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Give Thanks Yarn Embroidery

November 07, 2016

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Learn how to embroider with this super simple beginner tutorial and whip up a give thanks piece in no time!
Give Thanks Yarn Embroidery  in black frame with pumpkins

The whole premise behind my blog is finding beauty in the everyday.

Of course, sometimes that means creating beauty.

Especially around the holidays.

Another very important message that I try to convey, while feathering and fluffing my nest, is that anyone can be crafty if they want to.

I'm part cheerleader, part teacher and part enabler, since crafting can become a bit of an addiction.

With that in mind, everything I do here is super easy, very inexpensive and none of it requires anything more than a few basic supplies.

Today's give thanks embroidery is no exception.

I have never done this before. I didn't watch a video or read a post on how to do it. I just picked up a needed and started sewing.

Is my technique correct?

Are my stitches perfect?

Did I have the right supplies?

Certainly not, but I had a ton of fun making it, it didn't cost me a dime and now it makes me smile.

Good enough for me, and I hope, encouragement enough for you, so that if you'd like, you give it a try.

😊

So...in my recent post about giving thanks all year long, I shared a photo of my latest crafty DIY, a framed give thanks yarn embroidery. I promised that I would share the tutorial and today's the day.

I have always been drawn to hand-stitched crafts, but was intimidated by the process. It looked complicated and intricate. It was certainly not a beginner’s kind of craft.

Or was it?

I scrutinized a few pieces I had on hand, a few old hankies and aprons that my grandmother had made, and realized it was just basic stitching…definitely worth a try. Of course, not knowing if it would be a success, I didn’t want to spend money on embroidery supplies. So I used what I had in my craft closet and got to work.

I was able to rustle up, a piece of felt, yarn, a large needle, scissors, paper, pencil, a ruler and a picture frame.

I figured it would be the kindergarten version of embroidery.

That’s ok, everybody has to start somewhere.

I mapped out a 5x7 rectangle on my felt, to fit my dollar store frame. Next, on paper, I sketched out a few designs.

Give Thanks Embroidery Design on paper in pencil with a cup of hot water

My brainstorming session with my ever present hot water!

When I was done brainstorming and had chosen a simple design I liked, I drew my pattern on the felt and grabbed my yarn to envision my creation in color.

I wanted the letters to have interest, but didn’t love the idea of making them each a different color. I had a variegated skein of green yarn on hand and decided to go with that for the words. The letters would be slightly lighter and darker shades of green.

variegated yarn skein and felt pattern on table
Perfect.

I chose orange, yellow and more of the same green to create the pumpkin.

The stitching itself was simple, I used a very basic backstitch.

It's hard to explain this without a video, but I'll do my best. I hope it makes sense.

I poked my threaded needle up through the fabric at the top of a letter and then down again, creating a half centimeter long stitch.

Needle with green yard stitching on felt pattern

Then I moved my needle on the underside of the felt about half a centimeter past the end of the first stitch and popped up. I moved the needle back toward the end of the first stitch on the top of the felt and poked the needle down. Now I had two stitches.

I just continued this process until all the letters were done.

Super easy and the result was lovely ~ if I do say so myself...

My words, Give Thanks, turned out just as I had hoped, the green shades faded into one another and I never had to change out my yarn.

Green give thanks embroidered letters on felt in a hand

Once the letters were done, I moved on to the pumpkin, using orange yarn for the body, green for the leaf and yellow for the stem. I began the process by outlining the pumpkin, leaf and stem to define their basic shapes and then going back to fill them in, using the same backstitch I described above.

When I had completed the embroidery, I placed it in the frame, but felt like it looked a little unfinished.

I decided to add a thin green line to the bottom of my design to anchor it. This is one of the reasons why I love creating things on my own and from my own designs. I am not locked into anything and can add or subtract elements to suit my decor.

DIY Give Thanks text over Give Thanks in frame with pumpkins

I have to say, it was actually a very enjoyable process and a whole lot easier than I ever imagined. 

Easy, handmade and perfectly imperfect embroidery for all.

Beautiful.

Are you ready to give it a try?

Hey...if you already embroider, do tell...and share your tips and tricks, you know, in case I really do want to graduate from my kindergarten version and jump in and play with the big kids.



Kim Signature


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  1. Super cute and fun you crafty girl. Glad you are enjoying this creative side of yourself.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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    1. Thanks Kris. I have been having fun crafting lately. It happens in spurts!

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  2. Hi Kim, I love your thanksgiving embroidery and frame! You did a great job and it looks like such a fun project to make!
    Have a wonderful week.
    Julie

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  3. I admire your ability to just think of something and whip it up without so much planning! That is true talent...way to go Kim :)

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    1. Thank you, Karen!! I'm certainly not much of a planner am I? ;)

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  4. It looks wonderful ! Just right :)

    I embroider off and on with embroidery thread...but mostly to enhance a section of a quilt block and the only two stitches that I ever use are that basic backstitch of yours and sometimes a stem stitch which is also easy.

