DIY EMBROIDERED WALL ART.
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DIY Embroidered Wall Art.
Embroidery is back in a big way and I couldn't be more thrilled. As I'm a big fan of creating your own wall art I couldn't wait to combine the two and make some unique textile art for my home.
It's been years since I last picked up a needle and thread so I wanted to start with something relatively simple. While I was scouring the internet for a simple pattern I could try my hand at I came across the 1000 Patterns Project by the clever people at DMC.
It's a free collection of cross-stitch and embroidery patterns for you to download and enjoy. Every Sunday more exclusive designs are added to the collection.
The last time I checked they were up to a pretty impressive 320 designs and I think I fell in love with every single one. For this project, I chose the geometric Fractuals pattern and I couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out.
Supplies:
Medium-weight cotton or linen
An Iron, Printer
Scissors
And a Staple Gun.
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How to make Embroidered Art.
1. To begin with, I downloaded the pdf and printed it out. The pdf contains all the information you need like what colour threads and stitches to use but I decided to use it only as a guide.
I think the great thing about embroidery is that you can really make it your own. I decided I wanted to create some texture by stitching on certain parts and leaving others flat.
2. I printed out the coloured design onto a piece of iron-on photo transfer paper and ironed it onto some fabric. I used some linen material I already had but a medium-weight cotton will work just as well.
3. Using the design as a guide I used the satin stitch to fill in my chosen areas. If you're unsure about what a satin stitch is you can check out this helpful tutorial.
The good thing about having the design already printed in colour is any little gaps or mistakes can be easily disguised. Perfect if you're a beginner or like me, a bit out of practice.
4. To finish my embroidery I used a simple cross stitch and running stitch to fill in the patterned areas.
5. I removed it from the embroidery hoop and ironed out any creases making sure not to catch any of the printed design.
6. To display my embroidery I bought a small 6x6 inch square canvas from my local craft shop and wrapped my finished piece around it.
To get a nice flat finish you want to begin by stapling the middle of each side. Pull the fabric firmly but not too tight as you don't want to warp the design. Continue stapling from the inside out leaving a gap at each corner.
This next bit can be a bit tricky but try to fold your corners in as neatly as possible. I like to fold one side of the corner in first and then fold the other side on top to form a triangle underneath, similar to folding in the ends when wrapping a gift.
7. To finish trim away any excess fabric and hang.
What do you think? I love the colour and texture it's added to my living room. Do you see any embroidered wall art in your future?
P.S. Don't forget to visit the 1000 Patterns Project for more free embroidery patterns. It's growing all the time and is a fantastic resource.
