There’s a Hare in My Garden – a picture walk finishing tutorial
If you’ve ever finished one of those cute little strawberry designs out there (I’ve got several of them!) – then this is going to be a piece of cake…albeit a slightly larger slice 😉
This 1st section talks about finishing on the 20ct linen – Chocolate Milk from Fabrics by Stephanie (stitched over 2 threads!) Scroll down for more info on the 32ct (over 2) finish!
- Iron a lightweight fusible interfacing to the back side of your stitching. This helps to give structure to the berry as you stuff it.
Print your berry template here!
The template/pattern gives several options! (1/4″ seam allowance for the straight sides is included)
A. Print the PDF on regular 8.5 x 11″ paper. Enlarge the pattern (take to a copy shop if needed) so that the height of the berry pattern is 12 1/4″. (the angled line will be very close to the measurement…close is OK)
B. Download the PDF. Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat. Click on print but change the paper setting to ‘poster’. The pattern will print actual size on 4 pages. Trim & tape together.
C. Make your own pattern: place a ruler along the 2 angled sides approximately 3/4″ away from the stitching. Draw the straight line extending above the stitched area approximately 2 1/2″. Draw the straight line below the stitching so it intersects with the other straight line to create your bottom tip. Hand draw an arc across the top approximately 2 1/2″ above the stitching.
- Once your strawberry is cut from the template, fold with right sides together & sew along the straight edge. Trim excess linen at the tip & turn your berry right side out. Stuff with fill of your choice (I use wool roving).
- Needle up with 2 strands of upholstery weight thread & baste around the top of the berry. Cinch tight to bring linen together. Knot to secure. You may need to lace a few more times back & forth to bring your berry tops together as much as possible. (I had a Quarter size opening at the top of mine.)
- Download & print your Berry Cap here.
- Grab the pattern, a square of freezer paper, remaining DMC Perle Cotton 469 & woolfelt. I used the color Zucchini from Benziedesign.com
- Place freezer paper shiny side down onto printed template. Draw template onto matte side. Iron onto woolfelt (iron just enough to adhere – it doesn’t take very long)
- Even though the pattern is ironed on, I pinned a 2nd layer of woolfelt so that I could cut 2 caps at the same time.
- Blanket stitch around the 2 caps with PC #5 469. After that, add running stitches for veins in the leaves…it gives some fun texture!
- Attach the cap to the top of the berry (this will cover the opening).
- I chose to tack the leaves down at the tip of each leaf to give it some character.
- Check out the picture walk blog post that I did for my Berry Basket berries to see how I attached a stem!
Be sure to add the Daisy in My Garden Pin-Mini set (jpm581) from Just Another Button Company.
See – you can grow Big Berries…no green thumb required!
Continue on for some finishing tips for the berry when stitched on 32ct (Pomegranate – Fabrics by Stephanie shown here) – I have made a few template adjustments.
I found that the template that was printed ‘as is’ worked perfectly as I was finishing the berry that was stitched on 32ct. The pattern printed so that the tip to top was 7 3/4″. (As I did with the larger berry, iron a featherweight fusible on the back of the linen.)
Tape 2 templates together. I traced the paper pattern onto a piece of quilting template (tissue paper works too).
Place your template over the berry to mark cutting lines.
A close up of my template placement. I lined it up so that there was approximately 3/8″ to 1/2″ of selvage.
I marked the cutting lines with a frixion/erasible pen, NOTE: I added 1″ along the top edge – since I didn’t originally design for this size, I wanted to make sure that I had enough fabric to fold over the top & not lose sight of the design in the berry cap.
Trim along the marked lines.
I did trim the linen a bit after the berry was assembled & stuffed. It left about 2″ of selvage along the top of the design.
Here you can see why I left that much of a top selvage. The berry is stuffed & closed. The cap will cover the selvage – not the design.
I experimented with the original template. From l to r I am showing you 100%, 70% & 60%. I chose the 70% sizing & continued with the general directions that I have shared above in this post!
I cut out the various sizes & tried them on for size!! This is how I determined that I like the 70% reduction from the original template.
Cathy, HOD
#stitchsomehappy
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