This is SOOOOOO late, the last woodland embroidery

 

I know that Nov and Dec were never listed. It was because I just couldn't decide what I wanted to do in these last 2 sections. I just finished the top area last weekend. I never wrote down what colors and amounts of floss I used due to the stress I was having over it.

Below the cat I put 2 small yo-yos. I'll be adding beads to them so they will lay flatter. In fact I'll be adding more beads all over but it needs to be stretched and lightly steamed first.

The top area has a fence using narrow grosgrain black ribbon. If you look to the right of that section over by the pond you'll see a few branched of yellow and green ribbon embroidery. That's what is left from the original embroidery done in that area. It was one of the original sections I did years ago that I grew to really dislike but felt bad about removing it since it was silk ribbon. I have a lot of silk ribbon, hand dyed, YLI and old Bucilla, so decided to use some up for the flowers.

What I learned while making this was to add the borders of fabric before embroidery since I wanted to stitch near the edge. I think I'd also decide what embroidery I want in each section so I can get the threads and supplies sorted before I start.

Here's the piece with all the embroidery just waiting for stretching, borders, beads. and finally the batting and backing. I'm not happy with some of it but at last I got all the embroidery done. All those french knots above the bee skeep are still too many.

Next section of woodland quilt

 

Here I am back again with another section of my woodland quilt. I decided since it was woodlands I needed to finally add some mushrooms. Got a bit carried away, as I tend to do, with the moss but like enough that I won't be removing any.

When trying to decide on threads I came across a box of old flower threads I bought ages ago. I have some Ginnie Thompson and some DMC. DMC isn't making the thread any more but they do some some new eco threads that would be nice for this section. I decided I wanted the matte look of the threads for most of the embroidery. To substitute regular DMC for the flower thread just leave off the 2 at the front then you have the regular floss number. Flower thread comes in 1 strand that has the thickness of about 3 strands of floss, at least that's what it seems to me.

Using a Frixon pen I doodled where I wanted the log first. It's 2 layers of brown felt. I used 2 to give the log some dimension. They were basted down the center to hold them in place. Then I used DMC 839  brown size 3 pearl cotton. I just did long straight stitches next to each other to cover the felt. 

Next came the moss. Again I used 2 layers of felt and cut them in rough circles. I used gray but green would be good, too. For the french knots I doubled the thread. The knots are a variety of wraps so that they are different sizes. I did 2,3, and 4 wraps. The threads were Ginnie Thompson: 409 (like a dark olive green), 448 (sage), and 470 (dark green). Then just because I thought it would add more texture, I used DMC 2730 (olive) and 2318 (grey for pebbles). You can see in the photo I covered the ends of the log with the knots. If you use grey felt you could leave areas bare to look like the moss is growing over a rock.

Since I'm not using any red in this piece I decided to make the mushrooms light purple. I marked 3 lined where I wanted the mushrooms. The stems are 2 strands of Ginnie Thompson 100 which is white, though since the thread is so old it's taken on a creamy white look. I made long straight stitches so the stems are about 1/8" wide. The cap is 2 strands of Ginnie Thompson 610, a light purple. I filled in a dome shape with straight stitches.  The french knots are 2 strands of the creamy white, 1 and 2 wraps. I used 1 strand of DMC 2642 (light tan) to stitch a few straight lines along the bottom of the purple and a stitch across the stem. I also did a few stitches on top of the log between the 2 larger mushrooms.

I thought the mushrooms and moss needed a snail and for it I used regular DMC embroidery floss. The body is 12 strands of 898 to make at least 4 stem stitches curving up one end for the head.  I used a single strand for the antennae. The shell is 3 strands of 841 and 6 strands of 746 mixed together. I couched it in a spiral using 2 strands of 841. After finishing I saw that I lost the look of a shell but decided to leave it,at least for now.

The flowering plant is made with 1 strand of Ginnie Thompson 448 to stem stitch the stems. I used 2 strands for the lazy daisy leaves and the 1 wrap french knots. The french knot flowers are 2 strands 260.

I decided it also needed some grass so I used Ginnie Thompson 412 to make some straight stitches.