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    1. Thanks Deb. Certainly not perfect, but I am learning!

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  5. Kim, I love your embroidery! I have working on crafts in the evenings and I may need to pick up embroidery again--thanks for the inspiration!

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    1. I have fallen in love with embroidery, Cecilia. It's so relaxing... :)

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  6. This is a precious and timeless piece. I so agree with you about creating with simplicity and joy!
    Jemma

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    1. Thanks, Jemma. I really am enjoying it...I just need to get better at it! ;)

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  7. You are crafty! I love to do some embroidery but I must say that I am indeed a beginner. Your work is very pretty. Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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    1. Thanks Angela! And I am a total beginner, but I can say I am enjoying the process. I wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving, too!! :)

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  8. So cute & you did an excellent job, Kim!

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  9. What a cute idea...simple and sweet. That would make a cute hostess gift, too. xo Diana

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  10. Love it . . .
    Not afraid to branch out and create!
    Just plain "love it!"
    Give Thanks!

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    1. Thanks Lynne...have always wanted to try it. Glad I gave it a shot. Now I am hooked!

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  11. Sweet Kim! What a beautiful role model you are to your girls.

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    1. Thank you, Ronda, you are very sweet....and I hope they think so! :)

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  12. Hi Kim, you created a darling treasure. And, stitching your design with yarn is called CREWEL work. Love it and so well done my talented friend. xo

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    1. Thank you, Celestina Marie, and crewel, huh? Who knew? I have heard the term, but thought it was something more like rug hooking or you needed a special tool to do it. Look at me, I’m craftier than I thought. Now I am off to investigate, since I am in love with my new hobby and always eager to learn more.!! Thanks so much!! :)

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  13. Love that your crafts are easy with the minimum of supplies. Your picture is cute and you will continue to enjoy its simplicity. What a wonderful reminder to give thanks always.

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    1. Thanks Florence. I am all about easy and using what I have on hand!

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  14. Just lovely, Kim, and a great reminder to "Give Thanks".

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  15. Love, love this cute craft! I used to embroider all the time when my kids where little. My husband was in the military and it would help me keep busy when he was gone for weeks at a time. I still keep some of those projects. One of them I have it hanging on my craft room wall. Great post, Kim!

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    1. I can see how it would be easy to spend hours doing this. I really enjoyed it...

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  16. I used to love to embroider. Especially on crazy quilt projects. But I just have too much arthritis in my hand from surgeries after an auto accident years ago. It was such fun though! I kept my embroidery thread, boxes of it. Wonder if it's too old to use? Oh well, I won't be using it. Cute idea you had there, my friend!
    Brenda

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    1. Thanks Brenda. I bet you could do some fun display with your threads...in a basket or a box. I bet the colors are still bright and beautiful.

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  17. So cute Kim, and as far as I'm concerned, definitely a 'big girl' project. I've never embrodered, but it looks to be very relaxing.

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    1. So relaxing, Doreen and way easier than I thought.

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  18. Very sweet! I used to do cross stitching eons ago but sadly I can't do these crafts anymore due to arthritis. But I love to see others creating cute things!

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    1. I used to love cross stitching, Ann Marie. I know that the arthritis days are coming...typing is not a great habit, I fear.

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  19. My grandma was a A+ embroider and cross stitch girl!! I can do the very SIMPLE cross stitch, and I would like to learn how do embroidery.

    I love your idea.

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    1. Cross stitch was my favorite and first craft...I miss it and should do more. I did simple ones, too. It had to have the pattern and the x's printed on the fabric!!

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  20. I think you did a great job! I did some projects like this a loooong time ago, but I remember how much I actually enjoyed it. It's kind of peaceful, just sitting there stitching. :)

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    1. Very peaceful, Lisa, indeed. I was actually sad when this was done and that is not usually how I feel after crafting. I am a product type of girl, but I really enjoyed this process!

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  21. That is too, too cute! I haven't done any embroidery in such a long time! You make it look so easy! Hope you are doing well and I LOVE the new pic! Love and hugs to you sweet friend!

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    1. Super easy, Benita...if I can do it, anyone can, trust me!! :)

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  22. I love your spirit, Kim. You didn't look for an embroidery kit or practice your stitching, but instead, jumped right in and created something delightful! I love it!

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    1. Thank you, Susan. Yes, I am a jump into it kind of crafter...for better or worse! ;)

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  23. Super cute! You seriously amaze me with your creativity - I can totally see you teaching small kids, that must have been the perfect job for you!

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  24. You are such a craft girl and it is adorable...right now I'm in creative stagnation with everything going on and look forward to it coming back.

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    1. Renovation will do that to you, I totally get it, Cathy. Here's to craftier days!! :)

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  25. What a sweet project. I am going to teach my girl how to do this. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thanks Vanessa...It was so easy. She'll be a pro in no time! :)

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  26. Thank you for a great explanation. I was looking online for a similar idea and really appreciate it

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