Rosey Posey - Stitch My New Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery Flower

This is my Rosey Posey.

I'm going to share my instructions for this original Millefiori flower in a photo tutorial so you can stitch it, too. This design is for your own personal use; if you'd like to share it with a class, please direct them here to my blog (click the link), and ask them to make their own "save" or copy as explained below.

Before I start, I'm not sure how much space Blogger will let me have for each post, so I might need to make this in two separate posts. We shall see. I'm also going to share a handy hint for those who print these blog pages out and don't really want to use up 50 sheets of perfectly good paper. 

Technical Assistance:
Here's what to do. Open a Word file on your computer. Select and Copy this blog entry and paste it into the Word file. Next, reset your Word page layout to "narrow margins" and "two columns" with just 1-2 points between. This entire entry will shift into 2 columns and many fewer pages. Squish the corners of the overly large pictures to fit the column.  Go to "Line and Paragraph Spacing" and (while the entire post is on the page/s) adjust everything to "single space" on the "Line Spacing" choice. I'm typing here in the Verdana font, but you can reset your font to 10 or 11-pt Arial if you like. If you didn't have an iPad or reader to transfer this tutorial to, you will have just a few pages that you can print and take with you.

Well, now -- on to the fun!
         I've stitched this flower with 2 colors Iris (EdMar's lovely Z-twist  embroidery floss), a pale shaded pink and a bright fuchsia pink.

You'll need:   Seed beads (you only need 7), size 10/o or 8/o - or even 6/o (the largest, if you are making a Rosey Posey with Nova)
                   You can substitute pearls or crystals if you like, 3mm or 4mm
                   You could even stitch a tiny button in the very center (a little blue birdie button like it is sitting on a nest??)
     Also:       Rayon floss in two colors, or you can try a fiber such as Candlelight or any of the Rainbow Gallery threads.
                   Your #1 milliners needle (the Lola needle)

Any floss weight will work for my Rosey Posey. Every stitch is a 12-loop cast-on.
When I used Iris, I selected size 10/o seed beads (the craft store version of size 11/o seed beads - I wanted a silver-lined bead for sparkle). Try size 8/o seed beads if you are using Lola.

You can stitch this flower on any wearable item or a tote bag or anything that doesn't move. All you need to draw is one little triangle with its sides just under 1/4" or 5mm.

Stitch a bead in the center of this triangle (or you can make a 3-wrap French knot). TIP: If you attach beads with a backstitch, they will lie on their sides.

(If any of the typing on these pictures doesn't show up, just double-click the image and you'll have a larger version.) The printed image on the right is from my first set of instructions for this flower. I gave it as a freebie in the goody bags for those who attended our BDEIG 2012 Seminar.

I have bead soup! See . . .

Leftover beads in a box, all sorts and sizes. Whenever I need just a few, I'll sort through and find what I need. If I collect them on a straight pin, I can pin the pin to my embroidery and the beads will stay put.

Here is a triangle I've drawn on my crazy quilt (made with Moda fabrics in soft blue, lavender, pink)

On each of the triangle sides, make a 12-loop cast-on stitch.

Keep the Needle Path (the path of the needle through the fabric) or (a  c-d  b) in a straight line with the c-d part of the stitch in the center to "widen" the petal.

From the What-Works-For-Me Department -- A TIP:

There is a definite right and wrong side to cast-on stitches made with Z-twist rayon floss. The following method keeps the loops nicely twisted. Hold the needle with your right hand; cast floss over the tip of the needle with your left hand. When all loops are on the needle, tuck the floss behind the needle; hold the stitches gently on the needle and pull through. Keep a gentle hold on the loops until the stitch is settled in place. This prevents twists and kinks in your stitch. Check the “Basic Stitches” page at the BDEIG website to learn another method of making cast-on stitches. –and then do whatever works for you (like making your own department!).

 

When the first 3 petals/triangle is finished, change colors (the change of color floss makes this flower easier to learn the first time). Add a 12-loop cast-on stitch across each point of the triangle. Add another bead just in front of each of these stitches.

The darker-color cast-ons are stitched at each point of the first triangle:



Three beads are stitched just behind each of these darker pink stitches:

Like this:

Next, close those triangles with 2, 12-loop cast-on stitches on each side. You now have 4 triangles, total, with a bead in the center of each. Easy as pie, right?? A picture or two will help:

 

See how nicely it works!

