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When they finally appeared, many people thought they were unnecessary, impractical and even scandalous
Salute to this sun embroidery by Chloe Redfern! Designed using straight stitch, felt applique and beadwork. It makes a beautiful sun embroidery decoration to hang in your window to greet each new day, whatever the weather.
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The sun embroidery looks stunning, but it’s really easy to stitch using simple felt applique, straight stitch and embellished with bugle beads and seed beads. Even as a beginner, you’ll be able to work the sun embroidery.
Take a look at our embroidery for beginners article for more advice on getting started.
The sun embroidery is designed by Chloe Redfern and was originally published in Love Embroidery magazine issue 4.
Sun embroidery materials
- Felt: a selection of wool blend or acrylic felt in warm colours: bright orange, yellow, golden yellow, burnt orange
- Stranded cotton: 1 skein each of bright orange, yellow
- Sewing thread: to match the felt
- Long bugle beads (6mm length): orange
- Short bugle beads (3mm length): gold, orange
- Seed beads: size 10 or 11, gold
- Soft toy stuffing
- Invisible thread
- Basic embroidery kit
- Sun embroidery template
Sun embroidery stitches
- Straight stitch
- Beading
- Felt applique
How to do Straight Stitch
Straight Stitch is very versatile as it can be worked to any length and in any direction.
It is handy in pictorial work for adding details, and it can also be used to outline other areas of stitching, provided that the edges are straight.
Bring the needle up at one end of the straight stitch, then down at the other end of the straight stitch to create the required straight stitch length.
Sun embroidery guide
How to make the sun embroidery
Step 1
Trace around and cut out the triangles and leaf templates. Draw a large circle with a 9cm diameter and a small circle with
a 5.5cm diameter to use as templates. Pin the templates to the felt and cut as follows: 1 large circle, bright yellow; 1 small circle, burnt orange; 4 triangles, bright orange; 4 triangles, burnt orange; 8 triangles, golden yellow; 4 leaf shapes, golden yellow. Place the large circle, then the other pieces, centrally on top of a 12x12cm piece of bright orange felt, referring to the embroidery guide for positioning. Work tiny stitches around the edge of each shape.
Step 2
Follow the embroidery guide to work the design. Fill all the triangle and leaf shapes with Straight Stitches using one strand of stranded cotton in a contrasting colour.
Step 3
Add beads using invisible or sewing thread. To attach seed beads, work a small stitch through the centre hole. For bugle beads, bring the needle up at one end of the bead, then back down at the other.
Step 4
To add the bead border, bring your needle up through the edge of the yellow circle. Thread on two seed and two small bugle beads. Lay them down flush at the edge of the circle. Take the needle back through the felt, then back up just behind the last bead.
Thread it through that bead, then continue by adding another four beads and repeating the process all around the edge of the inner circle.
Step 5
Trim the outer orange felt into a tidy circle, taking care not to cut the stitches.
Step 6
Thread beads onto a long length of thread for the hanger, and knot the ends.
Place the sun onto a 12x12cm piece of bright orange felt with the bottom two beads and the bead hanger thread tails sandwiched between. Sew the felt together with tiny stitches, stuffing lightly when you are close to where you started, then continue stitching to close. Trim the backing felt flush with the front.
Spectacular sun embroidery
Brighten up your day and your decor with this fabulous design. It’s a great chance to work on your applique and beading skills.
More sunny stitching you’ll love
If you like the sun embroidery, we have more free embroidery patterns like this for you to try! Try our Spring embroidery hoop.
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