This project has been designed by Little Miss Fancy Frocks – the dynamic mother-daughter duo who lovingly create handcrafted clothing for adults and children as well as sharing their skills through dressmaking and craft workshops. Visit their Facebook page here.
Hantex have kindly sponsored this article. Take a look here to find a stockist for their products.
Using three simple embroidery stitches create this colourful floral cushion to brighten any garden setting.
Supplies
Main fabric – 40cm of pink cotton (120cm wide). Cut as follows: 1 cushion front 37cm x 58cm, 2 cushion backs 37cm x 31.5cm – we used fabric supplied by Hantex
30cm zip
Cushion pad 36cm x 56cm
Greaseproof paper (48cm x 28cm)
2mtrs size 4 piping cord
2mtrs of 5/8 green bias binding
Pink machine thread
Embroidery floss – “Flowerbox” by Sublime stitching supplied by Hantex – see here for stockists
You will also need a transfer pen, embroidery hoop, embroidery needle, scissors and a machine with a zipper foot.
All seam allowances are 1cm.
Instructions
Trace the Flower Embroidery template onto greaseproof paper. Remember to reverse the leaf and the single flower to complete the design. On the wrong side of the paper use a transfer pen to outline the design. Iron the transfer onto the cushion front.
Stem stitch (green thread) – stem stitch usually follows a line on the fabric. Bring your thread onto the surface and form the first stitch by inserting the needle into the fabric and bringing it back onto the surface about half a centimetre away on the line. The thread will always lie on the right side of the needle giving a twisted effect.
Chain stitch (pink thread) – bring the thread onto the surface and place your needle back into the fabric close to the first thread, wrap the thread around the needle to form a chain and repeat.
French knots (white thread) – french knots are worked to resemble beads. Form a short stitch, 2-3 millimetres long, wrap the thread around the needle twice and take the needle onto the wrong side to form a free standing knot and repeat.
For a more detailed guide to embroidery stitches including those above check our embroidered sampler.
Fill the flower heads with French knots using cream thread (Bee Pollen 305)
Using stem stitch work the main stems with dark green thread ( Fig leaf 778)
Using the light orange thread (Petal 280) chain stitch the outline of the flower. Using the dark orange thread (In Bloom 206) work a second row of chain stitch inside the first row.
Fill the centre of the petals with French knots in pink thread (Honeysuckle 804)
Stem stitch the inner leaves with in light green (Sprout 777) and the outer leaves in dark green (Fig leaf 778)
Stitch the 2 cushion backs together leaving a seam opening for the zip and insert the zip.
Using a circle (we used a tea plate) curve the edges by drawing around the tea plate. A curve is much easier to pipe than a corner.
Wrap the bias binding around the piping cord and tack onto the cushion front to hold in position. Pin and tack the piping in place around the cushion.
Pin and tack the front of the cushion to the back (right sides facing). You will need a zipper foot to stitch the piping cord in place. Sew around the edge. Turn through and fill with your cushion pad, then your cushion is ready to use.
