Sew-A-Long With Animal Fayre Tapestry Project

Our Sew-a-long project is starting today

🥳🥳🥳

Those of you who have signed up to join the group should receive the first block by email today. Check your spam box, let me know if you need it resent.

Print it out and keep in your folder with your stitch instructions and the wool shade key.

Week One

Your chart is this adorable Little Dutch Rabbit block which has been redesigned for this project.

This will be sewn at the bottom right hand side of the canvas, in position C3.

As there are lots of different wool shades in this project, I am going to pick out just the ones needed for the next few weeks.

Have a look at the wool shade key and choose the wools for just this block.

**Please note that position 8 may have a change to Appletons 894**

You should have 18 skeins of wool.

Okay, so far so good 😁

Now take your canvas, and roll it tightly a few times in all directions. New canvas is stiff and difficult to use, but rolling loosens it and as you work on the tapestry, it becomes soft and fluid. I always start by rolling it a bit.

At this stage, you need to decide whether you wish to make a wall-hanging with whipped and bound edges or a cushion with all the tapestry stitches worked to the edge.

I am making the wall-hanging, so I am going to leave all the coloured blocks on thebottom edge and the first two rows on the right-hand side of the chart. These represent the whipped edge stitched at the very end of the project.

If you wish this option, then you will start with shade 8920

If you want to make a cushion, then these blocks should be sewn from the outset.

You will start with shade 8638, a dark blue.

Next, you'll need to choose the first shade and thread the needle. There is a little video in this blog showing my trick to threading a needle with wool. Have a look if you can't do it first time!!

Cut a length of around 30cm, no more as the wool becomes frayed with use and you want nice fat stitches.

Choose the place for your first stitch.

Put the needle in from the front and as you pull through, hold the tail with your thumb. A few stitches will secure this.

Work along the row for the length of your wool and secure by sewing through the back of the work for about 2cm.

Points to remember!

1. Each stitch shares a hole with the next.

2. It is important to count where the threads intersect and not holes.

3. Finish off your wool if it becomes frayed for a better finish.

   
   

That's all for now!

Well done!