Have you been contemplating a new project to kick of 2019, but you weren’t quite sure what to stitch?
Well, today, I’m sharing a hand embroidery pattern that I call Feathered Fourths. It’s a design based on a repeat of four, and it features some stylized peacock feathers in each repeat.
I’ll tell you a little about the design and what I originally planned to do with it, too, which might give you some ideas for stitching it!
When I first started doodling Feathered Fourths, I was imagining a design worked in peacock colors. I wanted a little bit of a “masquerade” mask effect (I was going to call the design Masquerade initially, but the look didn’t come across by the time I finished doodling!). The center bit with the squared lattice lines started out as a mask shape, but things just sort of evolved away from that.
By using both metallics and coordinating silks in the design, I envisioned using the design to demonstrate different ways that shaded effects could be achieved with metallics.
I’ve not had the chance to stitch the design (yet) – and who knows? I might never get a chance! But in the meantime, I thought I’d pass it along to you. It’s been sitting on the burner for too long. It deserves some attention!
Of course, the pattern could be stitched with different approaches. You might take a glance at it and envision something entirely different!
Free Hand Embroidery Design – Printable PDF
Here’s the free design for you. If you choose no scaling when you print, it should print about 6″ square.
Feathered Fourths: Free Hand Embroidery Design (PDF)
I hope you enjoy it! And I hope this first month of the New Year has been going along splendidly for you so far!
Looking for More?
If you’d like to browse through other free hand embroidery patterns, you’ll find many available in my hand embroidery patterns index here on Needle ‘n Thread.
If you enjoy kaleidoscope designs for stitching, why not take a look at my e-book, Favorite Kaleidoscopes, which offers over 30 kaleidoscope designs for hand embroidery, ranging from simple to complex, from small to large? You’ll find it available here!
Dear Mary
The Feathered Fourths design is lovely my favourite piece of the design is the square lattice in the centre. I agree you can use different approaches on this the pattern would make a lovely centre piece. Thanks for sharing the free pattern with us and for the links to your embroidery free patterns index.
Regards Anita Simmance
Very pretty Mary. Just may have to try and give this one a go if I could somehow get it printed… Just wanted to drop by and say “thinking of you” every day and your mom. Hoping that things are looking up by now. I lost both my parents this past year (2018) and know how difficult it is watching and caring for them during difficult times. My dad lived with us for 5+ yrs. House felt empty for some time after he passed and it felt really “empty” during the holidays. I continue to keep you and your family in my prayers. Hugs from Ark.
Beautiful design – thank you for sharing it freely with us!!
Happy New Year! I hope this finds your mom in better health. Nothing but good health for you in the new year
Thank you for another lovely design!
That is such a pretty square Mary – so many possibilities….
I know the feeling of having more designs lined up than you can possibly fit in. What a fabulous idea of passing them on and to see what others make of them.
Anna
Happy, healthy and meaningful 2019! I’m so sorry to hear your Mum is not well, I will say some prayers for her. I have been following you for years and just want to wish to good health this year and eagerly await your posts.
Cheers from Helen in Queensland, Australia
Thank you Mary. It’s beautiful.
Thank you. I might try this one. It looks a little intimidating. I could use only half of it or something like that.