Only 2 more sections to do! I already started on the one above this one and may make some of it's embroidery down in the empty area above the log. See you next month :)

Old free pattern now at Patreon

 

I had this pattern here back in 2019 but removed it to fix some things but never got around to relisting it. I sorted the old PDF and put it over at my Patreon site.Maypole Embroidery

As always I'm working on too many projects and nothing seems to ever get finished. I think a lot of it comes from fabric and craft stores closing. I really prefer to see my supplies in person so I tend to hold off ordering things I know I need. Like right now I really want a white pen for marking embroidery on dark fabrics but have been putting off ordering one since last fall. 

Living in 2 places doesn't help either. I was hauling things back and forth to work on them where ever I was then I decided to keep some projects at one house and some at the other. Didn't work too well. I kept wanting to work on a project that just happened to be at the other house. Then there's having supplies at both places so it always seems that the thread, pattern, or fabric I need is at the place I'm not.

I did finally finish the PDF for a new rabbit but since it's coming on Fall I think I'll wait to list him. I have a new cat done and then there's still the gnomes to do the directions for. The solution to putting off writing the PDF's would be for me to either get the software I need for the old laptop I'm using (win7) or get a new one and the get new software. I have been using versions of Microsoft Publisher since my first computer and that ran win3.1 (a step up from DOS!). I never got it for the 7 because this is a hand-me-down from my husband. I'm still using an old desk top computer with win xp (with no internet)at one house to write all the patterns and then this lap top to do online stuff at the house with internet. It makes it all to easy to put things off.

I am still working on the next sections of the crazy quilt so come back for them. This next section is one I'm really liking.

June's free embroidery- section 5

 

I know I'm really late with this month but I was working on new tatted jewelry patterns and put the embroidery off. The photo above is not the finished design, it's to show some of the branches of the bushes. The next photo shows that I went really crazy with all the french knots. These last 2 sections are more than a bit over filled with embroidery.

Here's how I did this section.

1. I started with the bee skep. Below is a pattern for the size I used. I was all set to couch threads for lines and make an opening near the bottom with black thread but then I got the idea for the simple tatted piece. Tatters will see that it's just the most basic tatted trim done in rows.

2. Next I drew the lines for the bushes and the circles for the hollyhock flowers using a frixon pen. A note about the bushes. They ended up looking more like small trees and I did add more branches as I worked.

3. The hollyhocks are buttonhole wheels using 3 strands of DMC 603 for one and 605 for the other. If I had to do it again I'd start with the lighter pink move up with 2 more shades of the pink, with the darkest for the french knots at the top. The french knots are made with 6 strands. The leaves are DMC 470. I used 6 strands for the lazy daisys and 4 strands for the french knots.

4. Now we come to the bush trees :) I used 3 strands of DMC 780 to stem stitch the branches. I added some straight stitches as I filled in the flowers and leaves. The flowers were done with french knots in 3 colors. I first started with 6 strands of white floss I dyed pale yellow and pink. I bought a Tulip dye kit at Walmart a few years ago to dye my own threads. Yarnplayer at Etsy has MUCH better ones. Because this was boring to me I added some knots using DMC 963 (6 strands) and DMC 3716 (3 strands). This is when I practically covered the fabric. For the leaves I was going thru my old stash of DMC and Ginnie Thompson flower threads and decided to use GT448. I used 2 strands to do the lazy daisy stitches.

5. I didn't like how empty is looked under the skep so I made straight stitches using 1 strand of DMC 3348 to stitch grass. That wasn't enough for me so I added french knots using the same threads as I used in the last section.

6. The bees will get bead bodies when I finally add all the beads to the entire piece. The wings are lazy daisy stitches using Maderia Decora 1401. 

That's it, here's a photo of the sections so far. Notice that I added a border above section 5. It's 2 pieces of crochet cord I made using some pearl cotton I dyed. It's called Romanian cord and the directions are on YouTube.

I'm going to combine the next 3 sections in one post. Two are done and the third has been drawn. Yay! we get a break from the green backgrounds. I wish I had either used all tans and browns for the greens or stayed with the same color of green so that picking out floss would be easier. I'm really disliking that lime green in section 4 so it may have to go. I'm thinking more of those hollyhocks instead.

