light pink, working the long and short stitch all the way around.

And now the same design has bloomed into this life like flower!

Each type of embroidery can make the design pretty............
but with just a few more stitches, a little bit more color, and
your imagination................
just think of the possibilities!


10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kathleen, thank you for that in depth tutorial. I love the way you showed the three different versions of the same flower...very inspiring.

Of course now I would love to get to embroider again. I just don't seem to find the time, but I know one day I will, and I'll have your wonderful instructions to guide me in cutwork. I've never done cutwork before, and I'd love to try it.

Blessings,
Marianne

deb said...

Gorgeous! I love the open center design. I've embroidered but nothing like you, you're awesome!!
*hugs*deb

janice15 said...

Thank you for coming by, I got my inspiration from you my dear...I used to do things and got away from it but you helped bring it back..I love all the things you do..thank you for sharing it..hugs and have a wonderful nite..with love Janice ( pretty flower..have to try it sometime.

Zova couture said...

thats a great tutorial dear kathleen..
I love those detailing..cutwork flower is looking so beautiful..

letslearnembroidery said...

Thanks for the different ideas.They're wonderful!

Nicola said...

I love the flower with the cutwork. Sometimes it can be hard to pluck up courage to cut holes in your work.

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for this little lesson. I have been doing more embroidery and getting some inspiration this way sure helps.

blessings, jilly

Cindy said...

I really like the last one the best! More work, but it is just beautiful. Thanks for showing the progression.

A Colorful World said...

I just love the openwork centers! How wonderful these posies look!

Sandra said...

You do magic!