This is a little something you can hang in your front porch or on your front door while you are working in the garden. It is always easy to miss callers while you are busy getting your hands dirty. If you are worried about security, or your garden is not up to scratch, change the word “in” to “on” and hang this pretty sign with pride.
NOTE: Different/contrasting colour thread may be used in photographs/videos for clarity purposes.
Fabric: We are working with 11-count Aida. Aida is a fabric specifically-designed for cross stitch embroidery, with holes made for your needle to enter in and out of the fabric. The number specifically relates to the number of squares per inch. Each square on the Aida corresponds to a cross stitch on your pattern. The cross stitch on your pattern is clearly marked with a coloured dot.
Threads: Skeins of embroidery floss usually have six strands of thread. For this project we are working with three strands, so cut a piece of thread and split into two lengths, with three strands in each length.
Requirements
• 11-count Aida measuring 13cm by 27cm.• Embroidery floss in various colours.• Embellishments.• Hardboard measuring 13cm by 27cm, with two holes pierced at the top for cord.• Cord 40cm.• Double-sided sticky tape.• PVA glue.• Tapestry needle size 22.Directions
You may wish to use an embroidery hoop while stitching, but please remember to remove your work from the hoop each time you finish a session. This stops “hoop marks” from forming on your fabric. For a piece of work this size, I prefer to embroider without a hoop, keeping an eye on my tension instead. Keep your stitches firm but do not pull the thread tight, aiming instead to keep your stitch nice and flat on your fabric.
To keep the edges of your fabric from fraying while embroidering, sew all the way around the outside edge with a zigzag stitch on your sewing machine. If this is not possible cover the edges with masking tape which will be removed later.
To find the centre of your fabric, fold in half and fold in half again. Finger press. Open out and mark the centre with a straight pin. Now locate the centre of your pattern and matching centres, make your first cross stitch. Work your pattern out from here, thus making sure the embroidery is centred on the fabric. Use a straight stitch to make the flower stems and leaves.
Begin with a “waste knot” which is placed at the front of your fabric. Put a knot in your thread and enter the fabric from the front about 3cm away from where you want to begin stitching. Work your way towards this knot, thus anchoring your threads at the back as you go. Once the threads are secure cut off the knot, then snip away the loose end at the back.
Following the diagram and to make a cross stitch, bring your needle from the back of the fabric to the front, up at 1, down at 2, up at 3 and down at 4. It might not always be possible to work in this sequence but just make sure that the top cross of your stitch always lies in the same direction, thus giving your work a nice sheen when finished.
To finish weave your thread in and out of your stitching at the back of your work, cut off the loose end.
Once all the cross stitch embroidery is complete, cut down the fabric to measure 9cm by 23cm.
Using double-sided tape, stick the fabric to the hardboard.
Following photo as a guide, use PVA glue to attach the embellishments.
Tie a knot at one end of the cord and insert the other end through one opening at the front. Bring cord through the second opening and tie a knot at this end.
Next week
Make a pretty and practical
garden apron.