 

May's Free Embroidery - section 4 of the crazy quilt

I had some trouble deciding on what flowers I wanted to do here. This section had been previously embroidered but I didn't like the colors so removed all of it. I decided to stay with similar soft colors for the entire piece. You may want your garden bright and cheerful with many colors so use the shades you like. There is no set pattern of where to do the embroidery so you can add stitches you like or even rearrange the design.

This photo shows part of the wood frame I'm using instead of a hoop. The holes in the wood are from the thumb tacks I use to hold the fabric in place. This makes doing the embroidery so much better, no crushing or shifting anything. If you are wondering about the whited out area, it's where some embroidery was done when I first started this years ago. It looks like section 6-8 will end up as one post since the embroidery blends into these sections.

I did section 4 with  spider web because my tiny fairy is walking along a strand. I'll do the spider later with a bead body. I wanted the web to shine a bit so I went thru my stash of threads and found an old package of Medira Decora 1402 I bought on sale somewhere. It's a shiny viscose thread that is stranded and I only used 1 strand. I used a Frixon pen to draw out the shape. It has 6 long straight stitch lines. Working from the center I couched along the 6 lines to make the web. I also added the line the fairy is walking along with a few couch stitches.

Next I did the greenery at the right. I may add more of it to go into the next section which I've drawn out but haven't started. Draw the lines for as many stems as you want. A tip is to leave room for the leaves or you'll be stitching over other leaves. I did this in a few areas but wouldn't want all of it squashed together. Another tip is to draw one and embroidery it, then do another, and keep up this way until you get as many as you want. I used 3 strands of DMC 16 to make the stems with stem stitch and lazy daisy leaves. Along the stems there are french knots made using 3 strands of DMC 746. I did 3 wraps.

Th spider web flowers are next. Mostly they are called roses but I'm thinking of them this time as ranunculus flowers. Make them the usual way with 5 spokes of single thread and 3 to weave. I used DMC 3078. A tip is to draw the circles where you want these and the blue flowers to be leaving room for the leaves.

The blue flowers are very easy. I used 3 strands of DMC 775 to make lazy daisy petals. There are 8 for each flower. The centers will be beads added later.

The leaves around the flowers are lazy daisy stitches. I used 3 strands of DMC 895 around the yellow flowers and DMC 471 around the blue. Fill in as much as you want. I notice now that the darker green is not showing up real good so I may have to change it. Using green fabrics has made picking green flosses hard. With the Bali fabrics having many shades in them I'm tending towards much lighter shades than I would normally use.

I decided more needed to be added so I used french knots to fill in along the bottom of the greenery and around the flowers. I think of them as tiny wild violets. There are one of my favorite flowers and I drive my husband crazy when I refuse to mow over where they grow until they are dome blooming. I used strands of DMC 503 and 210 for the knots. I did the purple first then added the green.

That's it, you can see the fabric for the next section. It's the one I cut off the fabric and put a new one on.

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there!

Third section of free mini crazy quilt pattern

 

Section 3 has the white French knot hydrangeas and pink bullion roses. This time there's a much bigger picture because I removed all of the original embroidery I did in section 4 and completely removed section 5 and replaced it with a new fabric. I just wasn't happy with either section. You can now see the tan fabric I used above these sections, too.

Notice that I added a triangle piece of fabric with a tiny fairy printed on it next to section 2. She's walking on a single strand of white rayon thread. the fabric was hand sewn in place on top of the section 3 green fabric. This is optional if you don't have any fabric with something you would like here.

To do the hydrangeas use a button or coin in the sizes you want the flowers to be to draw circles. Mine range from 3/4" down to 3/8". Fill in the circles making the french knots with 3-4 strands of DMC white floss. You don't want the knots to be identical so do 2-4 wraps with a variety of floss strands. The leaves are straight stitched using 3 strands of DMC 3013. I free hand drew the leaves where I thought they'd be best. I would have preferred using 2 similar shades of green but once I started with this one I found I didn't have one that would work with the fabric. As I worked around the flowers I also used the green to add some knots to them.

