How to Make Paper Embroidery Patterns

Remember those embroider patterns your mother or grandmother used on her teatowels? Fluffy chicks, furry bunnies, windmills... if those patterns evoke good memories, you may want to try making your own.

You don't have to stick to teatowels, though! Make patterns for clothing, tablecloths, or even cotton bed throws. Anything you can embroider can be embellished with a pattern of your own making.

It's an easy way to create clothing and household furnishings that are uniquely yours. The pattern can be as elaborate or as simple as you like and you'll enjoy stitching it even more, knowing that it's all yours!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• paper
• iron-on transfer pencil
• artwork to trace
• tape or straight pins for fastening the paper to the pattern

1. Place the artwork in an area with good lighting that makes details easily seen.

2. Put the paper over the artwork and tape or pin in place.

3. Using the iron-on transfer pencil, trace the pattern carefully.

4. Remove the paper and iron the transfer on to the material to be embroidered.

Tips & Warnings

• Some patterns will be more easily seen if you tape them to a lighted window.
• Double check to be sure all lines have been traced before removing tracing paper.
• Be sure the transfer pencil is sharp, as that will give a clearer line.
• Position the paper so that it will not move when you're tracing the pattern.