My first flatfold, a gift in the mail and instructions for fringing a small pillow.

Hi to all my blogging friends. I have had a lovely week this week, my friend called around for lunch yesterday, we had salmon and cucumber sandwiches followed by cream cakes and plenty of cross stitch chat. My friend bought me a lovely bouquet of flowers and some chocolates, they really made my day very special, thankyou Diane!

Whilst my friend was visiting I received a parcel in the post, I thought it was an exchange so I was quite excited about it, however, when I opened the parcel I got a lovely surprise, it was not an exchange but a gift of a tatting shuttle and instruction booklets from a lady who read my blog and saw that I would like to take up tatting, or at least make an attempt. She asked me for my address and she sent me this lovely gift, I was so thrilled. I will post a picture on my next post. Thankyou Kate, it was very kind of you.

             

I thought I would attempt a different  finish on this gingerbread house and so I decided to make a flat fold, I am going to trim it with a polymer clay cane in red and white to match the design but I have not got around to it yet, and it may be after Christmas before I do, so I thought I would show the picture's now.

It is from The Gift Of Stitching Magazine 2008, Issue 34, page 42 and the designer is Olive Dyck of Olive Hope Designs. I stitched it on 25 count Dublin Lugana linen in pale blue.  

 

Fringing instructions for my little pillow ornament

I have been asked on a number of occasions how I do the fringing on my little pillow's, so I have decided to put together some finishing instructions. This is the pillow that I showed in my previous post.

All pictures are clickable for a close up view.

Cut the fabric exactly along the thread line of the fabric.

Pin the fabric in place onto the felt.

Count the thread lines from the design edge, in this case you can see I have counted two thread lines from the edge and started the blanket stitch. When you turn the corner you will still need to count two thread lines from the edge to ensure it is perfectly square. See the picture below.

When you have stitched the blacket stitch all around, only then do you pull out the threads to create the fringing. If you have cut it straight along the thread lines at the beginning you will not have any problems here, however, please be careful when you are stitching the blanket stitch, ensuring that you do not pull it out of shape when stitching it to the felt backing fabric.

      

 Cut another piece of felt the same size as the front and blanket, stitch it together leaving a small opening for stuffing the pillow and then continue blanket stitching to close it together.

Now you are ready to trim it how you wish.

Enjoy!