The roses are made using bullion stitch with lots of french knots along couched branches. First I used 2 strands of DMC 895 to couch 2 strands of the same color along the seam lines, then added branches to fill in above the hydrangeas. I think bullions are easiest made with the threads I use when tatting so I used Lizbeth size 10 124 spring green for the roses and knots. I've had floss leave loops when making bullions. When I know I'm going to make a lot I'll get out my size 10 and 20 threads. I cut piece os the thread so I'd be able to have the pink with a little green and pieces of just the greens. Some of the roses are all pinks while some have a few green bullions. DMC does make a pink/green floss, it's Coloris 4500. There's one that's shades of pink to cranberry and light browns, Coloris 4504. If you've had enough making french knots substitute lazy daisy leaves. I'll be adding some using DMC 3364 now that I've thought of it. Seed beads will be added later.

BTW, I stapled this section to a small wood frame to embroider so I wouldn't crush section 2 flowers.

Free Easter bunny embroidry pattern at patreon

I had this Bunny embroidery pattern listed here years ago but deleted it so I could do a new PDF. Never got around to it so I posted it over at my Patreon site because I just needed to post something after ignoring it for a few months. It's a quick and easy pattern. Great for teaching someone how to do a few stitches.

Here's what I did with 2 of the bunnies. It's a very simple quilted wall hanging. The bunny faces on the left are from fabric that I used for the back. I wanted something I could hang at my door and it would be pretty from both sides. Something to think about when choosing a backing fabric for small quilts that hang where you see both sides.

I'm working on way too many patterns right now so of course nothing is getting finished. I'm still working on the new tatting booklet/patterns. I have 3 to do charts and directions for. It's the charst that are holding up the project. I also have 2 new dolls that need drawings and directions. Lastly I'm trying to get the head just right for a new fairy doll. I'm on head number 3, and hoping it will be the one. Then there are the 3 embroidery pats that need embroidered. Plus I need to get the buttonholes done on the black fleece coat I've been working on for about 10 years. I found it's too thick for any of my 4 sewing machines (even the heavy duty) to stitch correctly so I'm going to have to hand sew them. Sp I'm going to have to set aside the hat I've been crocheting and get back to work that really needs done. ☹

Today I'm working on the next crazy quilt embroidery after removing some of what was in the space and all in the next space. It's all drawn on the fabric so it won't take long. The longest part is always deciding on the embroidery. 

Talk soon!

2nd crazy patch section-all flowers!

 

Here's section 2 of the crazy patch. This is another section that was done years ago so I used some thread and ribbon I don't use often anymore. I've left an empty space to add a dragonfly later. It will be made with beads.  In fact a lot of beads will be added after all the embroidery is done. I don't want to risk crushing any with my embroidery hoop as I move it around.

Use your favorite colors and threads and let's begin ...

1. Start with 2 -3 strands of DMC 989 to do feather stitching along the seam between section 2 and 3. Use a green that doesn't blend into the fabric.

2. Fill in along the green with french knots using 2 - 3 strands of DMC 211 and 552. Make 2 and 3 wrap knots so there is a variety of sizes.

3. Use the same green or another you like to do feather stitching from the bottom corner part way up. You can see I added "branches" so it fills out like a bush.

4. I used Edmar 077 frost with is a variegated purple rayon thread for the cast-on loop flowers. After looking to make sure they still sell it I really think I used another frost thread for the bird. Rayon thread makes bullion stitches easier since the thread will slide better than cotton. The flowers are made like a regular bullion stitch except that instead of having it lay flat you want to put the needle back thru the fabric near were you started. I use a milliners needle so the wraps are the same size. If you can't find one look for a long needle that's the same dimension from the eye almost to the point. Wrap the thread as many times as you want to get a bullion loop the size you want. If you don't want to use a rayon thread any size Lizbeth and DMC size 8 pearl cotton are good substitutes. I've also used floss for these kind of flowers but I don't strip it after cutting. Add as masny loops as you like. If you are using a variegated thread work up and down the feather stitch to spread out the shades.

