by Irene Junkuhn with an abundance of richly coloured shiny threads and luxurious beads. It would add an opulent effect to any room.
MATERIALS
• 36cm (14 1/4in) square of cream satin-backed shantung or pre-printed fabric
• 36cm (14 1/4in) square of cream homespun for the backing
• Rajmahal Art Silk: 1 skein each of bluebell (121), Cossack blue (122), hot plum (256), bordeaux (745), sassafras (805)
• Rajmahal Pearl Sadi: 80cm (7/8 yd) silver
• Rajmahal Smooth Sadi: 50cm (5/8 yd) silver
• Rajcord: 1m (1 1/8yd) silver
• Handsew: 15m (16 1/2yd) silver
• Maria George Square Delica Beads: 6 pink (SB4-2601)
• Maria George Delica Beads: 1 packet of D-027
• Judith & Kathryn Flower Beads: 2 silver 1cm (3/8in), 1 small mauve
• 3mm (1/16 in) pearls: 22 cream
• Seed beads: 1 packet each of grape, red, blue, silver
• Half bugle beads: 1 packet of silver
• Flower sequins: 5 blue
• Sequins: 30 pink, 20 silver
• Tiny sequins: 1 packet of pink
• No 9 crewel needle
• No 20 chenille needle
• No 10 beading needle
• Beading thread
• Machine-sewing cotton: 1 reel in a light colour for tacking
• 25cm (10in) embroidery hoop
DESIGN SIZE
17cm x 22cm (6 3/4in x 8 1/2in)
STITCHES USED
Backstitch, chain stitch, colonial knot, couching, fly stitch, lazy daisy stitch, long and short stitch, satin stitch, straight stitch, trellis stitch, wheat ear stitch, whipstitch, whipped backstitch, whipped chain stitch
PREPARATION
If you are using shantung fabric, transfer the design outline from the pattern sheet using your preferred method.
Tack the homespun to the back of the shantung or pre-printed fabric, then tension them in the hoop until they are drum tight.
EMBROIDERY
Note: It is best to do all the Art Silk embroidery first, then the Sadi metal threads and finally the beads and sequins. Two strands of Art Silk and one of Handsew are used unless stated otherwise. Stretch the Pearl Sadi until it is two-thirds longer to allow the couching stitches to slip between the coils.
The No 9 crewel needle is used with the embroidery threads, the No 10 beading needle with the beading thread unless stated otherwise and the No 20 chenille needle with the Rajcord.
Pomegranate: Outline the fruit with two rows of chain stitch and fill the centre bell shape in chain stitch with hot plum (256).
Leaves: Referring to diagram 1, satin-stitch these with sassafras (805) and fly-stitch the veins with Handsew, then backstitch the green tendril with sassafras (805). Large blue flower: Work the petals in long and short stitch with bluebell (121), shading to Cossack blue (122). Satin-stitch the centre of the flower with Cossack blue (122), then outline it with colonial knots and work trellis stitch across
it with bordeaux (745). Stitch smaller trellis stitch in the petals on either side of the centre with Cossack blue (122). Grape bud: Fill the three petals in colonial knots with bordeaux (745), then satin-stitch the leaves with sassafras (805) and backstitch the tendrils with Handsew. Carnation: Outline the petals in backstitch and fill in the tops with two rows of colonial knots in hot plum (256). Still using the same thread, work trellis stitch in the cup of the flower the same width as the red seed beads. Form the tiny tendrils in backstitch with Handsew. Refer to the photograph for placement. Large green leaf: Chain-stitch the outline with sassafras (805), then whip over it in Handsew. Silver leaf: Outline this in chain stitch with Handsew. Large flower on the right: Satin-stitch the tip with one strand of bordeaux (745), then backstitch the outline of the petals on either side of
this with Handsew. Backstitch the outline of the curved petals below these with hot plum (256), then whip them with Handsew. Satin-stitch the teardrop shape below with bordeaux (745).
