How to Cast-On Flowers in Embroidery
Cast on stitches, also known as "cast on buttonhole stitches" are a fun way to add texture and variation to your embroidery project. These 3-dimensional stitches make flowers appear to pop up off the fabric. Sometimes called "Brazilian" embroidery, cast on stitches are popular with hand embroiderers around the world.
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Things You'll Need
- Milliners needle
- Embroidery Floss
- Fabric stretched in embroidery hoop
- Scissors
Instructions
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Enter the fabric from the back at the base of your flower's petal. Then do a back stitch, coming back down through the fabric and re-emerging from the back at the top of your flowers petal. Do not pull the needle all the way through to the front.
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Loop the working end of your thread over the pointing end of the needle. This is your first cast on stitch! Continue to loop your thread around the needle, making as many loops as is needed to fill this petal or section of the design. As you add loops, slide them down the needle. Keep the loops the same size and tightness. The loops should be somewhat crowded on the needle before you are done.
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When you have cast on as many stitches as called for, simply hold the loops in place with your finger and gently draw the needle through, completing the original backstitch. Make an anchoring stitch close by and admire your three dimensional embroidery work.
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Repeat this procedure several times to make a large flower petal, or make others at varying angles to create the three dimensional petals of a flower.
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Tips & Warnings
Make your cast on loops larger for a "fluffy" looking design.
Use cast on stitches for specific parts of your design, for example as the petals of a flower.
Cast on stitches can also be used to surround large beads in an embroidery design.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
