Pumpkins & Leaves 12 Months of Embroidery

12 Months of Embroidery October - Pumpkins & Leaves 12 Months of Embroidery

Welcome to the 12 months of Embroidery! This is the eighth month of the 2020 stitch-along. With 12 nature-themed patterns, this virtual stitch-along promises to deliver a full year of stitching and learning new skills!

October - Pumpkins & Leaves + Blanket Stitch

The ninth installment of the 12 months of Embroidery series features a collection of various shaped pumpkins, fall leaves, dried pods, and a sunny sunﬂower!

The focus this month is on Blanket stitch. As one of the oldest embroidery stitches, it has traditionally been used to ﬁnish the edge of blankets, but the truth is that it’s useful for so much more! It can be worked in straight rows, around curves, doubled up, crossed, and even turned into whimsical pinwheels.

This pattern uses four variations of blanket stitch. Long & short blanket stitch for two of the pumpkins, blanket scallops for the third pumpkin, crossed blanket for the pumpkin stems, and blanket pinwheel for the dried pods. You will ﬁnd lessons for all these stitches in the following tutorials: https://www.wanderingthreadsembroidery.com/blanket-stitch-embroidery- tutorial-6-variations/ https://www.wanderingthreadsembroidery.com/blanket-pinwheel-embroidery- tutorial/

Tutorials & How-To

Below you will find a comprehensive guide for completing this pattern. I have covered materials, pattern transfer, hoop finishing & framing, stitch tutorials, and floss color suggestions. Much of this information can also be found on my website in a longer format. Simply visit WanderingThreadsEmbroidery.com and click on the Stitch Tutorials or How To buttons on the top menu.

The stitches used in this pattern are: Long & Short Blanket, Crossed Blanket, Blanket Scallops, Blanket Pinwheel, Split, Stem, Rope, French Knot, & Whipped Back Materials List

• Fabric: Size - For framing in the hoop use a square approximately 10” x 10”. If framing in a wooden frame or stitching the pattern collection into a wall hanging, use a square approximately 12” x 12” to ensure you have enough extra fabric for folding and hemming.

Weight - A medium weave fabric such as a cotton, muslin, ﬂour sack, or a linen blend is the easiest for stitching. However, a slightly thicker fabric can be a great choice if you are planning to frame your embroidery.

Color - Light or dark fabric are both suitable for this pattern. If using the suggested thread colors, keep in mind that they were chosen for a light colored fabric and you may need to make changes when using a darker fabric.

• Embroidery Hoop: Size 7 or 8-inch

• Embroidery Needle: Size 7 or 9

• Water Soluble Pen or other items for pattern transfer: (See the Pattern Transfer Instructions)

• Small Scissors

• 922, 3051, 407, 972, 3822, 3031, 355, 783, 3802 *These are the suggested colors shown in the stitched example. Please feel free to choose your own colors!

•Felt or Wooden Frame for ﬁnishing the embroidery: (See How to Finish Embroidery) Embroidery Pattern Transfer Instructions

Light Table/ Window: Dressmaker’s Transfer Paper: Place the pattern on a light table or Transfer Paper can be found at tape it to a bright window. Position many fabric or craft stores. It is the fabric on top and secure in place. coated on one side with a powdery Trace the pattern onto the fabric ink that will wash out of the fabric. using a water erasable transfer pen. Transfer paper comes in both light The markings from this pen will remain and dark colors. until washed gently with water. To use, secure your fabric to a *Pro tip: A computer or tablet screen flat, hard surface, cover with a makes a great light box! Simply open piece of transfer paper (powder this PDF on your computer, tape the side down) and place the printed fabric over the pattern on the screen, and trace it using the transfer pen. No pattern on top. Trace the pattern printer needed! using a pencil, fine tipped pen, or stylus. Press very firmly and make Iron On Transfer Pencil or Pen: sure the paper does not move. Iron on transfer pens and pencils can be found at most fabric/sewing This is the best method for stores. First, print the REVERSE IMAGE transferring patterns to a dark pattern. Trace the pattern with the fabric. A white or yellow transfer iron on pencil or pen. Place the traced paper will show up nicely on dark pattern on an iron-safe surface and fabric. secure the fabric on top. Press a hot iron on the fabric for 5-10 seconds. *Pro Tip: The transfer lines from Do not move the iron around. Gently this paper fades fast. After 24 lift an edge of the fabric to check that hours you will only see faint lines. the design has transferred before For best results, transfer a small removing the fabric. portion of the pattern, stitch, then repeat the transfer process for a *This method will leave permanent different section of the pattern marks that need to be covered with until finished. embroidery or they will show on the finished piece. How to Finish Embroidery: Two Methods

Frame in the Hoop In a Wooden Frame

1. Using the inner ring of an 1. Cut a piece of foam board to fit the inside embroidery hoop, trace a circle on dimensions of your frame. a piece of felt and cut it out. 2. Position the foam board in the center of 2. Place the finished embroidery in your embroidery piece. Make sure it's the hoop, stretch it smooth and straight! Flip over so the fabric is on the tighten the screw. Trim the excess bottom. Starting with the long sides, fold fabric around the edges roughly an the extra fabric into the center. If necessary, inch wider than the hoop. trim the fabric to leave a roughly 1-4” space in between. Pull the fabric tight and secure 3. Cut off a long piece of sewing with long pins. thread. Make sure it’s long enough to stitch all the way around the 3. Repeat this process on the short sides. If circle. Leaving a 4-5-inch tail at the the corners are bunching, fold them on a beginning, stitch around the edge diagonal and trim a bit. The finished fabric- with Running Stitch. wrapped foam board needs to fit snuggly inside the frame so try your best to avoid 4. When you’ve stitched all the bulky corners. way around, grasp both ends of the thread and pull until the fabric 4. Secure the fabric using a simple lacing gathers together. Tie a knot and technique. Fold the extra fabric from the cut off the excess thread. short sides out of the way. Insert a needle with a long strand of thread about a 1/4- 5. Position the felt circle over the inch from the edge of the fabric and weave back and sew it into place with a back and forth while pulling the fabric tight. whip stitch. Tie off the thread at the end and start a new piece. Finish the lacing by folding the 6. Continue sewing all the way fabric from the short sides into the middle around and tie off the thread. and lacing it together.