Blue daisy flower: Form the petals in satin-stitch with bluebell (121) and stitch the tiny leaves in lazy daisy stitch with sassafras (805).
SADI METAL THREAD AND RAJCORD EMBROIDERY
Couching Sadi: Gently stretch the pearl Sadi to remove the kinks and to enable the stitches to slip between the coils so they are invisible. Begin couching 5mm (1/4in) from the edge so the stitches don't slip off the end - once started the end can be secured. Take small stitches at right angles with Handsew over the Sadi. Couching Rajcord: Thread the cord in the chenille needle and bring it to the front of the design. Work small couching stitches in Handsew at right angles to the cord, then once completed take the cord to the back with the chenille needle and secure it. Pomegranate: Outline the fruit and centre bell shape and form the stem with silver pearl Sadi. Large blue flower: Lay two rows of silver pearl Sadi around the outlines of the petals on either side of the centre and couch over both rows so they lock together. Carnation: Outline the centre zigzag shape, the cup of the flower and the tendrils below it with silver Rajcord. Scatter smooth Sadi spangles in the centre of the zigzag shape, then sew a colonial knot in the centre of each one with hot plum (256). Sadi spangles: With diagram 2 as a reference, cut tiny 3mm (1/16in) pieces of Smooth Sadi to form rings and secure them with at least three couching stitches.
Large green leaf: Stitch woven S-ing stitch with silver sequins and 5mm (1/4in) pieces of Smooth Sadi.
Thread the No 9 crewel needle with Handsew. Referring to diagram 3, come up at A, thread on a piece of Smooth Sadi and take the needle down at B. The stitch length must be shorter than the length of Sadi. Bring the needle up at C, thread on a piece of Sadi and go down at D - this is pulled to the side with a spare needle to form the 'S' shape. Continue stitching the Sadi this way for about 10 stitches, then with a spare needle, move the Sadi gently to the left and bring the needle through in the middle of the stitch. Thread on a piece of Sadi and pick up a silver sequin through the front, take the needle to the back of the work and come up again through the top of the sequin underneath the Sadi stitch above, using the spare needle to move the Sadi to the left. Repeat this until the area is too narrow for a sequin and continue stitching woven S-ing stitch with Sadi to the end. Large flower on the right: Outline the petals with Pearl Sadi, the larger centre heart with two rows and the smaller shape below it with one row. Couch Rajcord between the two rows of Sadi, then form the stems and trailing vine with the same thread.
BEADS AND BEAD EMBROIDERY
Stitch through the single beads twice so they sit correctly and are secure. Pomegranate: Stitch pink sequins in the centre bell shape with beaded fan stitch. Bring the needle to the front and starting and ending with a seed bead, thread on six pink sequins with a grape seed bead between each one, then take the needle down at the starting point to form a loop. Secure the thread at the back, then come back up and couch between the beads to form the fan. Refer to diagram 4.
Stitch three SB4-2601 square beads on either side of the bell shape, then work woven cord stitch along the lines on either side of the fruit. Refer to diagram 5.
Woven cord stitch: Bring the needle up on the left of the beads for the left-hand side petal and on the right of the beads for the right-hand side petal.
1. Thread the needle with Handsew, then starting at the top, thread on six grape seed beads, one red seed bead and one pink sequin through the back, make a stitch half the length of the sequin, then take the needle to the back.
2. Move the beads to the left of the line and bring the needle through to the right side of the line above the sequin.
3. Thread on six grape seed beads, one red seed bead and one pink sequin, then take the needle into the fabric on the line on the right just below the first row of beads. Keep the needle on the right of the row of beads and make sure the sequins lie flat next to each other.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 to the end of the line. Work the line on the other side in mirror image.
Work wheat ear stitch below the bell shape using silver half bugle beads and Handsew. Bring the needle up half the length of the bead, from the right-hand side of the line, thread on two half-bugle beads and then take the needle down on the left of the line. Couch the beads down in the centre so they form a 'V'. Repeat this to the end of the line. Refer to diagram 6.