Here's a diagram to help (visual aids are always nice):

You have just completed diagram 1 above (the first four triangles). Now you will add three more triangles around. Two sides of the next triangles and a bead are shown in the center diagram above.

 

I have already explained that it works for me to cast-onto the needle, place floss behind, and settle it in place for a kinkless-cast-on stitch.

Back to our embroidery ....

     We now have the three triangles of the second round (around the center triangle) finished:

We're going to add three more triangles and three more beads to complete the main part of the Rosey Posey. The first two sides of each of these "Round 3" triangles will be placed back-to-back with those of Round 2. I found it helpful if I drew short lines for those first two sides. Refer to the center diagram above. A picture is even more helpful; a larger picture, even more so:

 

See those blue lines? Each will hold 12-loop cast-on stitches for Triangles #5, 6 and 7.

The photo above is self-explanatory. The photo below shows that you now have  one center triangle in a light color, and 6 triangles around -- a total of 7 triangles, each made with 3, 12-loop cast-on stitches.

Finish your Rosey Posey with a little doily. Two rows of running or continuous cast-on stitches around will snug the petals together and keep your flower standing upright. Here's a diagram of what we'll do:

Change to your lighter color (the flower-center color) - or use green if you'd like your Rosey Posey resting on a bed of leaves.

Check that diagram just above for A Clue to What We Will Do.  Bring your needle up in front (or above) any triangle point (#1), slip the needle beneath triangle point #2 (work clockwise) and back under triangle point #1. Cast on 12. 

      Without going down and out, slip your needle beneath triangle #3 and back under #2 and cast on 12 times again. Repeat around. You'll have 6 "slightly stretched out" cast-on stitches around,

 

Add a second round of 15-loop running cast-on stitches, this time working through the loops of the previous row.  Like this:

See?

And now, your Rosey Posey is finished! Wasn't that fun?

Here's a picture:

And here are a few more ideas. I stitched this Rosey Posey with Lola  (on black fabric:

For this Rosey Posey I used an overdyed color. I think I used Nova weight:

This picture was somewhere on the Internet and it was my inspiration for my Rosey Posey adapted to Brazilian dimensional embroidery:



I hope you will enjoy stitching this new Millefiori flower, the Rosey Posey, by me (Rosalie Wakefield), and will visit my website to see more of my B.E. designs.

 

As I mentioned earlier, this design is for your own personal use. You are welcome to share this design and link to my blog with your classes and friends, but please don't charge them. Remember, I'm not charging you for this freebie. I know that you all know and respect that this is a copyrighted design, but you are welcome to use it on anything you'd like to stitch for yourself.

 

Let me know if you have any questions. I'll answer any comments or you can email me here. Thank you for reading here, and have fun!

 Rosalie                    

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fine, Upstanding Daisies Stitched in Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery

This is a Cast-on Daisy, one of our original Brazilian dimensional embroidery flowers. You can find instructions in any of the first Brazilian embroidery books published. Look for links and a bibliography prepared by our guild editor here at the BDEIG website.

      I'm not sure if anyone is interested in a bit of personal information, but when I started to learn B.E., I took two classes, learned how to make a bullion and a cast-on stitch, and then purchased the books Brazilian Embroidery Instructions by Barbara Demke Johnson and EdMar's Brazilian Embroidery Book 1 by Maria Freitas and started teaching myself. (I have since discovered that learning from fellow stitchers is an even better experience!)

Today I'm sharing a tip that a lot of stitchers may already know. I stitched the cast-on daisy pictured above with EdMar's Lola #041 (shaded mauve). When you stitch petals from the center out and around a circle, it's a good idea to place every other stitch first. Then, go around the circle again placing the same stitch between each. Each of these stitches is a 12-loop cast-on. You will have a nicer color placement - not all the dark color on one side, light on the other. This is just a suggestion; sometimes we have better ideas!

Oh! You spotted that needle beneath those petals! 

Well, there's a reason for that. After I work the stitches around a circular shape, I'll slip the needle beneath and go around and around the center 2-3 times and then pull and tug. All of the petals stand upright - and stay that way. See?

