Stitch Your Own Leaf
Sit back and relax and step into the world of Sara Robson, from the Creative Co-op and her beautiful Crafts :
Hi, my name is Sara and I am the founder of The Creative Co-op. I have been embroidering since before I can remember, every Christmas holidays my cousins and I would stitch our way through the seasons of Kath & Kim at my Grandmother’s house in Evans Head.
I’ve recently started teaching creative workshops on the Gold Coast to share my love of craft with others, you can find out more about our workshops through our Instagram @thecreativeco.op.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
• Embroidery Needle
• Embroidery Thread (separated in half to use
only 3 strands at once)
• Fabric (choose a tightly woven material with
minimal stretch, try up-cycling a piece of
clothing or pillowcase you know longer use.
• Pencil or Heat removable pen
• Embroidery Hoop
• Once you have filled your leaf, you can
outline the leaf for a bolder look using a
contrasting coloured thread and only 1
strand of thread.
• Finish off your hoop by gluing the fabric to
the back of the inner hoop. Once dried trim
the excess fabric.
TIPS
- If you don’t have a hoop, scroll to the bottom for a D.I.Y.
- Reusable Fabric – you can use old pillowcases, sheets, clothes or even revive an old piece of clothing by embroidering right on it.
- Use fabric-friendly glue!
- Choose a pretty spot for your stitched embroidered artwork.
Let’s start by finding your favourite plant or leaf, mine is a Monstera Leaf. Bring up a photo of the leaf on your phone and using your phone as a lightbox, transfer the pattern onto the fabric by tracing around the leaf shape and any defining details.
• Transfer the fabric with a pattern into the centre of
your embroidery hoop.
• Choosing the relevant colour thread cut the length of
your fingertip to your shoulder. Split the thread into 2
groups of 3 strands.
• Thread your needle, double over the embroidery thread
and tie both ends in a knot at the bottom.
• Fill your leaf using the satin stitch method.
TIP
keep your stitches going the same direction as the veins on the leaf to keep it as realistic as possible.
How to make you own hoop
- First, find and plastic container, honey containers are great.
- Take the lid off and cut the inside out, leaving only the outside of the lid to attach back onto the container.
- Cut around the container, leaving only the top ( 1-2 cm) to enable the lid to stay attached.
- Take the lid off the remaining container and place your material in between and then reattach the two and start stitching!
Leave a Reply