Add a colonial knot between each wheat ear stitch with hot plum (256). Large blue flower: Work pairs of tiny straight stitches above the outer petals with Handsew, then with the same thread, add a blue seed bead to the tip of each one. Scatter blue seed beads in the lattice couching on either side of the centre flower.
Add a silver flower bead at the base of the flower using bordeaux (745) and stitch between the petals on the bead to define them.
Sew five blue flower sequins along the outer petals, securing each one with a tiny loop of Smooth Sadi.
Cut short pieces of Smooth Sadi, then thread the crewel needle with Handsew. Bring the needle up, thread on a piece of Sadi, then go down to the back close to the starting point and gently pull the thread until the Sadi curves into a loop. Secure each one firmly on the back before stitching the next one. Refer to diagram 7. Grape bud: Bring the needle up at the base of a petal, thread on seven silver seed beads, go down at the tip, then come up again and couch between the beads so they lie flat, but don't pull them too tight. Stitch D027 beads at the base of the flower. Carnation: Sew a pearl bead on the marked dots in each petal. Thread nine silver seed beads on the needle, loop them around the pearl and then work a couching stitch between each bead. Stitch three tiny pink sequins under the three middle pearls with hot plum (256).
Sew a red seed bead in the middle of each square formed by the trellis stitch in the cup of the flower.
Scatter silver half bugles among the spangles in the zigzag shape and on the outside edge of it with Handsew. Refer to the photograph for placement.
Large green leaf: Scatter D027 beads on the left side of the leaves next to the silver sequins and towards the tips.
Large silver leaf: Work wheat ear stitch with silver half bugle beads along the centre vein, then add a D027 bead between them. Refer to diagram 6.
Large flower on the right: Fill the squares formed by the lower trellis stitch with red seed beads. Add a tiny pink sequin in every second square formed by the upper trellis stitch in the heart shape, using hot plum (256) radiating out from the centre and over the edge of the sequins. Sew a small mauve flower bead in the centre of the teardrop shape at the base of the flower.
Stitch a pearl bead in the centre of the satin-stitch tip and form a fly stitch under it with silver half bugle beads. Add a pearl bead on either side of the petals near the teardrop and a row of half bugle beads. Refer to the photograph for placement.
Stitch woven cord stitch with beads in the centre of the top silver petals with five each of red and grape seed beads. Refer to diagram 8.
1. Alternating five red seed beads with five grape ones and starting at the top, thread on five beads, make a stitch half the length of the beads and take the needle to the back.
2. Move the beads to the left of the line and bring the needle up on the right-hand side of the beads on the line next to the centre bead.
3. Thread on five beads and take the needle into the fabric on the line just below the first row of beads. Bring it up again on the line just below the beaded stitch above and next to the bead of the second row, keeping the needle on the right of the row of beads.
Repeat steps two and three to the end of the line.
Work woven cord stitch in the four petals on either side of the heart shape with seven grape seed beads and a centre pearl.
Form this stitch on the right of the line of beads for the right-hand side petals and on the left for the left-hand side petals.
Refer to diagram 9.
1. Bring the needle and Handsew thread up at the top and thread on seven beads, make a stitch the full length of the beads and take the needle to the back.
2. Move the beads to the left of the line and bring the needle back up on the right side of the beads next to the centre bead, keeping on the line.
3. Thread on seven beads, move them to the left of the line and take the needle into the fabric on the line for the full length of the beads.
4. Repeat steps two and three to the end of the line.
5. Once the row of woven cord stitch is complete, pull the threaded beads apart and stitch a pearl bead in the centre of each pair.
Blue daisy flowers: Sew a row of three blue seed beads in the centre at the base of the flower and a row of four either side of this to form a rectangle.
FINISHING
Your dazzling masterpiece is ready to be framed.
