Embroidery Tutorial

This is a very simple way to get a variegated look on an embroidery project without using variegated thread. To begin, pick out your favorite color. Look through your stash of thread and pick out as many as you want in a similar color. Look for threads that range from dark, medium, and light. In this project I chose 5 shades of the teal. In the gray pillow I only used 4 shades.
The next step is to decide what length you will cut the threads. For this teal project I cut threads 6 inches. For the gray pillow I cut them 12" in length. Depending on how big the project will determine how long to cut the threads. This project was small so I cut them 6 inches. You can determine this yourself.

Now begin with the darkest thread and embroider until it runs out.
Now use the next shade of thread...
then the next...
and the next.
Now the secret to the look is to continue using the threads in the order that you have (dark to light) and cut them the same length each time.
And here is the finished project. This design is on a feedsack dishtowel that is why the stitches look loose in some places. I really like how the shells look using this technique.

You can get this free pattern from Bird Brain Designs.

With Passion,

Carrie P.

One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach. One can collect only a few, and they are more beautiful if they are few. Anne Morrow Lindbergh