FRENCH PRESS PROJECT IDEAS for Patterns + PEEL.STICK.STITCH. Packs
BREW UP SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL…
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:
Pre-washed Robert Kaufman Essex Speckle Yarn Linen and a piece of muslin, each cut to at least 12 x 14 inches (or any fabric you like!)
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: 606 (red), 733 (citron), 502 (green), 938 (brown), 415 (blue-gray—all plungers), 927 (light blue—all glass)
DMC Size 8 Perle Cotton: 310 (black outline)
method:
Assemble your stretcher bars and stretch your muslin fabric. Then, stretch your linen on top of the muslin. Make sure both fabrics are pre-washed and ironed for best results. The linen shown in this example projects lets a lot of light through. Without the double layer of cloth, the stretcher bars are very visible.
Peel the backing off of your French Press pattern 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 use whipped backstitch for the French press plungers and extra thin handles. Need a refresher on stitch techniques? Find an illustrated stitch glossary here!
Fill each french press with vertical satin stitch and coffee areas with horizontal stitches using your selected color of embroidery floss.
After your satin stitch is complete, outline each shape using perle cotton and the couching technique.
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 a 9-inch embroidery hoop 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.
project idea: Coffee tote bag
Mix and match coffee patterns from the French Press and Percolators PEEL.STICK.STITCH. packs to spruce up your favorite tote.
suggested materials:
PEEL.STICK.STITCH. Percolators and French Press Packs (1 pack of each)
A cotton or canvas tote bag
Scissors for trimming pattern sheets and thread
Hot water for rinsing away excess stabilizer
9 inch embroidery hoop (optional)
Needle(s) — Size 5 embroidery needles or size 20 chenille needles are great sharp options for backstitch. You might also want a size 20 tapestry needle for whipped backstitch.
suggested colors:
DMC Size 8 Perle Cotton: 310
Really, this project can be completed using any of your favorite fibers or colors as long as they are colorfast!
suggested stitches:
Backstitch
If you’re feeling fancy, whipped backstitch makes a really nice continuous line.
method:
Cut out vertical columns of designs from the Percolator and French Press packs.
Layout your coffee pattern by alternating Percolator and French Press columns. Peel off the backing and press the sticky side of the stabilizer firmly and evenly onto your bag.
If using a hoop, position the inner circle inside the tote bag and press the outer piece down around the pattern and gently stretch the fabric taut. Unlike a hoop art piece, you do not need the surface to be drum tight. In this instance, the hoop is there just to make it a little easier to hold the fabric while you stitch.
Thread your needle and knot one end leaving the other end loose. Begin stitching from the inside of the bag. Follow the lines of the patterns with small backstitches. Whip the backstitch if you’d like. If you need them, you can find stitch diagrams here.
Rinse the excess stabilizer away using hot water once you have completed all the line work.
Let it dry, load it with your stuff, and show off your work while you’re out and about!
Tips:
Tapestry needles have blunt tips making them ideal for whipped stitches. The dull end is less likely to snag in the stabilizer or split your thread.
If whipping your backstitch, bring your needle from the inside to the outside of a curve for a smoother line.
To conserve water, you can soak your tote bag in a bowl of hot water to dissolve the stabilizer. You might need to use your fingernail to scratch away stubborn bits in corners. You can also toss your bag into the washing machine, which will also dissolve the stabilizer.
Since this embroidery will live outside of a hoop, keep your stitches on the shorter side so they don’t get distorted.
You can use this project idea as a guide for any combination of peel and stick patterns and motif placements.
