May's freebie is so late but here it is :)

 I know I planned on getting the freebie for this month up last week but I've been too tired to get on the computer. My allergies and the meds make me really tired but I do have May, June, and July embroidered. 

Follow this photo for flower placement or put them where you want.

I'm giving you some directions for the embroideries. You will need to know basic stitches and there are a LOT of youtube videos that can teach you any you don't.

1. Cut a square of your background fabric 5" x 5". This will be cut smaller later but this fits my fav 4" hoop. You can cut the fabric so it will fit in the embroidery hoop you like but make sure the birdhouse has enough room for the embroidery.

2. This step in optional but I like the stability. Now I add a square of Pelon Shape Flex interfacing. This is my favorite to use for all my embroidery designs because it's not stiff and it's easy to embroider thru. I cut the square of it slightly smaller the the entire piece. You can just add it to the center square if you prefer.

Most important!!  If you went ahead and traced the birdhouse do not use steam this can smear your tracing. I've used Pigma pens and had them smear slightly.

Note: I never use steam to apply the interfacing and it sticks fine.

3. Using a permanent marker like a Pigma pen or a Pilot Frixon pen, trace the design. You can just trace the house and roof. Use you own judgment for placement of the flowers.

Note that the Frixon pen will disappear when heat is applied. This is great if you made a mistake, just iron the fabric and start again.

 

4. The house can be appliqued like I did or just stitched with your favorite embroidery stitch.

-Trace the house on Heat n Bond by Therm-o-web. This is a product that makes appliqueing small pieces so much easier. TIP: Hold the iron on for just a few seconds or you will also melt the other side.

-Once it cools peel off the paper.

-Lay the fabric over the tracings and iron in place.

-Do a small blanket stitch with 1 strand of floss ( I used DMC white) around the entire house

5.  For the roof and base use 1 strand of floss (I used DMC 310) to make cross stitch X's over narrow ribbon to hold it in place.

Tip: you may want to baste the ribbon first. 

6. The opening is filled in with straight stitches using 3 strands of floss.

-Then use 2 strands to go around the circle with stem stitch.

-Use 3 strands to make a 3 wrap french knot. (I used DMC 310 for all 3 stitches)

7. Start with the vines. Use 3 strands of floss ( I used DMC 987) to do feather stitch.Fill in as much as you like. These are not on the tracing pattern.

8. The flowers are stitched with 3 strands of floss to make lazy daisy stitches. Put them in each of the curves of the vines. I used DMC white floss that I dyed pale yellow and pink.

 Right click the pattern to save it to your hard drive. You'll need to print a pattern for tracing.

©Billie Jo Heisler 2023

All rights reserved

 Disclaimer:

I drew this design by hand then used a software program to edit it.

Please consider the drawing copyrighted. You have my permission to print copies of the drawing in any size for your own use but not to share or sell. If you want to share the pattern please link to the blog pages.

The embroidery design is my own. I have not knowingly copied anyone else's work.