Cerulean Petals

Mandalas to Embroider

Posted by Search Press

About

This design has been inspired by how the morning light catches on the sempervivums in my garden. It highlights the shape of the petals, nature’s own mandala. Some of the petals have been left unadorned so there is room to add more stitches if you like.

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You Will Need (2 things)

  • Needle
  • Thread

Steps (12 steps, 240 minutes)

  1. 1

    Stitching suggestions ...
    Work the chain stitch sections first, then add the back stitch sections. Finish with lazy daisy, pistil and star stitches.

  2. 2

    Chain stitch

    Bring the needle up at A and back down at B, securing a small loop with your thumb.

  3. 3

    Bring the needle up at C, so that the needle is on top of the thread. Pull the thread tight to form the first ‘link’ in the chain.

  4. 4

    Make as many stitches as required, making sure they are a consistent in shape and size. Finish the last chain with a small straight stitch.

  5. 5

    Back stitch

    Bring your needle up through the fabric at A, insert your needle into the fabric at B, then along and up again at C.

  6. 6

    Take the needle back to B (D), then bring the needle up at E. The gap should be the size of the stitch. Continue to work this way, making sure the stitches are a consistent length. When you nish, thread your needle through the stitches on the wrong side of the fabric.

  7. 7

    Lazy daisy

    Bring your needle up through the fabric at A and insert it at B, as close to A as possible. Pull the thread gently to make a loop.

  8. 8

    Insert the needle at D – make sure you pass the thread over the loop.

  9. 9

    Make as many stitches as required, sewing them close together in a circle to form a flower.

  10. 10

    Bring the thread through the fabric at A. Holding the thread between your thumb and finger, wrap it around the needle two or three times.

  11. 11

    Keeping a good tension of the thread, take the needle down through B and pull the thread through to form a knot with a ‘tail’.

  12. 12

    Star Stitch

    Pull the needle up at A, insert it at B, bring the needle up at C and insert at D to make a flattened cross. Then pull the needle up at E and insert at F to complete the star.