5. The leaves are YLI silk ribbon 032. I used 4mm to make Japanese leaf stitches. Substitute lazy daisy stitches using floss.

That's it for this section. Section 3 was partly done a few years ago so I have to finish it. There's a lot more embroidery in it plus I covered a small section of it with a piece of fabric with a tiny fairy on it.

Last week I realized the reason I quit working on this was because I had 2 sections with embroidery I  no longer liked. One is waiting for me to remove it all but section 5 is done. It had so much I gave up and just cut it off. I had to remove some of the brown ric-rac around the pond and some embroidery along a seam so I could get all of the fabric removed. I then got out my bin of Bali print fabrics and found a perfect green for there. Now I have to sew it on and design a new section 5. Section 4 is almost done. I just have to redo the area over the seam between 4 & 5.

The first crazy quilt section - free embroidery

This is a have fun piece. You can have as many yo-yo lily pads and fish as you want. Add beads to look like rocks in the blue water or as a border. I found a fake suede ric-rac trim to use for the border. It's held in place with french knots.

Start with the goldfish. I used 2 shades of orange and one yellow to do the straight stitches over pieces of orange felt to make a padded shape. You can do a series of long straight stitches, then stitch over them so the fish is a little raised instead of using the felt. Follow the arrows on the pattern for the direction the stitches should go in. The fish bodies are about 3/4" long and about 1/4" wide but make them the size you want. You may want to try making one on a scrap of fabric first. The fins are pieces of thin ribbon. I used 5/8" rayon bias ribbon for the fins and tail.The back fin is about 1/4" long and cut at an angle at one end. Gather the opposite edge and sew where the red line is on the back of the fish, spreading out the gathers so it;s about 3/8" long. The side fins are the same except they are gathered tight and sewn where the black x's are. The tail is a 1" piece with both ends cut at angles. Gather it at the center and sew to the back tip of the body. The eyes are 2 small black seed beads but you can do french knots instead.

The lily pads are circles of green bali printed fabric made into yo-yos. Use 1" - 2" circles of fabric gathered into the yo-yos for the various sizes. Notice that I partly covered the fish so it looks like they are swimming under them. Look at the photo for ideas for placements. The 2 lilies are made with white silk ribbon doing Japanese leaf stitch, but white floss can be used to make lazy daisy stitches. Look at the photo and you'll see that one is a circle of petals and the other is made to look like a side view. I used dark green floss to make a straight stitch for the stem, french knots at the bottom of the flower, and 2 stem stitched grass like stems.The center of the full circle flowers has a french knot using yellow floss.

The heron  is made using bullion stitches. I found the directions in an old bullion stitch book so I can't give them but by looking at the photo you may be able to see how to make it. I had a look online but couldn't find anything like it. Sorry!

The clusters of green over the brown edging was made using tatted rings but a similar look can be made doing bullion stitch loops. Another choice would be to do turkey stitch, then cut the loops or not.

Since this was made ages ago I don't have the names/numbers of the colors used. It's the only section that has something (the heron) I can't give the directions for. There is an amazing fish youtube video that I posted about last year you may prefer to make.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwBcSZxTeYo

Next month is all flowers so get your fav colors of floss ready.

Finally my free embroidery for Jan.

 Ok, This will be very different from any others I've posted. I have 3 crazy quilt wall hangings I've been working on and then ignoring for years. I decided to get out the smallest one and work on it with you. Below is the basic pattern on how I laid out the fabrics. I started with no pattern and just sewed them as I worked.The actual size is 14" x 14". Some of the areas are already embroidered so there's no full pic yet because I want you to be surprised each month.

I call this piece "Bali in the Garden" because I used all Bali fabric in tans and greens except for the 2 blue sections. The chart below has where you should put the colors. You can skip the tans and use all greens but do use blue fabric where it's marked. These will be ponds. You need 4 different greens, 1 tan, 1 darker tan or light brown, and the blue. The fabric I used in space 9 is green, tan, and light brown. Use what you like but stay away from bold prints. One of my greens has a palm frond design (4 & 11). The rest look like hand dyed fabrics. 

