Joseph's Lantern

One of you lovely Nativity makers pointed out to me that in many places Joseph is depicted carrying a lantern because he leads the way to Bethlehem. I LOVE this so decided to make my Joseph a little lantern to carry.

Download the Pattern Pieces and Supply List HERE 

Give your lantern a candle! Layer Piece A and B to make the light onto Piece E. Use a white blanket stitch to make the candle by layering Pieces C and D. C goes underneath D just to stop the candle from looking indented over the circles of light.

Use a yellow back stitch to sew down the circles of light. A grey straight stitch works for the candle's wick then a few orange straight stitches for the flame.

Turn Piece E into a tube and yellow blanket stitch the tube closed.

Crisscross two pieces of black ribbon the use a black running stitch to keep ribbon in place. Fold excess ribbon over the top edge and stitch down.

Add another ribbon crisscross on the other side of the candle.  

Glue piece H sized cardboard circle to both the top and the bottom of the lantern, Piece G.

Black blanket stitch two pieces together to cover the cardboard on the bottom and repeat for the top.

Cut a piece of pipe cleaner to fit Piece F for the handle.

Black blanket stitch the felt around the pipe cleaner and bend into a horseshoe shape.

Hot glue the lantern to one of the black circles to make a bottom then stuff with stuffing.

Hot glue the other black circle on for the top

Hot Glue the handle into place on top of the top circle.
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Fold Joseph's hand so he's ready to hold the lantern.

Pop a dot of hot glue in Joseph's hand then pop the lantern in place. 

Voila! Joseph has he lantern!

Venetian Inspired Embroidery Pattern

Here's a new free pattern for all of you lovely stitchers!!

Download Pattern Here

If you want to add the colour blotches to your fabric, this is how I did it. I use the old fashioned pencil tracing method especially for this because...

 

you need to soak the fabric. 

I mixed food colouring with salt. Let the salt dissolve then dab the colour all over the fabric. This won't last if you plan on washing the piece when finished. You should use proper fabric dye if you want your colour to be waterproof.

Getting the fabric completely wet allows the colour to bleed out all over the hoop. Make sure the fabric is completely dry before you start stitching. 

Have Fun! I can't wait to see what you create!!

 

Making Mushrooms

 "Live people eat dead mushrooms. Live mushrooms eat dead people."

This statement made me want to make some art but I needed mushrooms. I grabbed some felt and did some embroidery then popped them together. I made a little video that proved a bit popular on TikTok (I usually feel very old and uncool on TikTok) so I figured I would do a proper step by step tutorial so everyone can make mushrooms!!!

Pop some felt in a hoop. I wanted colourful mushroom tops so picked a few colours for each top then did long and short stitch into the shape of a circle leaving a "piece of pie" space blank. If you need a refresher on long and short stitch click here for Cutesy Crafts' instructional video.

Long & Short Tutorial Here

Try and finish the edge with the stitches as lined up and solid as possible but don't worry too much about a perfect circle. Mushrooms are usually a bit wonky which makes them extra wonderful. Cream french knots made good mushroom spots.

French Knot Tutorial Here

For the underside of the mushroom I used long and short stitch neutral colours then added some dark brown straight stitches coming from the middle. The under circle is a wee bit smaller than the top circle. I just eyeballed this but you can trace out circles on your felt if you prefer. 

Clip away the extra felt being very careful not to cut your threads.

Cut out the blank "pie piece".

Fold over the mushroom top, and blanket stitch the cap closed. 

Blanket Stitch Tutorial

Cut a piece of felt in a cream or other neutral colour for the stem. Pop a pipe cleaner in the middle.

Blanket stitch the felt closed around the pipe cleaner.

Blanket stitch the top of the stem to the middle of the mushroom under circle.

Use a blanket stitch to attach the top of the mushroom cap to the bottom. Don't do tight, close stitches yet. Just stitch the cap into place.

Since the top is a bit bigger than the bottom you will need to ease the top together with your stitches. This will help the mushroom puff up. This may seem a little bumpy at first but it will come together with the second round of blanket stitches.

Make sure to stuff your mushroom top before your blanket stitch all the way around.

When your mushroom is adequately stuffed go back around the edge you have blanket stitches with another round of blanket stitches but this time make the stitches very close together. 

Now you have your very own embroidered mushroom!  I'll post the mushroom-centric piece I am making when it's all finished. 

Happy Mushroom Creating!!

A Tomtes Christmas ~ All Finished

I just want to say a Massive Thank You to everyone who joined in!! I’ve had so much fun seeing your progress and gorgeous stitching. I definitely want to do this again!!  

The pattern and all the steps for A Tometes Christmas will stay up on my blog for you to access anytime.

God Jul!

Download Pattern Here

 

A Tomtes Christmas ~ Day 23 and 24

Day 23

Oh Christmas Tree!
Almost at that finish line! Woohoo! The tree is pretty much all stem stitch. The top ball is DMC 972, the branches are 704 and the stem is 699. I sprinkled a bunch of 666 french knots onto the branches.

Day 24

For the Star, outline is DMC 972 stem stitch. The wand holding the Star is 699 Stem stitch. The ribbon swirls are 666 and 816 stem stitch. The embellishments inside the star are 816 straight stitches and 704 french knots.
And that’s a wrap!! Woohoo!! ❤️💚❤️💚❤️💚

 

A Tomtes Christmas ~ Days 21 and 22

Day 21

The string of hearts is a 699 stem stitch swirl and outline of the large heart. The hearts are filled with DMC 666 satin stitch. I outlined the small heart with 816 stem stitch then popped on a 704 french knot at the bottom.
The bird is outlined in 816 stem stitch. The wing is filled with 704 satin stitch with a row of stem at the top. The beak is 972 satin stitch and legs are two 972 straight stitches. Pop on a little 699 french knot for the eye and the little bird is finished!!

Day 22

I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas!! The swirl and hearts are the same stitches and colours as the left side. This bird is outlined in DMC 704 stem stitch. The wing is 816 filled with satin stitch and a line of stem stitch on top. The beak and legs are 972 and a 699 french knot for the eye.

 

A Tomtes Christmas ~ Days 19 and 20

Day 19

I used DMC 699 stem stitch for the swirls. Big chunky DMC 704 french knots. The hearts are filled with DMC 666 satin stitch and the larger heart is outlined with 816 stem stitch.

Day 20

 I outlined the heart with a stem stitch in 816. Lines across the heart are 704 stem stitch with little stars going across in 972.