INTRODUCTION

Believe it or not, here is another book on stitching flowers. After hundreds of years in which stitchers have followed their own creative urges and used all the information available, what else could there possibly be that that has not already been created? Some new ways to interpret flowers in stitches are here for you to enjoy and to make your own. As I browse the latest books of textile creativity, I admire the vision and ingenuity but, I like to have a needle and thread in my hand and to stitch on fabric.

This started many years ago when I had the traditional English song, In an English Country Garden, on my brain. I found some green/turquoise linen-type fabric, delved into my stash of threads, got out my antique 36" standing frame and started stitching. This garden grew with abandon and, as I mulled over how to interpret the various flowers, new ways of stitching them emerged. The size of it meant that it was a lot of work but it was worth every hour of both stitching and reverse stitching. As a completed piece, it has won prizes and been exhibited in Canada and the U.S.A. It fascinates viewers when displayed with the lyrics of the song; they search for and find all the elements of the song. An extra that is not in the song is the Fenwick Frog. Can you find it?

Which brings us to now. Retirement has given me time to develop the concepts started with the English Country Garden into a wider and more organized body of knowledge. My students have proved to themselves and to me that these concepts work, are not difficult, are within the ability of a novice and are a fun project for more experienced stitchers. The aim of the text is to give adequate instruction so that all are able to follow the directions and create a garden that is uniquely their own. It is amazing how different the resulting gardens can be.

We started with spring flowers. The stitches used are developments of familiar stitches such as Straight Stitch, Detached Chain Stitch, French Knots and Buttonhole. The instructions for these stitches will be found in the section called "Foundation Stitches".

Please, please, please read all the directions in the first section. Preparation is Important before you begin stitching. It is important to know how to attach fabric tightly to a rectangular frame. A ring or hoop frame is a viable alternative though maintaining the fabric tension is less certain.

It is also important to Strand and to Strand and Mix your threads. Annoying and time consuming though this is, it is time well spent and you will find that you will become faster and less annoyed with practice.

Raid your stash of threads and use what you have for your sampler. Again, I emphasize that this stage of discovery and learning is very important. My students tended to flounder if they did not do this before stitching a specific flower into their final garden.

When you stitch your real garden, please do invest in the thread colours stated in the directions. It is not possible to stitch a plant that is readily identifiable unless the flower, its leaves and stalk are the correct colour. The test of how well you have portrayed a specific plant is when someone looks at it and says, without prompting from you, "look at those tulips" or "that hyacinth looks just right next to the iris". Correct color is vital for this to happen.

We developed the directions for stitching the flowers by using a chart to organize the process and to record the information. You will find a blank chart and a completed chart together with the Thread Color Coversion Cart on my website. These are then printable. This is so you can develop extra flowers that are special for you or are indigenous to your area.

We used DMC threads. These threads are universally available, easy to use and provide the correct colors. The color has to be correct with nature or else you will be disappointed with the results.

English Country Garden is now old and although the threads have retained their color, the fabric is looking its age. This is despite hanging it out of direct light and finally putting it behind glass for protection. As a result, photographing it has produced less than ideal results.

The gardens stitched by students have been predictably varied. All of your gardens will be different. The more different they are, the more creative you have been. At this point, I would like to thank my wonderfully trusting and willing group of stitchers who helped in obvious ways but also in intangible ways to help this whole process happen.

It only remains for me to wish you Happy Stitching and to say that I look forward to seeing a photo of your garden.

To Repeat :

These techniques are easy. The text has been written with the beginner stitcher in mind. Notes are included on how to thread a needle and how to place a knot at the end of the thread. Skip this section if it is not appropriate for you.

Asides :   present general information on stitching not often included in stitching texts. The information is culled from my training at The Royal School of Needlework and from many years of stitching and teaching. They are professional tips and a short cut to experience. Hopefully, they are also timely reminders to smooth your stitching experience.

The text and the techniques are also written for those who are stitching kits or who know the basics of embroidery but are uncertain when and how to use the stitches. Having learned the unique variations developed especially for these gardens, you will then find directions on how to be creative without having to draw. My students are now telling me that they have ideas for their next project. This is wonderful as it fulfils another goal which is to foster individual creativity.

       

In an English Country Garden

How many flowers do there grow In an English country garden. I'll tell you now of some I know And those I miss I hope you'll pardon. Daffodils and season phlox, Meadowsweet and lily stocks, Gentle lupin and tall hollyhocks, Roses, foxgloves, snowdrops and forget-me-nots In an English country garden. How many insects find their home In an English country garden. I'll tell you now of some I know And those I miss I hope you'll pardon. Dragonflies and bumblebees, Spiders falling from the trees, Butterflies sway in the mild gentle breeze, There are hedgehogs that roam and little garden gnomes In an English country garden. How many songbirds make their nests In an English country garden. I'll tell you now of some I know And those I miss I hope you'll pardon. Bobolinks and cooing doves, Robins and the warbling thrush, Blue birds, love birds, pigeons and the nightingale We all smile in the spring when the birds all start to sing In an English country garden.