View step by-step photo tutorials 5. Remove the pins and place the for both framing methods on: embroidery board inside the frame. wanderingthreadsembroidery.com 6. Replace the frame backing, ﬂip it over, and admire your handiwork! Full Size Design Fits 7 or 8-Inch Hoop

For personal use only. Please do not distribute or sell. Reverse Image for Iron-On Transfer

Fits 7 or 8-Inch Hoop

For personal use only. Please do not distribute or sell. Color & Stitch Guide

Need help with embroidery stitches? Step-by-step tutorials for all the stitches used in this pattern can be found by visiting: WanderingThreadsEmbroidery.com/embroidery-stitch-tutorials

Large Round Pumpkin: Step 1: Pumpkin Outline & Veins Color - DMC 922 Stitch - Blanket Scallops, 3 strands *Go to the Blanket Stitch Tutorial for step-by- step instructions (see link on page 2)

Step 2: Pumpkin Stem Color - DMC 3031 Stitch - Crossed Blanket, 2 strands * Rotate the pattern so the stem is horizontal. Start the crossed blanket stitch on the left side at the top of the stem. Continue to the end of the stem. Finish the bottom of the stem w/ long back stitches that match the length of the blanket stitch on the top side.

For personal use only. Please do not distribute or sell. Step 1: Pumpkin Outline & Veins Tall Pumpkin: Color - DMC 3051 Stitch - Long & Short Blanket, 3 strands *Rotate the pattern so the pumpkin is horizontal. Start the blanket stitch on the left side at the top of the pumpkin outline (Row 1). Vary the stitches in length to create the long & short look.

End the thread, move to the line below (Row 2), and following the steps above, ﬁll with blanket Row 1 stitch. Repeat for row 3.

Finish the bottom of the pumpkin

Row 2 Row 3 (Row 4) with back stitches that

Row 4 match the length of the blanket stitch on the top side.

Step 2: Pumpkin Stem Color - DMC 3031 Stitch - Crossed Blanket * See instructions on previous page Short Pumpkin: Step 1: Pumpkin Outline & Veins Color - DMC 407 Stitch - Long & Short Blanket, 3 strands *Follow the instructions above EXCEPT start the blanket stitch on the right side of the pumpkin so the stitches face the opposite direction

Step 2: Pumpkin Stem Color - DMC 3031 Stitch - Crossed Blanket * See instructions on previous page For personal use only. Please do not distribute or sell. Sunﬂower:

Step 1: Inner Circle Step 2: Sunﬂower Seeds Color - DMC 972 Color - DMC 3031 Stitch - Split, 3 strands Stitch - French Knot, 3 strands, Wrap 2x

Step 3: Sunﬂower Petals (inner) Color - DMC 972 Stitch - Stem, 3 strands

Step 4: Sunﬂower Petals (outer) Color - DMC 3822 Stitch - Stem, 2 strands

Ash Leaves:

Step 1: Leaf Outline Color - DMC 355 Stitch - Split, 3 strands

Step 2: Leaf Veins Color - DMC 355 & 783 Stitch - Whipped Back, 3 & 2 strands *3 Strands of #355 Back Stitch whipped w/ 2 strands of #783

For personal use only. Please do not distribute or sell. Oak Leaves:

Step 1: Leaf Outline Color - DMC 3802 Stitch - Split, 3 strands

Step 2: Leaf Veins Color - DMC 3802 & 783 Stitch - Whipped Back, 3 & 2 strands *3 Strands of #3802 Back Stitch whipped w/ 2 strands of #783

Dried Pods:

Step 1: Pods Color - DMC 783 Stitch - Blanket Pinwheel, 3 strands

Step 2: Pod Stems Color - DMC 3051 Stitch - Rope, 2 strands

Optional Text: October Text: Color - DMC 3802 Stitch - Stem, 3 strands

For personal use only. Please do not distribute or sell. Want to stitch more while waiting for next month’s pattern?

You are in luck! Visit www.wanderingthreadsembroidery.com to view the full line of downloadable embroidery patterns.

• Botanical Patterns • National Park Patterns • 50 Unique Patterns for Each of the 50 U.S States • 50 U.S. State Flower Patterns • The Vintage Trailer Pattern Collection • U.S & Canada Travel Map Patterns • Holiday Patterns including Christmas Ornaments

In addition to patterns, you will also ﬁnd a full line of embroidery resources to teach and inspire:

• Step-by-Step Embroidery Stitch Tutorials • FREE Patterns! • How-To Tutorials Including Framing, Finishing, Embroidery Letters, and More!

Questions or comments? Send me an email at: [email protected]

I would love to see your ﬁnished pieces! You can ﬁnd me on Instagram at www.instragram.com/wanderingthreadsembroidery or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wanderingthreadsembroidery.

Thanks so much for joining the 12 Months of Embroidery and happy stitching!

~Amanda