The 3 pages of patterns were traced from my finished design so they are only approximate. You need to cut the fabric about 1" bigger than the patterns. The areas along the edge of the design may need about 1 1/2" - 2" because you want them to come to the edge of the base fabric. I used a piece of 14" x 14" muslin for this. Each space is numbered to show which piece of fabric is sewn on when. If you don't know how to crazy quilt there are tons of sites and videos to get you started. 

For sections 6 & 7 and 9 & 10, you sew them together then sew them to the main piece. Some sections will need to be hand sewn in place.

Notice that in section 3 there is an option piece. This is because I added a tiny fairy from a piece of fabric after I had sewn all the sections on the base fabric. Maybe you have a tiny scrap of a favorite fabric you'd like to add here.

A BIG tip I have is to baste the edge of the entire piece under after all the pieces are sewn on. Fold under what you plan on for the seam allowance. This is so none of your embroidery gets too close to the edge. I had this problem a few times in section 4 so that's when I did the basting.

The small print will let you know which pieces to sew together before sewing them to the base fabric, what colors to use where, and other tips. This is not a full size pattern.

These patterns below are only approximate as I made this as I went. You may want to combine areas 6&7 and 9&10 into just one fabric, that will be fine. . Remember that when you cut out the fabric to not cut them the size of the patterns. You  need seam allowances!The jpgs are full size so right click them to save them to your hard drive and then print.

Crazy quilting is a fun way to use up leftover pieces of fabric. Just remember that this mini quilt is woodland or garden themed. Next month will be the center section 1. This pond is edged in brown ric-rac and will have goldfish!

If you have no interest in crazy quilting do the embroidery as blocks.

©Billie Jo Heisler 2025

All rights reserved

 Disclaimer:

I drew this design by hand then used a software program to edit it. I have not knowingly copied anyone else's work.

Please consider the drawing and all of the embroidery 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.

Last of the Bee embroideries

 

Here it is, the last free embroidery pattern of the year. Bee Good seemed just right for the holiday season.

I used the same stitches and the same DMC thread colors as I used for the last one. Something I should say is that these flowers have 4 petals and all the others I've done have 5. Do what makes you happy!

Here's the pattern:

Right click the pattern to save it to your hard drive so you can print it.

©Billie Jo Heisler 2024

All rights reserved

 Disclaimer:

I drew this entire pattern by hand. It is not a copy of anyone else's work. 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 free November Embroidery

 

This month's embroidery is based on Thanksgiving. Many of us sit around a table with family and friends talk about what we are thankful for. These might make nice place cards with names also embroidered on them.

As with previous months, this embroidery used the same threads and stitches. The bee is done in straight stitches. The edging is wrapped with yellow thread. See the previous postings for more on how they are made.

BTW, I drew these by hand, even the words. So if you prefer, switch out your own printing for mine.

Here's the pattern:

Right click the pattern to save it to your hard drive so you can print it.

©Billie Jo Heisler 2024

All rights reserved

 Disclaimer:

I drew this entire pattern by hand. It is not a copy of anyone else's work. 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.

It's Bee Sweet, a free embroidery Pattern!

 

Here's another bee embroidery. I chose bee sweet for this month since to me October means Halloween and Halloween means CANDY! So be sweet and get more candy.

I used DMC threads-  310 black, 17 yellow. 704 green, 743 gold, and 813 blue.

The text is done in back stitch with 2 strands of black floss.

The flowers are just simple lazy daisy and french knots. I used 2 strands DMC 813 to make the forget me not flowers. Do 4 or 5 petals for them.The centers are 2 strands of DMC 17 yellow. I used 2 strands and did 3 wraps. The leavers are DMC 704 green. I used 3 strands to make the lazy daisy stitches. 

The bee body is done in straight stitch using black and gold. Use 2 strands of floss. The eyes are french knots. The wings are done with 1 strand of black floss to do back stitch. The dash line is also done with 1 strand of black to do a running stitch.

The x's and knots are 2 strands of the blue and yellow.

The border is back stitch in black ( 2 strands floss) wrapped with the blue (3 strands).

