The Mended Wood – A Green Ember Inspired Handicraft

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The Mended Wood Embroidery Handicraft

Welcome to Day 4 of our 5 Days of The Green Ember series!

Today we will be working on a handicraft. This is a perfect handicraft for your Afternoon Occupations during the cooler winter months or for quiet time. And it can be easily adjusted for your younger stitchers by breaking it down into smaller pieces – we suggest only working on one color at a time and in 20 to 30 minute sessions for all beginners. This is actually a fun beginner level piece for learning basic stitches.

To me, the game of Starseek that opens The Green Ember is such a sweet game and a lovely introduction to the beautiful world that we have glimpses of, but that will be fulfilled in The Mended Wood. So I chose the Starseek star to be the centerpiece of this pattern.

Be sure to enter the Story Formed Prize Pack giveaway and share your family’s Green Ember inspired projects with us using the hashtag #THGmorningtime.

Because we are so passionate about the power of story AND such big Green Ember fans, we decided to have a fun giveaway to go with our 5 Days of The Green Ember series!

~~Enter in the Rafflecopter form below for a chance to win~~: The giveaway has ended but you can get your own copies of the books through the links below!

John Ronald’s Dragons – perfect for the kids to learn about Tolkein
C.S. Lewis’ On Stories – great for your moderate to stiff stack of Mother Culture reading
Caught Up in a Story by Sarah Clarkson
The Green Ember by S.D. Smith
The Green Ember medallion ornament from Eddy Efaw pottery

What you’ll need:

6 inch wooden embroidery hoop

White or ivory linen fabric or a fabric item to embroider

Printed pattern to copy and embroidery pen or print on water soluble sticky paper

sewing needles

Embroidery floss in dark emerald green, dark brown, medium brown, dark gray, dark red, light red

Red ribbons for streamers if you will be hanging your finished piece

6 inch embroidery hoops Embroidery linen Embroidery needles Embroidery floss Fine Gold Acrylic Paint Red ribbon

Handicraft Stitch Tutorial

The stitches you will be using:

French knot – a simple way to make little round knot stitches

Stem stitch – a lovely and easy way to make a thicker line

Satin stitch – a simple filler stitch

Backstitch – an easy way to fill in text

Directions:

Cut your linen fabric (if using) in a 9 inch diameter circle – if you are using an embroidery transfer pen, you will want to transfer the pattern before you put the fabric in the hoop. Simple place the printed pattern under your fabric and trace it. If you need a “light box”, tape the patter to a window and tape your fabric over it.

Center the fabric over the solid portion of your hoop. Add the top hoop and tighten gradually while gently pulling the fabric taught through the hoop. (Watch the video for a demonstration)

If you are using the printed sticky paper for your pattern, apply it now.

Thread your needle and begin stitching!

French knots – Dark emerald green around the outside

Stem stitch – dark brown and light brown alternating on the Star sticks

Satin stitch – dark red on the shaded ribbon, light red on the smaller ribbon

Backstitch – dark gray for the text

When your sewing is completed, you will need to rinse the sticky fabric or ink from your piece. Let it dry, then press it nice and flat.

To finish your piece, you may choose to paint the outer hoop. We used a decorative gold paint.

After you have placed your completed piece back into the hoop and tightened it, you need to finish the back. Either trim and glue down the extra fabric or sew it close as shown below.