One Direction quilt project- Liam

Today I am featuring Liam Payne of One Direction.

The image below is to give you an idea of what the original image looks like & what the Sketch Guru image looks like. I usually use the "SimpleSketch2" option in the app. I find it gives me best mix of strong outlines & finer details.

Liam Payne and image used to create the pattern

From this sketch image, I create the embroidery pattern. Sometimes I draw it right on the fabric, as is the case with this project.

Traced out on the fabric

I didn't use my light box for this because the lines were so sharp. I just laid on my bed with some good overhead light & traced away.

Finished block of Liam all ironed

Using the trusty outline stitch, I embroidered Liam in purple- DMC floss #327. My favorite part of this is Liam's chevron tattoo peeking out from the arm of his sport coat.

Liam's name in my handwriting

Below is Liam's lyric block with the lines from "Over Again" that Fiona picked out. I traced Fiona's hand & embroidered the outline in light purple- DMC floss #209. Adding Fiona's hand made this quilt even more specific to her!

Liam's lyric block- Over Again

Up next... the boy from the Emerald Isle- Niall.

One Direction quilt project- Louis

The One Direction Quilt Project is advancing quite well...Today I am featuring Louis Tomlinson!

Louis singing

In consultation with my very opinionated daughter (I have no idea where she gets that from!), we chose this image of Louis (twitter: @Louis_Tomlinson).

Creating the pattern

I used the app Sketch Guru again, then using a pencil, I traced out the line drawing/ pattern directly on the bamboo/ cotton fabric.

Embroidery in process

Breaking out my trusty hoop & needle, I got to work (outline stitch, of course). Fiona chose DMC floss #334. You can see the finished block below.

Finished block

Louis named embroidered on a group block

Above is Louis' name that I wrote out directly onto the fabric. I say, make it more personal & use your own handwriting, or create your own font to use.

Below, I used a modified font for the random uppercase letters & my own handwriting for the rest. Fiona chose the lyrics to be featured based on some of her favorite songs.

Lyrics Louis sings from the 1D song Nobody Compares

Stay tuned... Next up: Liam!

My Best Friend's Wedding... Well, Engagement

Well, my best friend is getting married for the 2nd time this June, now that marriage equality has been achieved here in NY. Unfortunately, the 1st time around (with a man) didn't last as long as she expected... but she has found a wonderful woman to share her life with.

For Christmas 2012, I decided to make an embroidered portrait using one of their engagement photographs as a basis. It came out great, if I do say so myself. Did I give it to my best friend? No, I did not. We have been friends for over 20 years (I can't believe I am old enough to say that!) & is very easy to buy for. I gave the portrait to her fiance!


I started out printing out the image in the size I wanted the finished portrait to be. Using a regular marker, I traced the image to come up with the pattern.

Sandy and Kathleen's engagement picture

I flipped the paper over & created a reverse image pattern & used that for the project.
 

reverse image embroidery pattern

I try to keep the back of my embroidery neat so that stray treads don't show through the white bamboo/cotton fabric. I used a DMC dark blue floss, because my best friend's favorite color is blue. I should ask her fiance what her favorite color is!

back of the piece showing my stitches

The completed portrait is simple and lovely. I placed it in a simple white frame so that the embroidery is the focus.

finished embroidered portrait