That's it, hope you like these quick little designs. BTW, I drew these by hand, even the words. So if you prefer, switch out your own printing for mine.

Here's the pattern:

Right click the pattern to save it to your hard drive so you can print it.

©Billie Jo Heisler 2024

All rights reserved

 Disclaimer:

I drew this entire pattern by hand. It is not a copy of anyone else's work. 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.

Did you ever see all the free vote embroideries I posted?

 

These are just 4 of the free embroidery patterns I started posting back in 2020. The first was posted on Sept. 14. Thought you might like to make some. I put all of them on a tote bag.

I added some of the jewelry pins I've collected. It would have been great with political buttons but I don't collect them.

Remember no matter who you support you need to get out and vote! 

Bee Creative Free Embroidery!

Here's another bee embroidery. I took this picture in a patch of forget-me-knots since that is what the flowers are based on.

I used the same colors of DMC threads as last month's post except for the blue. I decided the flowers were too pale so I switched to DMC 813. The stitches are the same except for the bee. I used straight stitches for the body, french knots for the eyes, and back stitch for the wings.

The flowers are not on the pattern since they are just simple lazy daisy and french knots. I used 2 strands DMC 813 to make the forget me not flowers. The centers are 2 strands of DMC 745 yellow. I used 2 strands and did 3 wraps. The leavers are DMC 704 green. I used 2 strands to make the lazy daisy stitches. 

The x's and knots are 2 strands of the blue and yellow.

The border is back stitch in black wrapped with the green.

That's it, hope you like these quick little designs. BTW, I drew these by hand, even the words. So if you prefer switch out your own printing for mine.

Here's the pattern:

Here's all 3 embroideries.

Right click the pattern to save it to your hard drive so you can print it.

©Billie Jo Heisler 2024

All rights reserved

 Disclaimer:

I drew this entire pattern by hand. It is not a copy of anyone else's work. 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.

Another Free Bee Embroidery

 

Here's another bee embroidery. I took this picture in a patch of forget-me-knots since that is what the flowers are based on.

I used the same colors of DMC threads as last month's post. The stitches are the same except for the bee. I used bullion stitches for the body.

The flowers are not on the pattern since they are just simple lazy daisy and french knots. I used 2 strands DMC 827 to make the forget me not flowers. The centers are 2 strands of DMC 745 yellow. I used 2 strands and did 3 wraps. The leavers are DMC 704 green. I used 2 strands to make the lazy daisy stitches. 

The x's and knots are 2 strands of the blue and yellow.

 The border is back stitch done in black wrapped with yellow.

That's it, hope you like these quick little designs. BTW, I drew these by hand, even the words. So if you prefer switch out your own printing for mine.

Here's the pattern:

Right click the pattern to save it to your hard drive so you can print it.

©Billie Jo Heisler 2024

All rights reserved

 Disclaimer:

I drew this entire pattern by hand. It is not a copy of anyone else's work. 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.

Free July Embroidery - Bees!

 

I thought since I quickly finished up the pansy pattern I'd do some quick freebies for the rest of the year and they will all have a bee in them!  I've always loved bees so it was easy to do a series of bees zooming around easy to stitch words. Bee Kind is my favorite. I usually wear a cute ball cap with an embroidered bee and the words on it. It's fun to wear to farm markets and other outdoor events.

These would make great patches stitched on felt. I think I'll be adding them to a tote bag.

As always I back the fabric with Pellon Shape Flex.

Then trace the pattern including the rectangle unless you don't want it.

I'll be using the same threads for all of the designs but have fun and do what you like.

-I used DMC 310 black to do the word with 2 strands in very short back stitch.

-The flowers are not on the pattern since they are just simple lazy daisy and french knots. I used 2 strands DMC 827 to make the forget me not flowers. The centers are 2 strands of DMC 745 yellow. I used 2 strands and did 3 wraps. The leavers are DMC 704 green. I used 2 strands to make the lazy daisy stitches. 

-The x's are 2 strands of the blue and yellow.

-The bee is outlined in 1 strand of black. The lines across the body are couched or back stitched. To fill in the body you can use long or short straight stitches. I used 2 strands of black and 743 yellow.  The eyes are 2 wrap french knots.The bee dash lines and the antennae are 1 strand black.

