David & Charles

art is the end result of knowing a craft so well that it becomes intuitive and spontaneous.

amount of native talent is essential,

but equally important is the desire to learn the rules, the inside knowledge, the tricks

colour theory, perspective, anatomy, composition, value contro

creating fantasy art,

3 Once all stitching is complete, make up into a patch as follows. Fuse the iron-on interfacing to the wrong side of the embroidery according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Trim the Aida to within eight blocks of the embroidery all round. Fold six blocks to the back all round and tack (baste) into place. Pin and tack the patch into place on the felt and sew around all sides. Remove tacking and trim the felt to within 1cm (⅜in) of the embroidery. Finish by using double-sided tape to stick the patch to the album.

3 Once all stitching is complete, make up into a case as follows. Trim the embroidery to 14cm (5½in) high and 21cm (8¼in) wide, making sure the design is in the centre. With right sides facing, place the embroidery and smaller fabric piece together. Using a 1.3cm (½in) seam allowance, sew around three edges, leaving one short edge open. Turn through to the right side and press

3 Once all stitching is complete, make up into a case as follows. Trim the embroidery to 14cm (5½in) high and 21cm (8¼in) wide, making sure the design is in the centre. With right sides facing, place the embroidery and smaller fabric piece together. Using a 1.3cm (½in) seam allowance, sew around three edges, leaving one short edge open. Turn through to the right side and press, pushing out corners. Turn 1.3cm (½in) to the wrong side around the open edge and tack (baste) in place.
4 To make a lining, fold the larger fabric piece in half to make a piece 12.5cm (5in) deep. Sew around two sides, leaving one short edge open. Turn 1.3cm (½in) to the wrong side around the open edge and tack (baste) in place. Wrap the piece of wadding (batting) around the lining, matching raw edges. Tack the wadding in place, working next to the stitching line in the lining’s seam allowance. With wrong sides facing, insert the lining and wadding into the outer case, matching side seams. Slip stitch the lining to the outer case around the open edge and remove tacking when finished.

3 Once all stitching is complete, make up into a pillow sign as follows. Place pins to mark either side of the finished embroidery at the widest part, and at top and bottom at the widest part. Measure 4cm (1½in) from these markers and trim the embroidery to size, following a line of squares for a straight edge. Cut the backing fabric to the same size.
4 With right sides facing, place the embroidery and backing fabric together. Using a 1.3cm (½in) seam allowance, sew around three edges, leaving the lower edge open. Turn through to the right side and press, pushing out the corners. Turn 1.3cm (½in) to the wrong side

around the open edge and press. Stuff the pillow, pushing the stuffing into the corners. Slip stitch the open edge closed.
5 Make a hanging loop by sewing each end of the piping cord to the wrong side at the top edge 2.5cm (1in) in from the side edges. Sew the feather or sequin trim around the pillow along the seam line. When sewing on a feather trim, to avoid pulling feathers through with the needle, use large over-stitches, putting the needle through the fabric from front to back and then taking over the feathers and through the fabric from front to back again. Pull up tight and continue around the edges. After finishing, release any feathers caught in the stitches.