Winter Pursuits- Embroidery

My favourite winter sports include reading, cooking, getting outside and doing a bit of sewing. None of these will incur injury or require extensive travel insurance. Recently I have been really enjoying learning very simple embroidery. It’s a great winter sport because it doesn’t require a lot of stuff and you can do it on the train or in front of the telly. I also find embroidery very soothing and satisfying.

For our Christmas table I embroidered everyone a napkin with their name on it. I didn’t use a particular script, I just used a heat erasable fabric pen and wrote their names on the fabric in my own handwriting. Below I will detail the very simple equipment and method that I used in order to create something that was a little imperfect but special and personal.

Time to get your mob cap on and start an embroidery project before Mr D’arcy arrives. Maybe you can fit in some harpsichord and singing practice if you have time?

Happy January

Sophie xxx

Equipment

Heat Erasable Fabric Pen

Embroidery Hoop

Embroidery Threads (I prefer Anchor)

Method

1. Place your embroidery hoop loosely over the napkin or fabric. Decide where you would like to write (ensuring that there is enough room).

2. Using your heat erasable pen write your name onto the fabric, If you make an error it doesn’t matter as you can remove the ink with an iron and rewrite,

3. Secure the hoop over the fabric. Cut your embroidery thread and split the thread so that you remove one of the little strands (you should have x5 strands total).

4. Make a straight stitch at the top of your first letter leaving a little tail of thread that you can knot later.

5. Continue around all your letters using back stitch.

6. To finish your name go to the back of your work and tuck your needle under some of the thread from a previous stitch. Pull it through - but leave a loop. Pass your needle through the loop to create a small knot. Make sure you go back to the loose thread at the beginning of your first letter and tie off in the same way.

Write your name with a heat erasable marker.

Start your work with as straight stitch and go around all the letters using back stitch.

Handmade napkins make a special gift and create a gorgeously personal table setting.

Napkins shown in Rose Gingham and Florence (in stock).

A very sheepish hello

I am writing this blog with my tail between my legs. Five years ago I scoffed at social media, laughed at the premise of blogging, thinking what kind of crazy narcissist documents their every move like a reality TV show?  And yet here I am with a full bevy of Social Media accounts embarking on my first blog, feeling very sheepish. 

The truth is this funny old life is quite tricky to navigate and I find great solidarity in sharing ideas with others.  So this is my chance to write about the little things that cheer me. This may sound incredibly shallow but lovely things,  people and places have always got me through. Whether its a great writer. an amazing chocolate cake, a nice thing you can do with your kids or a cool little independent shop, it's about the small light hearted non essentials that keep us ticking over. FEAR not, there won't be sanctimonious life goals nor details of the minutiae of parenting. Essentially its going to be rainbow sprinkles for grownups and I hope that you will join the conversation and let me know what gives you a little spring in your step.

Sophie xxxxx