All You Need Is Love – Cat Embroidery

 

 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – especially for cats!

Seriously, my cats think this is the best time of year. We put up a big fluffy green cat chew toy, all decorated with round, shiny cat toys, just for them! (Also known as the Christmas tree and ornaments). If the cats aren’t rearranging the tree, then they’re chewing on it, or even just sleeping under it.

I’m participating in a super fun series hosted by Amanda from Jedi Craft Girl called 12 Days of Meow-y Christmas! It’s a whole series celebrating all things kitties and Christmas – with all sorts of ideas like Christmas projects and gifts!

Today I have the perfect gift for the cat lover in your life – or to make for yourself! Because really, all you need is love. . . and a cat (or two)!

I love doing my embroidery lettering this way, it gives it a hand-lettered look that is so fun. This pattern looks great in a hoop, or it would fit in an 8×10 frame too. Let’s get started!

Materials:

• 8″ embroidery hoop
• 10″ square piece of floral fabric
• 10″ square piece of lining fabric (optional but recommended if your top fabric is thin)
• DMC Pearl Cotton Embroidery thread – size 8
• DMC Embroidery floss – black
• small scrap of fabric for cat
• small scrap of fusible webbing
• marking pen
• x-large ric rac for edging
• hot glue
• All You Need Is Love Embroidery Pattern

Trace the lettering with a marking pen onto your main fabric. If your main fabric is thin (like the vintage sheet I used) add a simple cotton lining fabric behind the main fabric.  Place both fabrics in the embroidery hoop and make sure they are both straight and pulled tight.

Stitch all the lettering by back stitching the outlines – then in the thicker sections stitch small diagonal stitches in a loose satin stitch, so there are spaces in the stitching. Stitch all the lettering with the size 8 pearl cotton.

Iron the fusible webbing onto the back of the scrap fabric. Cut out the cat and remove the backing paper, then fuse the cat in place in the center of the hoop. Draw the details of the cat in place with the marking pen. Using two strands of regular embroidery floss, stitch all the details on the cat with back stitches, and french knots for the eyes and nose.

Trim the fabric around the edge of the hoop to 1/2″. Glue the fabrics to the back side of the hoop with hot glue. Glue a border of large ric rac around the edge of the hoop for a fun pop of color!

You’re all set!! You can wrap up the hoop for your favorite cat person – or keep it for you! It’s totally ok to make your own Christmas presents. :)

If you make one up I’d love to see a photo – or you can tag me on Instagram!

Make sure you’re following Amanda on her blog and on Instagram so you can see all the other Christmas cat projects!