Stitch Zakka Featuring Top Designers using Lecien COSMO floss S t i t c h Z a k k a 22 Projects to Sew & Embellish 25 Embroidery Stitches Compiled by Gailen Runge Stitch Zakka 22 Projects to Sew & Embellish • 25 Embroidery Stitches Compiled by Gailen Runge Text, Photography, and Production Coordinator: We take great care to ensure that the information included in Artwork copyright © 2013 by Zinnia Heinzmann our products is accurate and presented in good faith, but no C&T Publishing, Inc. warranty is provided nor are results guaranteed. Having no Production Editor: control over the choices of materials or procedures used, neither Publisher: Amy Marson Alice Mace Nakanishi the authors nor C&T Publishing, Inc., shall have any liability to Creative Director: Gailen Runge Illustrator: Mary E. Flynn any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book. Art Director: Kristy Zacharias Photo Assistant: For your convenience, we post an up-to-date listing of correc- Mary Peyton Peppo Editors: Gailen Runge and tions on our website (www.ctpub.com). If a correction is not Liz Aneloski Photography by already noted, please contact our customer service department Technical Editors: Alison M. Christina Carty-Francis at [email protected] or at P.O. Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549. and Diane Pedersen of Schmidt and Amanda Siegfried C&T Publishing, Inc., Trademark (™) and registered trademark (®) names are used Cover Designer: April Mostek unless otherwise noted throughout this book. Rather than use the symbols with every occurrence of a trademark or registered trademark name, we are Book Designer: Casey Dukes using the names only in the editorial fashion and to the benefit of the owner, with no intention of infringement. Published by Stash Books, an imprint of C&T Publishing, Inc., Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data P.O. Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549 Runge, Gailen, compiler. All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be used in any form or reproduced by any means— Stitch zakka : 22 projects to sew & embellish - 25 embroidery graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, stitches / compiled by Gailen Runge. recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems— pages cm without written permission from the publisher. The copyrights on individual artworks are retained by the artists as noted in ISBN 978-1-60705-733-8 (soft cover) Stitch Zakka. These designs may be used to make items only for 1. Textile crafts--Japan. 2. Embroidery--Patterns. I. Title. personal use. Donations to nonprofit groups, items for sale, or TT715.R86 2013 items for display only at events require the following credit on a conspicuous label: Designs copyright © 2013 by C&T Publishing, 746.44--dc23 Inc., from the book Stitch Zakka from C&T Publishing, Inc. 2012043754 Permission for all other purposes must be requested in writing from C&T Publishing, Inc. Attention Copy Shops: Please note the following exception— 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 publisher and authors give permission to photocopy pages 17, 22, 23, 31, 35, 39, 45, 48, 53, 56, 61, 71, 75, 86–89, 95, 101, 105, 108, 116, 117, 121, 129, and 137–140 for personal use only. Attention Teachers: C&T Publishing, Inc., encourages you to use this book as a text for teaching. Contact us at 800-284-1114 or www.ctpub.com for lesson plans and information about the C&T Creative Troupe. Contents Lecien Introduction 5 Dream and Bloom Animal Antics Bib Redwork Pillows 50 and More 96 Bird Family 6 Robin Kingsley Loyce Saxton Amy Adams of Bird Brain Designs of Yesterday’s Charm of Lucykate Crafts Little Deer Bag 54 Blooming Season Homespun Needle Case Natalie Lymer Pillow 102 and Scissor Keeper 10 of Cinderberry Stitches Kathy Schmitz Lynette Anderson Daisy Placemat Lovely Letter Three Pretty and Napkin 60 Carrier 106 Pincushions 18 Charlotte Lyons Amy Sinibaldi Leanne Beasley of nanaCompany of Leanne’s House French General Sampler 64 A Stitch for Every Season Simple Sampler Kaari Meng Wallhanging 112 Tablet Case 24 of French General Tracy Souza Kristyne Czepuryk of Plumcute Designs of Pretty by Hand Book Tree e-Reader Case 68 Bunny Pincushion 116 Friendly Owl Lisa Neal of Lazy May Anne Sutton Bookshelf Pillow 32 of Bunny Hill Designs Jasonda Desmond Springtime Stitchery 72 of Dotty Logic Design Studio Rosalie Quinlan Sparkling of Rosalie Quinlan Designs Fox Clutch 122 Rose Pillow Doll 36 Alyssa Thomas Jill Hamor Spring Baskets of Penguin & Fish Wallhanging 76 Party Chicken Judy Reynolds of Black Cat Embroidery 130 Project Organizer 40 Creations Binding Basics 135 Aneela Hoey Flourishing Template Patterns 137 Rainy Day Mobile 46 Flowers Pouch 90 Contributors 141 Mollie Johanson Yoko Saito of Quilt Party of Wild Olive Contents 3 4 Stitch Zakka Lecien Introduction The earliest examples of embroidery date from Lecien’s COSMO embroidery floss is made from ancient Egypt, Iron Age northern Europe, and the the best grade of Egyptian cotton available, and Zhou Dynasty in China. Initially embroidery was its texture and sheen are equal to that of silk. used to embellish items for high society. Young Due to specialized dyeing techniques, the floss girls from wealthy families learned to embroider. has a superior level of color retention and does By the late 1700s the popularity of embroidery not deposit color on fabric. COSMO floss does had spread to the general population. Today not twist and tangle, and it easily separates into embroidery is widely used to decorate a variety individual strands for stitchery projects. COSMO of items, including clothing, small