Scattered Daisies

MATERIALS
• 30cm (12in) square of embroidery linen
• 25cm (1/4 yd) fabric for the back of the cushion
• DMC Stranded Embroidery Cotton: one skein each of deep rose (309), light burnished gold (3822), two skeins each of hunter green (3346), blanc (white)
• No 6 crewel needle
• No 7 milliner's (straw) needle
• 1.25m (1 3/8 yd) piping cord for the edge of the cushion • 30cm (12in) cushion insert
• 20cm (8in) zipper
• 20cm (8in) embroidery hoop
• Water-erasable marking pen
• Spray bottle

DESIGN SIZE
23cm (9in) square

STITCHES USED
French knot, lazy daisy stitch (detached chain), stem stitch, straight stitch

PREPARATION
Trace the pattern from the pattern sheet onto your fabric with the water-erasable marking pen using your favourite light source. This can be a light box, a glass-topped table with a lamp lit up from underneath, or tape the pattern to a sunlit window. Tape the embroidery fabric over the top of the light source and trace the pattern onto the fabric.

EMBROIDERY
The embroidery for the stems and the petals is stitched with the No 6 crewel needle, and the French knots in the centre of the flowers are stitched with the No 7 milliner's (straw) needle.
Stems: Using six strands of hunter green (3346) the stems are stitched with a stem stitch. Refer to photograph 1.

Daisies: Using lazy daisy stitch and three strands of blanc (white), the petals are stitched close together, bringing the needle up from the back onto the inner circle to start the stitch. The tips of the daisies are then stitched with tiny straight stitches over the tip of the lazy daisy stitch using four strands of deep rose (309). Refer to photograph 2.

The half daisies are worked the same way.
Calyx: Straight stitches, with six strands of the hunter green (3346) following the shape across the calyx, are stitched at the base of the half daisies.
Centres: Using two strands of light burnished gold (3822), the centres of the daisies are stitched with clusters of French knots.

FINISHING
To remove the water-erasable pen markings, spray your embroidery with cold water from a spray bottle and allow it to dry.
Hint: Do not put your embroidery in the sun to dry as the water-erasable pen markings could return. Press your work with an iron after ensuring the water-erasable pen has been removed.

To make up your cushion, cut one piece of fabric for the back 33cm x 30cm (13in x 12in), and another piece 33cm x 11.5cm (13in x 4 1/2in) and join them together with the zipper. Open the zipper 10cm (4in). The back of your cushion is a little larger than needed to make it easier to stitch to the front of the cushion.
Place the back of the cushion right sides to the front of the cushion top and pin them together. Stitch the two layers together leaving an opening of 25mm at the base of the cushion. It is advisable to do this step on the sewing machine to achieve a much stronger result. Trim the raw edges and overlock or zigzag the edges to neaten them. Turn the cushion right side out.
Starting at the opening at the base of the cushion, put one end of the piping through the opening and stitch firmly in place. Pin the remaining piping cord around the cushion edge, stitching it in place as you go. Once you have reached the start of the piping cord put the end through the opening and finish stitching it neatly and firmly in place.
Place the cushion insert inside the cushion cover and your project is complete and ready to use.