Summer Stitches

  As the weather gets warm, I want to slow down, sit and stitch.  Embroidery always seems to make life a little more peaceful.  I designed this little square and as I was stitching, the ideas kept flowing.

    Now, I have 12 sweet blocks that I want to share with you.  I'll post a couple each wednesday. 

Download this week's block here.

  I did a fabric pull for this little quilt and then I chose embroidery 

thread that matched my fabric.

  I cut my fabric larger than I need and cut down the square to the desired size after the embroidery is done.  This makes it much easier to hoop up the fabric.  

  I use a layer of muslim behind my fabric and stitch through 2 layers of fabric.  This allows the stitches to sink in and gives the look I desire.

  I have used 2 strands of floss.  The stitches I used are outline stitch, back stitch, and french knots.  

  I trace the design onto the fabric with a brown pigma pen. Then before I embroider the design, I shade it with crayons.  This gives the shapes so much more depth.  If you color the shapes with a white crayon first, the crayons will go on the fabrics smoothly and give soft shading.

  Next week I'll post 2 new blocks and a suggestion for quilt lay-out.

linking up with WiP on freshly pieced