PLANT QUARTET PROJECT IDEAS for Patterns + PEEL.STICK.STITCH. Packs
Something beautiful is growing…
While PEEL.STICK.STITCH. packs are all about you and your creativity, this is the place to be if you need a little extra guidance or project inspiration! This page will continue to evolve as Sarah dreams up new applications for these designs!
Project Idea: stretched ‘canvas’ artwork
Use your PEEL.STICK.STITCH. pack to create a new artwork for your wall! Despite its title, you can use any fabric you like with painting or needlepoint stretcher bars, not just canvas.
suggested materials:
Your favorite pre-washed fabric cut to at least 12 x 14 inches. I used a piece of mystery material picked up years ago at an estate sale—that craft room was a wild treasure trove.
Two 8-inch wooden stretcher bars
Two 10-inch wooden stretcher bars. Painting or needlepoint stretchers both work well.
Staple gun and staples
Needle(s). Size 5 embroidery needle or size 20 chenille needle are both great options.
Scissors for fabric and thread
Hot water for rinsing away excess stabilizer
suggested colors:
DMC Embroidery Floss: 20 (light neon pink), 316 (lilac), 368 (sage), 500 (dark green), 518 (blue), 561 (blue-green), 581 (apple-green), 733 (citron), 817 (red), 900 (orange), 918 (brown-orange), 920 (burnt orange), 976 (light orange), 991 (teal), 993 (light teal), 3064 (dusty rose), 3777 (maroon)
method:
Assemble your stretcher bars and stretch your fabric. Make sure your fabric is pre-washed and ironed for best results.
Peel the backing off of your Plant Quartet transfer sheet and position it in the center of your stretched fabric. Make sure none of the design is directly overlapping the wooden stretcher bars under the fabric. If you hold the ‘canvas’ up to a bright window, you should be able to see where those edges are and reposition the pattern if necessary.
Thread your needle with three strands of embroidery floss and start stitching! Use whipped backstitch to create the curved outlines of each leaf, the stems, and the outlines of the planters. Need a refresher on stitch techniques? Find an illustrated stitch glossary here!
Add a little extra textural flair with colonial or French knots in the center of the round leaves. And use tiny, simple back stitches to make the pattern on the planter in the lower left-hand corner.
Use long straight stitched to add the linear patterns on the top two plants.
Rinse off excess stabilizer using hot water and let dry. Hang directly on the wall or pop your new artwork into a frame for display!
tips:
This project also fits well into 9-inch to 12-inch embroidery hoops if you’d rather not stretch fabric over a wooden frame.
Whether you stretch your fabric first and then stitch, or stitch and then stretch (both are valid), you’ll get the best results if your fabric is tight like a drum.
It’s ok if your stretcher bars get wet when rinsing away the stabilizer, but extended soaking and full saturation of the wood can lead to warping.
These are all just recommendations! Allow yourself the freedom to explore and experiment and take a break if you aren’t having fun.
