Here is a post I did over at Sugar Bee Crafts a few weeks ago.
I have this hanging in my baby’s room, and I just love love love it. Hope you do too!
Today’s project is a simple portrait with a felt flowers accent.
Before we get started I wanted to say something about the embroidery in this project–I often have people comment that they like a project, but wouldn’t dare attempt it because they are intimidated by the hand-stitching.
I too am often intimidated by some embroidery, but this project is not challenging in the least.
It employs the most basic stitch–the backstitch–which is literally just stitching in a straight line. Here’s a nice video tutorial for embroidering with a backstitch.
If you own a needle, you can complete this project!
Now that that’s out of the way, here’s the how-to.
Supplies:
- Embroidery Hoop (I buy mine second hand, oftentimes with other projects inside, and recycle them)
- Cream-colored linen fabric (mine is a thrifted napkin)
- Quilting pen with disappearing ink
- Needle
- Dark Brown Embroidery Thread
- Various Colors of Felt
- Hot Glue Gun
- Scissors
Step 1: Take linen and a quilting pen. Sketch your portrait. I free-handed mine, but it is also easy to trace an image on fabric. Just bring it up on your computer, tape your fabric to your computer screen, and trace!
Step 2: Using three threads, Stitch the bold outline of your portrait. Use the backstitch for this step.
Step 3: Once again using the backstitch, but only one thread this time, stitch the detailed lines in your portrait. For this step, I added details to her hair.
Step 4: Create your felt flowers. A tutorial for creating the pink roses can be found here, and a tutorial for the yellow followers here. The purple flowers are simply a flat shape.
Step 5: Pull out the hot glue gun. First, glue leaves to the back of the flowers. Then when satisfied with your arrangement, glue down the flowers.
Step 6: Finally, trim the excess material from around the embroidery hoop.
monogram services says
I really liked your post and also enjoyed while reading and watching you post. It is very helpful for people who wants to make embroidery portrait, people can follow the steps which you have shared in this post.
Patricia says
Love ..love…love ….love this!! I cant wait to try it! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Amehlia Digital ® says
Olá Nancy!
Obrigada pela inspiração, eu amei!=}
Que Deus a abençoe juntamente com sua família!
Beijos, Vinni (Brasil)
Post com crédito para seu blog:
http://amehliadigital.blogspot.com.br/2013/07/bordando-com-alma-diy.html
Natalie R says
Nancy, this is so so sweet… just lovely!!! I’ve been doing a tiny bit of embroidery, mainly for stuffed animal faces, and it is not easy. You are quite talented!
Natalie
Two Shades of Pink says
I absolutely love this so very very much! I would love to make one of each for my girls. So inspiring. So glad to pop in and meet you! 🙂
circusberry says
Visiting from Yesterday on Tuesday. I adore this! I am thinking something like this would look darling in my daughter’s room. Just gorgeous!
Anne @ circusberry.wordpress.com
April says
LOVE this-so beautiful! I am not sure I trust in my drawing abilities enough to try it though-haha. I will just admire your work.
Jenn AJennuineLife says
This is so pretty! I do a little embroidery, but nothing like this. I would love it if you dropped by and linked this up at Thrifty to Nifty Thursdays at A Jennuine Life http://www.ajennuinelife.com/2013/04/thrifty-to-nifty-thursdays-15.html
Peggy Hale says
HI Nancy!
I absolutely love this! I would love for you to share at Transformed Tuesday. http://pjhdesignsoneofakind.blogspot.com/2013/04/transformed-tuesday-33-features.html
I’m a new follower and I hope you have time to stop by.
Hugs,
Peggy~PJH Designs
Lauren says
This is beautiful! It makes me want to pick up embroidery. The felt flowers are the perfect way to top it off! Great job.
I’d be thrilled if you’d link up at this week’s Off the Hook!
the cape on the corner says
super super cute. the flowers make it.
Amy of While Wearing Heels says
This is BEAUTIFUL. The portrait is so simple but so perfect. The embellishment of the flowers is the sweetest touch. I absolutely love every detail.
Tina says
way too cute – thanks for sharing – I think this will be next on my list to try and embroider…
Laurie@SimplyCreatingHome says
What a darling embroidery design! I’ve not spent much time with embroidery, but you make it look easy, fun, and pretty!
Krissy says
I love this and found you on Sumo’s Sweet Stuff. I have been teaching myself embroidery and I am so intimidated thinking of trying anything other than text… but now I want to try this out! Thanks for the tutorial and the wonderful idea!
cURioSItaELlyA says
How pretty this is….I would like to try it for myself as I love embroidery very much!
Thanks for sharing.
http://curiositaellya.blogspot.com/
Leigh Anne Wilkes says
i fell in love with this on Pinterest! So darling.I’d love for you to share over at Finding the Pretty & Delicious Linky Party. It opens ever Saturday morning. Leigh Anne
http://www.yourhomebasedmom.com/finding-the-pretty-delicious-linky-party-11/
Jess @ Spool and Spoon says
Just stopped by to admire this and the watercolor portrait. Not sure why you would say that you aren’t artistic because both are fabulous! I’m your newest follower!! xx Jess
Heather Kaluf says
This is absolutely adorable!!! The flowers add great detail to it. 🙂
I just wanted to invite you our new link party >> Circle of Faith, it is held every Sunday and today is the first link party! We have no rules and you can link up as many and whatever you want from your blog 🙂
http://www.heatherlyloves.com/2013/04/welcome-circle-of-faith-link-party-1.html
Hope to see you there!
xoxo
Heather
Ana Lopes says
Super Adorable! Love all details!Thanks for sharing great tutorial!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Hugs from Portugal,
Ana Love Craft
http://www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com
Val @ Home Made Modern says
This is so beautifully done. Love it!
L.A. says
Super cute. I love how this looks and I’m inspired to add 3-D elements to my embroidery. Check out some of my latest hoop projects
http://westcoastleslie.blogspot.ca/2013/03/mini-hoop-art.html
buttons says
This is super cute! I’ve just dusted off my old embroidery supplies, and this looks like a simple but beautiful project for my daughter’s room. Maybe she can even help me with the portrait for something we can do together! Thanks for the inspiration!
Cheers!
Buttons
The Hot Toddies of Washington
Melissa @ LoveBugLiving says
Too cute! I know I did some embroidery as a kid. I may have to try another project now!
Melissa
http://www.lovebugliving.com
Leslie McCain says
Would love for you to showcase this at my link party for All Things Pretty at http://myfashionforwardblog.com
Ruth Cartwright says
Very cute. Well done.
http://craftwithcartwright.blogspot.co.uk/
Theresa says
So pretty! Found you via a hop. I hope you get a chance to drop by I have a weekly link up too. Come share sometime if you like. Visiting from DearCreatives.com
emilyandtylerglover says
That is so cute! I did my first project with felt flowers and they turned out pretty good and made for cute decorations on a yarn wreath!
http://emilyandtylerglover.wordpress.com/2013/03/31/spring-yarn-wreath/
Adrianne at Happy Hour Projects says
So pretty, Nancy! I love how artistic your crafts are!
Sabrina says
So cute Nancy!!! I have to make one now!
AMummys Life says
That is so nice and simple!
kelly thompson says
LOVE this~!
Chris says
Oh my gosh, Nancy, adorable!
AmieAnn says
I just adore this! Such a beautiful embroidery and I love the felt flower addition.
xoxo
Amie @ Pinkapotamus
kassondra taylor says
this is so cute! and the flowers make a perfect touch.