Hallelujah! I actually managed to finish embroidering another little project! It’s one of those loose ends I wanted to tie up before moving on to something a little more challenging.
I’ve been aching to get on with an embroidery design I’ve been playing with! So with that as my motivation, I finished up the pillowcase edge that I showed you a few weeks ago. I think I might call this one “Spring Dreams.” Of course, it doesn’t have to be a pillow case edge – it can be an anything edge. Or just for fun.
Down the road a bit, I’m going to put this design together in one nice tidy package with a couple other linear floral designs of similar ilk.
But in the meantime, I wanted to share the finish just to spread a little color and sunshine!
And no, it’s not quite entirely Spring here in the Midwest – hence, the fuzzy blanket in the background.
I should have put the pillow against crisp white sheets on a sun-drenched bed with a soft breeze blowing in a delicately curtained window, but… rain. Snow. Wind. Cold. You see the problem.
I made the pillowcase using a four inch strip of colored quilting cotton for the edge. Turned and sewn on, this ended up being a 1.5″ strip of color at the opening of the pillow case. For the body, I used white kona cotton.
All the stitching is done with regular stranded cotton in colors that (more or less) coordinate with the fabric edge.
I’m still not quite convinced the grassy edge is essential – I debated this in a previous article about this project – but I do like the Palestrina stitch base to the design, even if the grass is a bit shaggy.
Overall, it grew on me as the project progressed. I don’t mind it so much now.
My favorite flowers in the design are still these guys.
Padded buttonhole stitch alternating with straight stitches makes a nice, finished central ring.
For this one, it’s raised stem stitch.
And I love the little satin stitch petals. I’m a huge fan of satin stitch in general, but little nuggets of satin stitch like these always make my heart sing!
With a design like this – that’s really very basic – the fun part comes from mixing up textures and stitches.
Satin stitch showed up quite a bit, creating smooth surfaces to many petals.
The knotted centers and the different textured lines for stems and leaves bring additional interest to the finished design.
The variety in line stitches makes the design super fun to stitch!
Overall, Spring Dreams was a very relaxing project. It was straightforward, easy embroidery. And the icing on the cake? No finishing! I liked working on the already-made pillow case, knowing that, once the embroidery was done, the project was complete!
I hope you have a terrific weekend with plenty of time to bond with your needle and thread!
I love the padded buttonhole flower. I am not quite sure how you achieved the padding? Are there stitches underneath the buttonhole and straight stitches that make them ‘poof’ up?
Oh yes, the grass is essential, otherwise the cheery flowers would get cold feet in all that rain and snow and wind, and they wouldn’t be cheery anymore. I like it.
Same weather here, by the way. It’s a bit vexing, because it hinders me from taking pics of my ongoing projects.
Angela from the Ore Mountains
I love it! It is so cheery. I’ve been thinking about embroidering a pillowcase or two. Maybe this will be the kick I need to do it.
In the ‘For What It’s Worth’ column — I love the grass!!!! I love everything about this project. Have a wonderful weekend.
Beautiful! I love how colorful and bright it is. I know you are thinking spring, but that is going to sail right into summer. I is inspiring me to embroidery some pillow cases. I have been thinking that I needed some new ones.
I love it! I’m imagining all the other places it would look sweet, like around the hem of a little dress for my 6-year-old granddaughter, who loves a floaty skirt.
Anyway, grass IS shaggy, I think that might be my favorite part 🙂
Looking forward to that “nice tidy package,” and hoping you’re feeling well and ready to enjoy a slightly less wintry weekend,
Susan
Contemporary and Cheerful!
Dear Mary
What a lovely design Spring Dreams is and a perfect name for a pillow case and beautifully stitched and I love the grass it enhances the embroidery. My favourite is the padded buttonhole stitch with straight stitches beautiful and I like the satin stitch petals. I bet you can’t wait to see it displayed Thanks for sharing with us your completed pillow case and for the lovely photos. I hope you have a really springy weekend.
Regards Anita Simmance
I like the padded buttonhole, too! I think I’m going to have to make use of it in my next project as well! LOL!
Mary, I love the grass line!
Hi Mary,
This is such a cheery project!
How did you manage to achieve perfection on your image, as well as get such a crisp transfer on your cotton? I always have trouble with this part.
Thanks. Have a great spring/summer. ☀️
Hi, Colleen – I ironed the design on with my own iron on.
For folks who are looking for an affordable and easy method of creating their own iron on transfers at home, I suggest Sublime Stitching’s fine tipped iron on transfer pen. Test it first, to make sure you’ll be able to cover the lines completely, because it doesn’t wash out.
I think it needed the grass and benefits from being grounded by it.
The fabric is a perfect complement to the embroidery. Did you buy it to match, or design the embroidery with the fabric in mind…?
Hi, Renee – I designed the embroidery with the fabric in mind, because I already had the strip of fabric. 🙂
I can’t wait to try this design too! *eyes peeled* I love it! Thanks for sharing!
Stay off the grass, we love it. Unless you live on a golf green, grass is shaggy! Now tell us what fabric to buy so we make our copycat pillowcases.
Very pretty and cheerful. Love it!