Sew Birthday Fun (5 page)

This stitch is a little tricky to get right, but it is well worth it as it always looks great even in small doses.

Work from left to right. Bring the needle up below the motif line, cross over to the top right and take a little stitch to the left above the line.

Cross over to the bottom right, and take a little stitch to the left. The needle should come out directly below the stitch above. Continue to line up the top end of a diagonal stitch with the bottom start of another for a nice, even line of stitching.

Work from right to left. Bring the needle up below the motif line, cross over to the top left and take a little stitch to the right above the line.

Cross over to the bottom left, and take a little stitch to the right. The needle should come out directly below the stitch above. Continue to line up the top end of a diagonal stitch with the bottom start of another for a nice, even line of stitching.

Embroidery experts may notice that my version of this is more often called a Colonial knot. It must be mastered.

Bring the needle up from the back of the fabric, and wrap the thread around the needle two or three times. Put the needle back into the fabric close to where it originally came out. Do not go back into the same hole otherwise the knot will be lost.

Before pulling the needle back through the fabric, gently pull up the thread that is twisted around the needle. Place your fingernail over the twist and pull through.

Bring the needle up from the back of the fabric, and wrap the thread around the needle two or three times. Put the needle back into the fabric close to where it originally came out. Do not go back into the same hole otherwise the knot will be lost.

Before pulling the needle back through the fabric, gently pull up the thread that is twisted around the needle. Place your fingernail over the twist and pull through.