Bird Family Cross-Stitch Pin

Another cross-stitch pin this week! This one has a colorful little family of birds on it. I stitched it on 18-count white Aida with DMC floss: Rose #335, Turquoise #597, Chartreuse #703, Topaz #725, Medium Rose #899, Dark Navy Blue #939, and Light Blue Green #3813. Click here to download and print a copy of the chart.

I design my cross-stitch charts with a software program called Pattern Maker for Cross-Stitch. When I like the way the design looks, I print it out and start stitching. I almost always make adjustments to the designs when I make them for the first time, so I just mark my changes on the hard copy and update the file when I'm finished.

Like the other pins I've featured on my blog, this one uses a setting from the Etsy shop Kailea. I put together this picture tutorial to show you how I mount my embroidery in the settings. First, I iron a small piece of fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the embroidery to stabilize it. Next, I center the back plate over the embroidery and trace around it with disappearing fabric marker. I cut along the line with sharp scissors and place the embroidered fabric piece in the frame and fit the back plate over it. The pin back then fits on top of the back plate, and I use nylon-nose pliers to clamp the prongs over to hold the backing in place.  

Upcycled Tablecloth Sachet

I'm sure we've all "re-gifted" from time to time. You know, passing on a gift you received to someone else--and hoping the original giver doesn't find out. This lavender sachet was a birthday present for my mother, and it's technically a "re-gift" because it's made from a tablecloth my mom cross-stitched more than 50 years ago. I became the owner of the tablecloth when I got married. Over the years, it's yellowed a bit and picked up a few stains and holes. It's been retired from tablecloth duty for awhile, but I've always wanted to find a way to use the pretty fabric. I think this sachet project is perfect--simple, but so pretty. 

You can make one like it from any embroidered linens--tablecloths, pillowcases, or napkins. Let the size of the embroidered motif determine the size of the sachet (this one is 5 1/2" by 6 1/2"). Cut a piece of cotton fabric to the same dimensions for a backing. I ironed a piece of fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the embroidered piece and the backing piece. The interfacing really stabilizes that fabrics and helps them hold their shape. 

I sewed pieces of narrow red rickrack around the flower design to create a frame, but you can use any trims that match your embroidery. 

To assemble the pillow, pin the front and back pieces together--right sides facing--and sew them together, leaving an opening for turning. 

After turning the sachet right side out, fill it with dried lavender or another fragrant filler. Sew the opening closed with matching thread.

The brooch that I pinned to the sachet I made belonged to my grandmother. I think it gives the design a personal touch and just the right amount of sparkle. 

Cinco de Mayo Banner

Cinco de Mayo is next Tuesday, so it's almost time to break out the salsa and margaritas. We've been celebrating the holiday at our house for a few years now with tacos and nachos, but I have to admit, my Mexican decorations were lacking. I made this Cinco de Mayo banner to give our kitchen some fiesta flavor. I wanted the banner to resemble the beautiful cut-paper decorations--called papel picado--used at Mexican celebrations. I made mine from felt so it would be sturdier. My simple flower design isn't nearly as elaborate as real papel picado, but I think it has the same bright and festive look.

To make a banner for your Cinco de Mayo celebration, start with squares of colored felt. I used 3½" squares in rojo, blanco, verde, and amarillo--that's red, white, green, and yellow (I've been learning Spanish with an iPhone app). The flower design is easier to cut out than it looks. First, fold a felt square in quarters and use a sharp scissors to snip off the folded corner. When you open the square, you should have a diamond shape in the center. 

Fold the square in half lengthwise and cut a small petal on each fold above and below the flower center. Open the square, fold it in half in the other direction, and then cut another petal above and below the center hole. When you open the square, there should be four petals around the center. Now fold the square in half diagonally and cut two petals along the fold. Open the square and fold it in half along the other diagonal and cut out two more petals. Open the square and cut around the petals on three sides, leaving about ¼" of felt around the cutouts.

Repeat the process to make as many felt panels as you want and then sew them to a length of decorative trim. Use thread that matches the trim and stitch along the uncut edge of each felt square. My banner has eight flowers on a 1-yard piece of mini pompom trim from Purl Soho. I think the pompoms are the perfect finishing touch for this project, but you can also use rickrack or ribbon. When your banner is finished, display it on a wall or in a window. Mine has been hanging in the kitchen for a few weeks now, waiting for the fiesta to begin. 

I'm sending a special thank you this week to my daughter, Erin! Those are her hands you see in the cutting demo photos.

New Page: Printable Cross-Stitch Charts

If you look at the list of pages above, you'll see something new. I added a page--"Cross-Stitch Charts"--where I've collected the cross-stitch charts that have I've shared on my blog. To download or print a copy of a chart, just go to the Cross-Stitch Charts page and click on the link below the picture. The charts are free, but they are copyrighted and for personal use only.

Enjoy! I'll be adding more charts, so please come back and visit this page to see what's new.