It's a B.E. technique I've named "Wrap 'n Gather", and it's wonderful when you are stitching on wearable items or "crushables" such as tote bags or pillows where the stitches can flatten this way and that. This technique keeps the stitches standing up. (By the way, my embroidery is far from being perfect, but if you ever want to see details, just double click these pictures and you'll have a HUGE version of what I've posted here.)  Note: Add the center bead or stitches first, before you wrap and gather.

This is another idea for you to try. When we are stitching lobed leaves, such as oak leaves or chrysanthemum leaves, I'll often work each section separately - start with a lazy daisy and add a blanket stitch right next to it. Go back to the center vein and repeat around. You can work around the leaf entirely, or you can work to the tip and then work the other side, base to tip.
           Don't forget, when you have that space, you can add a contrasting color between stitches or you can stitch an outline stitch center vein. You can do ANYTHING when you are doing Brazilian embroidery. That's why it is so much fun!

And now I will put together my Rosey Posey tutorial for you. Back soon!

Rosalie

Background Fabric for Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery

I had a request from a stitching friend; she was looking for fabrics to work her  Brazilian dimensional embroidery magic on.

She asked about Trigger cloth which many of us have used, but mentioned that it is fairly hard to needle. I wrote back to her and then decided this information might be helpful to other stitchers, so I'm sharing.

Trigger cloth has gotten quite stiff, almost like canvas. If you are at your local fabric store, take a look at their T-Shot Poplin. It's the same weight as Trigger but much easier to needle and you can find it in a lot of different colors. It's 45" wide, compared to the 60" wide Trigger, or the Blazer Poplin that most of us use.

Please remember that Brazilian embroidery can be worked on almost any fabric. A lot of people enjoy stitching on finer poly-cotton blends, linens or almost anything you can pass a needle through.

When I began B.E., I found some really nice table napkins; weight was about the same as trigger or any of the poplins and I used them to practice; these napkins have the advantage of nicely-serged edges and make wonderful doodle cloths. If you have a Dollar Store, K-Mart, WalMart or any of the one-stop-shop stores that carry table linens, you can probably find something nice. Most are large enough and colorful enough to make beautiful pillows. If you use them as doodle cloths, just remember to write on them with your Micron Pigma Pen - the stitches used, colors, name of the flower, etc., for future reference.

My stitching friend also asked if I ever use a lining, even with Trigger or Poplin. 

I often back even my Blazer poplin embroidery with the Symphony Broadcloth (80%/20%) that JoAnn Stores sell for under $2.00 a yard (look for coupons).  I’ve found I don’t have to work so hard to hide floss tails. And several of our stitchers have used one of the batting-type backings like Thermolam.  A lining is not always necessary; it's just a choice.

Now, about that RoseyPosey I was going to share with you. . . 
      Well, you'll be pleased to know that I've finished editing all of the pictures I took for the photo tutorial of my new, never-before-published-on-a-design RoseyPosey. There were a LOT of them, but some of our blog readers have to set their translator feature to work -- and sometimes visual aids are just more helpful.

Well, let's see ... maybe I can find a flower or two to pop in here. 

Today's little examples are from one of my Millefiori B.E. designs called "Alphabet Flower Sampler" - it's a floral picture frame with a double flower border stitched in mostly lighter-weight floss such as Glory and Iris, metallic threads and beads, and if you'd like a print with all instructions, just let me know. I think it's on my website. If not, it SHOULD be. I need to wander on over there and get that thing updated. Look for Millefiori Design #904.

Rosalie 

What? Cuthbert? Again?

Sometimes Cuthbert just can't fit all of his pieces and parts into one of these Costco boxes, but he does his best and wants you all to stick around a while.

Blogger is having trouble with my pictures, but I want to let you know that I have a brand new Brazilian dimensional embroidery flower for you to stitch. As soon as everything is fixed here, I'll post it for you. To be continued . . .

Rosalie

Holly Berries, Holly Leaves, Holly-day Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery

A lot of us have discovered the really wonderful, helpful and educational stitches and projects shared by Mary Corbet of NeedlenThread. You can click on the link here, or on the left side of this page where I've listed "Blogs We Like".