personal items, glides smoothly through the fabric and does not table linens, and quilts. fray or knot during stitching. Lecien was established in Japan in 1933 as an COSMO floss is available in 443 colors, which importer of French laces. In 1950 Lecien began were inspired by the changing seasons and other to manufacture COSMO embroidery floss for the elements of nature. The wide range allows for Japanese market. In 1979 the company began subtle changes from one color to the next. importing cotton quilting fabric from the United We want to thank all the designers who contrib- States. Twenty-one years ago Lecien began manu- uted to this book, and we hope you enjoy making facturing original fine cotton fabrics and started these creative needlework projects. selling them in the United States and other coun- tries about ten years ago. The company began —Art & Hobby Division, Lecien Corporation exporting its embroidery floss to the United States and other international markets in 2009. Today Lecien products are available in many countries around the world. Lecien Introduction 5 Bird Family An intimate group of feathered softies is a simple by Amy Adams of Lucykate Crafts project, and ideal for either a first-time crafter or a Finished sizes: more experienced sewer. With a small amount of fabric, adult bird, 41/2˝ × 31/2˝; felt, and thread, and a handful of embroidery stitches, this baby bird, 31/2˝ × 3˝; little family of birds will spring to life. I used patterned egg, 13/4˝ × 21/4˝ fabric from Lecien’s Centenary collection by Yoko Saito; micro mini round buttons from Dress It Up; and light- weight paper or tracing paper for drawing the templates. Materials and Supplies ADULT BIRD BABY BIRD EGG • 5˝ × 12˝ piece of felted wool • 4˝ × 8˝ piece of felted wool • 3˝ × 6˝ piece of craft felt (or any fabric of your choice) (or any fabric of your choice) for egg for body for body • 1˝ × 1˝ square of craft felt for • 4˝ × 8˝ piece of craft felt for • 4˝ × 6˝ piece of craft felt for decoration eyes, beak, chest, and wings eyes, beak, chest, and wings • 1 small button for decoration • 4˝ × 5˝ piece of print fabric • 2˝ × 5˝ piece of print fabric • Embroidery floss: for wings for wings Dark (COSMO #364) • 4 small buttons for eyes and • 4 small buttons for eyes and Light (COSMO #714) to attach wings to attach wings • Stuffing • Embroidery floss: • Embroidery floss: Dark (COSMO #364) Dark (COSMO #364) Embroidery Stitches Light (COSMO #714) Light (COSMO #714) Buttonhole stitch 132 • Stuffing • Stuffing Lazy daisy stitch 133 • Small pebble to weight bird • Small pebble to weight bird Seed stitch 134 Straight stitch 134 Bird Family 7 Instructions Template patterns can be found on page 137. Birds The adult and baby bird are made using the same process. The construction can be done by hand or machine. Use 2 strands of floss for all embroidery. 1. Trace all the template patterns onto paper and cut out on the traced lines. 2. Using the template from Step 1, cut 1 body from the felted wool; flip the template over and cut another body shape. Pin, right sides Figure 1 together, and sew around the edge approximately 1/4˝ in from the edge, leaving an opening for turning right side out. 3. Turn the body right side out and stuff. Wrap a small pebble in stuffing and insert it at the base of the bird. 4. Use the templates to cut out the chest, 2 eyes, and a beak from the felt. Hold the chest piece in place, covering the open base of the bird, and sew it in place with random straight stitches using the Figure 2 dark embroidery floss around the outside of the stomach. 5. Add the eyes by sewing a button on top of a felt circle on each side of the head. Fold the beak in half and sew it in place with a few straight stitches in the fold (Figure 1). 6. Cut 1 wing from the print fabric; flip the template over and cut another wing. Cut 2 wings from the felt. Pin a fabric wing, right side out, to a felt wing and buttonhole stitch around the edge, Figure 3 using the light embroidery floss, to join the pieces. Repeat with the other wing. 7. For the adult bird’s wings, embroider a flower in lazy daisy stitch near the top, using the light embroidery floss. Add a button to the center of the flower to attach each wing to a side of the bird (Figure 2). For the baby bird’s wings, embroider small random straight or seed stitches onto the wing area, using the light embroidery floss. Attach the wings to the sides of the bird with small buttons (Figure 3). 8 Stitch Zakka Egg 1. Use the template to cut 2 eggs from the felt. Decorate 1 piece with a flower in lazy daisy stitch using the dark embroidery floss. Add a circle cut from the craft felt, attached with straight stitches using the light embroidery floss, and a button in the center. Embroider some light and dark seed stitches randomly around the egg. 2. Pin the 2 felt eggs, with the embroidered side out, and sew Figure 4 around the edge in buttonhole stitch using the light embroidery floss. Just before you finish, insert a little stuffing into the egg and continue sewing to close the gap (Figure 4). Wool Felting There’s no big secret to felting wool; it’s more of a happy accident. First you need to find a suitable garment, which needs to be about 80% wool in content. Secondhand is the most economical way to go, so try thrift shops or yard sales, or raid your family’s closets for any woolen sweaters, cardigans, scarves, and so on. To felt the piece, place the item in the washing machine on a warm wash / cool rinse cycle with some detergent and keep your fingers crossed! It doesn’t need to felt very much, just enough to stop the wool from fraying when it’s cut. Bird Family 9