       

CONTENTS

Preparation is Important

Level of Expertise
Supply List
Fabric Preparation
Bond the Two layers of Fabric Together
Placing the Fabric on the Frame
Threads: Stranding, Mixing and Saving
The Essential Sampler

Growing Spring Flowers

What You Will Learn While Stitching This Spring Garden
Foundation Stitches
Daffodils, Narcissi,
Snowdrops, Crocuses, Muscari or Grape Hyacinths
Bluebells, Tulips, Iris
Forget-me-nots, Hyacinths, Primulas
Crown Imperial Fritillaria
Dandelions
Daffodils Side View
Concealed Stitching
Forsythia Hedge or Bush
Trees
Magnolia Blossom
Sampler Gardens

Planning and Stitching Your Garden or How To Get There From Here

Planning Your Garden
Color Chart for Planting Your Garden
Stitching Your Garden
Gardens are Growing and are Completed
Gardens Created by the Stitchers of Guelph
Each garden stitched will be unique
The Learning Goals You Have Achieved :

Last, But Not Forgotten

Research for Stitching Plants and Flowers.
Charts, Colors and DMC Threads
Other Fabrics for Backgrounds
Finishing and Framing
Teachers and Group Leaders

       

What You Will Learn While Stitching This Spring Garden

This is the fun part - actually doing some stitching. Having set up your frame with a really tight tension of the fabric, you are all set to do the best stitching you have ever done. Just follow the directions, step by step. The sequence for stitching the plants and flowers is deliberate. It is a learning process where each step is necessary for the next one. You will learn how to stitch the variations on the four Foundation Stitches and discover how these simple stitches can be adapted and changed. Your flowers will be identifiable as specific spring plants.

The directions for these Foundation Stitches can be found on the next pages.

Straight Stitch
Detached Chain Stitch or Lazy Daisy
Buttonhole Stitch
French Knots

Except as noted, these new stitches have been developed for the Spring Garden Flowers and are included in the text.

Triangle Stitch
Slipped Chain Stitch - this is a traditional stitch
Twisted Chain Stitch - this is a traditional stitch
Overstitching
Arrowhead Stitch - with an adaptation
Tee Stitch
Bell Stitch
Enhanced Chain Stitch
Long Leaf Stitch and Short Leaf Stitch
Bell+One Stitch
Distorted Straight Stitch

All are transferable to other embroidery projects.

You will also learn how to plan and stitch your own unique garden

Without a kit
Using your own plan
Using no lines on the fabric
Balance the color scheme of your project
Be selective among the choices of plants and color

None of this is difficult.

Relax, and enjoy the process. Have fun

It is a journey; a voyage of discovery

Who is to know where it will lead?

       

Daffodil Stitching directions - Here is a page from the book. . . .

Daffodils

The bright yellow of King Alfred Daffodils makes them the most familiar of the daffodils. As our goal is to create plants and flowers that are instantly recognizable, we will stitch bright yellow daffodils.

Refer to a resource such as a plant or photos. Note that a daffodil has long straight leaves and stalks and that the flowers have six petals and a trumpet. We will stitch them frontal view for now. Later, we will return to daffodils and add curved and bent leaves and the flowers in side view. See Foundation Stitches for stitching techniques.

Stalks and Leaves :   Green 320 (2) + 987 (2) + 989 (1) + 895 (1) = 6.

Straight Stitch using four shades of green and Stranding and Mixing them as directed.

Stitch a few Straight Stitches to indicate some stalks. Start in the centre and stitch the right hand stalks first and then the ones on the left. Take the short cut between the stalks on the reverse of the fabric as in the diagram (this is the procedure for all the stalks for every plant). Store that thread by bringing it to the front of the fabric a short distance away.

Flowers :   Yellow 444 (4) or 307 (4) or 973 (4).

Triangle Stitch :   Stitch the inside triangle first stitches 1/4- inches long. Add the second and third triangles outside the first one.

Overstitch** a Reverse Triangle the same size as the last triangle.

Stitch a few flowers at the top of the stalks. Store that thread and retrieve the green one. Add some more stalks to your plant or group of plants. Then, retrieve the yellow thread and add more flowers. Continue until you have enough flowers to please you. Using the same green thread, add more straight stitches to fill out the plant with leaves. The leaves of daffodils grow taller than the flowers. Add a few short straight stitches above the flowers to indicate this.

Centers :   Gold 972 (1 or 2). Overstitch a small reverse triangle in gold thread for the trumpet of the flower.

This is a whole new way of stitching. Your sampler does not have to be a completed work of art. Stitch enough of each plant and flower so that you know how the stitches work, the length of stalks and leaves, how the flowers are created and how their size can be altered. Once you know this flower, move on to the next plant, Narcissi.

Note that the points of the reverse triangles are midway along the sides of the first triangles for both Daffodils and Narcissi. Increase or decrease the size of the triangles to alter the size of the flower.

     

       

The Learning Goals You Have Achieved :

The Foundation stitches of Straight, Chain, Buttonhole and French Knots plus the adaptations of these stitches. You will also have realized that many stitches can be changed or adapted to suit the needs of the project.

How to prepare and back fabric and place it on a frame with a tight tension.

This is how professional results are achieved.

How to Strand and Mix threads to create colors to suit yourself.

How to plan a project that is uniquely your own. In fact, how to create an original piece of stitching.

How to stitch freehand. Few stitchers like to do this but you have done it.

How to stitch without a kit.

To look at your work with analytical eyes and to make decisions and changes as you work.