Today Mary shares the Criss-Cross Satin Stitch that I wrote about in my book, Take A Stitch, and have used on numerous designs. It's my favorite circular stitch -- and you all know that you need to always outline any circle first with stem, outline or back stitch first for a "perfect" finished shape.

This website offers a circular version of the Rhodes Stitch, too. I believe the Rhodes Stitch is often used in needlepoint. You'll find more information and inspiration here.

If you have a chance, try the Criss-Cross Satin Stitch using EdMar's 100% rayon floss weight Cire.

Leaves. A while back, I wrote on this blog about another way to stitch holly leaves with the beautiful dimensional center vein. You can see the tutorial here.
I call this technique the Ridged Blanket Stitch, but it's actually a Ridged "Buttonhole" Stitch because stitches are very close together.

In my most recent book, "An Artist's Garden" by Rosalie Wakefield (picture/blatant advertising ahead) . . .

...in which I have LOTS of "Little" designs - stitched mostly in lighter-weight floss such as Iris and Glory, I've included a small "Holly" pattern and I'd like to share it here if you want to stitch it for a holiday whatever. 

The pattern is approximately 2" tall, stitched with Iris 170 (green), and Glory 152 (Christmas red) and Glory 206 (Black). If you like the heavier-weight Cire, just enlarge the pattern:

1. Stitch the leaves with Ridged Blanket/Buttonhole Stitch.
          Read the link above, which explains that you'll stitch across the entire leaf, but lift the stitch so the top "bar" of the stitch slides to the center vein. Keep stitches very close together.
2. The red berries are stitched with Criss-Cross Satin Stitch.
3. With black Glory weight, add a 2-wrap French knot to each berry -- there's a perfect spot for this knot where the satin stitching ends.

You can stitch this little design onto a holiday print cotton, cut it out and add other holiday trims, ribbons, charms, and make a pretty little greeting card. Stampers can enjoy unlimited creativity in making little cards or gift tags with these designs. (I have a sample photo on my previous post about the Li'l Christmas Tree.)


By the way, I think I mentioned earlier that the Ridged Blanket Stitch (space between stitches) worked with our textured Boucle weight floss in green makes beautiful ferns.  TIP: Use the #15 milliners needle when working with Boucle.
This version is stitched with Iris:

  (The little "bugs" are the ones you find in the garden that roll into a circle like little "bowling balls" - my name for them. They are made with double cast-on stitches. If you stitch them with red floss, you can add little black French knots and call them "ladybugs".  We are nothing here if not flexible!)

Rosalie

 

Remembering the Littlest Angels

Everyone is thinking about the little angels we lost today, and all of the others we've lost in the past few years, and praying for them and their families that they can find comfort and peace for their pain. Someone asked if there was an angel available to stitch.

This picture is my Millefiori design #838, "Angels Wings" - basic Brazilian dimensional embroidery stitches. The wings and her dress are made with caladium leaves and her hair is stitched with bullions (several variations are included with the pattern), and she has red freckles scattered across her nose. See:

If you'd like to stitch her as an ornament for your Christmas tree, it will help us all to remember what has been lost. She's not on my website yet, but you can get details - price, plus postage - by emailing me.

Rosalie

Christmas Tree - Stitch This Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery Design

OK, the concept of hanging a Christmas tree ornament on a Christmas tree seems redundant, but I had this idea . . .

You can stitch this speedy little design faster than you can go into the forest with your trusty axe and hew down your own tree. Any thread will do: rayon floss for Brazilian dimensional embroidery (I used Boucle), Candlelight, Rainbow Gallery, silk ribbon or any other fiber. You can make an ornament, greeting card, fabric postcard or even stitch this Millefiori design on your holiday vest or sweater. 

This tree is made with a row of lazy daisy stitches, each slightly longer than the one before, and is finished with a row of backstitches for a center trunk and to hold the lazy daisy stitches in place.

I call it "Li'l Christmas Tree" and would like you to share it with your stitching friends. Just let them know where you found it. If you like, drop me a note to let me know what you think. I even have a pattern here for a Christmas Tree, Lot.
There are lots of pictures, so let's get started.

You'll need a ruler and a pencil (so few lines, there's nothing to wash out). And some fabric, some thread and some beads.

