For this little dog pillow I wanted to combine embroidery with the iron-on appliquéd pieces. To make this little guy, you will need:
-Download this pdf
-Plain linen or other fabric for background. I cut it after I did the appliqué and embroidery.
-Green fabric scrap for grass
-White fabric scrap for dog
-Black embroidery thread
-Stuffing
-EZ Steam II double-sided fusible web (replaces Steam-A-Seam2)
Optional supplies:
-Sulky Fabri-Solvy stabilizer (or you can transfer design directly onto fabric)
Step 1: I traced the embroidery pattern onto the fabric stabilizer (above right) thinking I was going to embroider the dog directly onto the linen. This was before I decided that the dog needed to be white. If you plan on tracing the pattern directly onto the fabric, skip to step 2.
Step 2: Trace the dog backwards onto the fusible web that's stuck to the white fabric (above left). Trace the grass onto the green fabric that's stuck to the fusible web. Cut along the lines carefully.
Step 3: Arrange the dog and the grass onto the linen, leaving enough room for an embroidery hoop and keeping in mind that the piece will be cut to a 5 1/2" square.
Step 4: If you're not using the fabric stabilizer, trace the pattern directly onto the dog. I placed the stabilizer on top of the white dog I'd just cut out. I wound up using the stabilizer to do the lettering, eyes, chin, nose and front legs only. Using a backstitch, embroider the dog. I washed the stabilizer off to do the outline of the dog, being sure to embroider on top of the white edge of the dog's outline.
I tend to use my grandmother's embroidery hoop whenever possible. Notice that there is no tension screw — that way I don't catch the thread while I'm working. For the felt needle book tutorial, please go to this post.
Step 5: Center the dog and grass and cut a 5 1/2" square. Cut a plain 5 1/2" square for the back. With right sides facing, sew around the square leaving a 1/2" seam allowance. Be sure to leave a 2 - 3" opening on the bottom so you can turn and stuff.
Step 6: Turn, press, stuff and blind stitch the opening closed.
The dog joins the pig and the tree. To make the pig, see this post. The pig has no embroidery but you could choose to embroider instead of using fabric marker. Or you could use fabric marker for the dog instead of embroidery! For the tree, go here.
I designed these as toys for the kids, but you could certainly use them for pincushions, sachets or enlarge them to make bigger pillows. Or you could take the designs and make whatever you want! If you do, I'd love to see what you come up with.
xo Karin