-The rectangle is back stitched with 2 strands of black. Make them long enough for you to wrap. Use 3 strands of the blue thread to wrap the back stitches.

That's it, hope you like these quick little designs. BTW, I drew these by hand, even the words. So if you prefer switch out your own printing for mine.

Here's the pattern:

Right click the pattern to save it to your hard drive so you can print it.

©Billie Jo Heisler 2024

All rights reserved

 Disclaimer:

I drew this entire pattern by hand. It is not a copy of anyone else's work. 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.

Here's the rest of the Pansy embroidery

I know I've been so behind is posting this year. It's just been one crazy thing after another with the worst being having a cousin die suddenly at the end of May. This month hasn't been good either, and  definitely feel worn out emotionally. So I decided to finish the embroidery and put it up. For the rest of the year I have small designs I'll list for you.

The last stitch was for May and it was chain stitch for the stems done in DMC 936. I did stripes for the circle section.

June's stitch was for the center of the flowers. Using 2 strands of DMC 17 to fill in the small areas with straight stitches. Again I did stripes but short wide ones for the circle section.

July's stitch is for the 4 center flower petals. I did lazy daisy stitch using 2 shades of purple to fill in the areas. I used 3 strands of 550 for 2 petals and 3 strands of 552 for the other 2 petals. I decided on 2 shades so the stitches didn't blend into one large piece instead of showing 4 petals. I used both purples to make standing lazy daisy stitches that varied in size.

August was the outer petals of the pansys. I used 3 strands of DMC 25 to fill in the areas with buttonhole stitch. For the circle section I did 3 half circles of the stitch.

September was to be wide fern stitch on the wings of the butterfly. I used 3 strands of DMC 783. You could just straight stitch the lines. The circle section has a line of regular width fern stitch.

October is the French Knots scattered along the fern stitch. I used 3 strands of DMC 310 black to make 2 wrap knots. The circle section has a few knots.

November is also done in the black floss. Use 3 strands to make a bullion stitch the length of the body. Then I used 1 strands to make straight stitches for the antennae. The circle section is 3 bullions joined with 2 straight stitches.

December is the very simple running stitch for the dashed lines. I used 1 strand of black. The circle section has 2 lines of the stitch.

That's it! Change the stitches, the colors, just have fun with it.

Finally- the May stitch

 

If you've been reading my blog you know it's been a weird year for me but I finally took some pics of the next embroidery.

The center of the flowers are just straight stitch but you could fill the space in with french knots. I used 2 strands of  DMC 3078.  Fill in the circle space with simple stripes of straight stitch.

The petals are lazy daisy stitch. I used 2 strands of DMC 550 for 2 petals and 552 for the other 2. I didn't want the petals to blend so I used 2 colors of purple. Fill in the bottom circle with lazy daisy stitches in a stripe or however you like.

The next color I'll be using is one of the newer DMC colors, number 25. It's a very light purple. I've chose these purples based on pansys I have growing.

The April free embroidery and why it's so late

 I've had a crazy few months. First I changed internet suppliers and that became a HUGE mistake. I got rid of them after a few weeks. I smashed a finger which kept me from doing all the embroidery and tatting I've been working on. Then came the regular flu for a week. Next was having no gas. That meant no furnace, stove, hot water, or dryer. From all the days and days of rain the gas line cracked and had to be replaced. That was the worst. It all meant even when I did have internet I wasn't feeling well enough to get online. The stress really wore me out.

So here's April's results. I beginning to think that this project is probably not to many embroiderers liking. We'll finish it but next year back to fun pieces.

April's stitch is the herringbone. Follow the photo for the sections it should be done in and the direction of the stitches. Notice that they are some what close together. There is no tracing for these stitches. If you need the full pattern go to the Jan. post.

I used 3 strands of DMC 581 to fill in the 5 areas.

©Billie Jo Heisler 2024

All rights reserved

 Disclaimer:

I found the pansy on a 'free to use' clipart site. I made changes like adding more of the flowers, leaves, the butterfly, and the circle using 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.