Step 1.  Make a vertical line, 1 1/2" long
Step 2.  Make a horizontal line, 1" wide, about 1/4" up from the bottom.
Step 3.  Lightly draw dotted lines from the tip of the tree to the Step 2 line.

 The first tree shown at left in the top photo is made with Boucle. I used #214, which is a dark forest green.

You can use a darner or the #18 chenille needle (the large one that comes in the pack of silk ribbon embroidery needles), or you can use the #15 milliners needle, which is my favorite for working with Boucle.
Now we're ready to stitch:

Start at the tip of the tree and make a horizontal lazy daisy stitch, just under 1/4" long. Continue to the lower horizontal 1" line, making the lowest lazy daisy stitch 1" long.  That's it! You're done with this part.

Next, I doubled a strand of Glory #214 into my #5 milliners needle. Starting at the base of the tree, I worked a row of backstitch from bottom to tip.

I had enough left over to add a little star bead at the top.

Then I stitched some #11 seed beads here and there along the tree. Here's the finished Li'l Christmas Tree made with Boucle:

I used bullions and a cast-on stitch to make the little tree stand. For one of the other trees, I used satin stitch.

Remember that I mentioned you need only one row of lazy daisy stitches if you are working with Boucle? Even though I didn't do it for this "prototype", I'd make one stitch in one direction, the next in the opposite direction. Like this:

In the photo above where I'm showing the back-stitched center tree trunk, I used green Candlelight fiber. You'll see that the lazy daisy stitches go each way, one east to west, the next west to east.

I stitched this tree on red fabric using white Candlelight:

The base of the tree is made with a row of stem stitch and I added a detached buttonhole stitch in each. I made one row of detached buttonhole stitches "up", and a second row "down".  The star at the top is a stitch I developed which I call "Star-Fill". I think I posted it earlier, but to save you searching, here it is again:

 

I used Gold thread (DMC on spools, from the craft section at JoAnn stores - but any will work). Star-Fill is like the five-point stars we drew in grade school.  Just follow the numbers of the Needle Path through the fabric (oops, some of the numbers are missing!) Start at the lower left. With your needle, you'll follow the star path two times to get all of the lines on the fabric. To finish, just whipstitch 2-3 times around the center and add a bead or a French knot to end.

Here's a picture of a collage card I made with the white-Candlelight-on-red-fabric embroidery:

When I do this kind of "adventurous stitching", I wander around the house looking through crazy quilt trims, fabric bits, ribbons, beads, for upcycling ideas.
Since we are into the holiday season, you can often find earrings that you can un-do and stick to your design with either glue (my favorite is Fabric-Tac, also from JoAnn's) or needle and thread.

I added these charms to the Li'l Christmas Tree I stitched with green candlelight, and I used purple seed beads to "garland" the tree:

Oh. Before I forget, here's an idea for finishing your ornament. I cut two circles from 1/4" foam core board (if I do this again, I'm going to look for wooden shapes at Michaels Craft Store). Cutting foam core board into even circles with a razor blade is a real challenge!  But I wrapped the fabric around, pinned it into place. Then I glued the second piece on (you'd want to tuck a hanging ribbon between the layers first), and pinned the trim around the edge.

You can see how easy these are to make, and you are limited only by your imagination - and your time.

Speaking of time... If you had SO much fun stitching your Li'l Christmas Tree, how would you like to make a Christmas Tree LOT?  Here's a pattern. Just remember the larger trees use that 1-1/2" center line. You can make the other trees smaller. And if you check your buttons, beads or old holiday earrings, you might find some little critters or Christmas presents to tuck in at the base of the trees. 

Have fun! Happy Holidays to all.

Rosalie

 

Mom Nature and Her Sauna

Mother Nature has been really busy here in western Oregon this past week - we have had enough rain to make puddles in the Portland area.  BIG puddles. Well, "Mom" calls it a sauna, and you can see that the little finches are really enjoying themselves.

Yes, that's a nasturtium that decided to finally take off and grow - just in time for a frost, whenever it comes - probably in January.

Cuthbert is skipping the birdie show, which he calls "Television for Cats" so that he can help me finish this mindless jigsaw puzzle.

I'm working on a freebie design for you to stitch - just need to get the photos looking reasonably nice. It will be in my next post.

Rosalie