MooshieStitch Monday: Plushwork Wreath

Today I am going to show you how to stitch a plushwork wreath for the holidays!

For best results - I highly suggest tapestry wool.

This wreath is stitched with DMC Tapestry Wool (which DMC has so kindly provided).

DMC Green 7344 and Red 7108

For my wreath template, I cut a circle about 2.5 inches wide in diameter out of cardboard.

To start, bring your wool up through the fabric (A) and back down (B)

Continue with your surface satin stitch - bring your wool back up next to the previous stitch on the same side.

Then down again across the template.

Back up again next to that stitch on the same side and repeat until your template is covered.

Here is the first layer complete.

I stitched 3 layers of wool around the circle template.

Now you are ready to cut through all the layers.

Remove the cardboard template.

Here it as without any fluffing - notice you can see a gap in the wool.

I tried fluffing the wool to remove the gap / indent in the middle of the wreath but it would not go away. Maybe my template was too wide? 

Although I was not 100% satisfied with my first attempt, I trimmed the wool a little with my scissors, fluffed it as much as I could and added a red bow and french knots for decoration.

My second attempt, I cut a smaller, thinner circle template.

Below is the first circle in white paper on the right and the new template on the left. 

Same process - I stitched three layers of wool.

I cut the layers and removed the template. See how there is less of a gap this time??

Here it is trimmed and fluffed. You can still see a line around the middle but it's less than the first wreath.

Here is the wreath finished with the bow and french knots!

Do you like the first or second wreath better? 

I hope you try this plushwork wreath sometime. If you do, leave a comment below and let us know!

MooshieStitch Monday: Plushwork (with pearl cotton)

My last few posts have shown the plushwork technique with tapestry wool and cotton floss. I wanted to keep experimenting with different flosses, so when a couple reader comments suggested pearl cotton, I decided to give it a try!

I chose an orange and green pearl cotton #5 and used the same template in my previous posts.

Layer 1: Orange

I have lots of spacing in between my stitches - but it is the first layer and I will be covering it up with more layers - so it doesn't need to be perfect!

Layer 2: Green

Layer 3: Orange

Layer 4: Green

Time to cut through the layers and remove the plastic template.

Here it is before "fluffing"..

... and after "fluffing".

I decided to trim the pearl cotton with my scissors to see if it would change the appearance.

Here it is after trimming with the scissors and fluffed.

I do like how the plushwork turned out with the pearl cotton, but I have decided the best results are when you use the tapestry wool.

P.S. I saw a reader comment on the previous post asking how the plushwork does not fall apart when you cut it. Here is a photo of the back.

It is actually the surface satin stitch - where you will bring the thread up from the back right next to the previous stitch on the same side - there are only long threads going across on the front side of your work. (This plushwork tutorial explains it also)

Compare the results from my other posts:

• Plushwork with tapestry wool
• Plushwork with cotton floss

Happy Halloween!!

MooshieStitch Monday: Plushwork (with cotton floss)

Last week, I posted about plushwork with tapestry wool.

I decided to try the same technique with six strand cotton embroidery floss and thought I would share a quick post about how it turned out!

I used the same template and a variegated pink floss.

Half way through my first layer of satin stitches - so far I like how it looks with the variegated pink.

I completed 4 layers of floss on each petal.

Once again - the fun part - cutting through the layers.

Pull out the template...

Here is what it looked like before I "fluffed" it ...

Here is what it looks like after.

I really like the end result with the embroidery floss! I also thought it was easier to stitch with the floss than wool, since wool is much more bulky, but I am also new to wool stitching.

A few more photos of different angles...

I see lots of possibilities of using this technique to add more dimension to my stitching too.

What do you think? Which version do you like better - cotton floss or wool?

I have a few more ideas for plushwork, so you may be seeing some more posts about it in the future.....

Mooshiestitch Monday: Plushwork

Have you ever heard of plushwork embroidery? It is also called chenille work or Amish stumpwork. 

I had never heard of this technique before until I randomly came across a tutorial for it online - so I decided to try it out and share it with you!

First, you should really check out this awesome tutorial. It includes step by step instructions with excellent photos and a handy pdf template to print the design!

I printed the template, traced and cut out a flower using a cover of a plastic container (specifically from a yogurt container!).

My first try was with Appleton wool on linen fabric.

The technique is very easy to learn -  if you know satin stitch you can do this!

Done with the first layer.

I repeated two more layers of the same wool.

The next step is my favorite - cutting the layers!

After I cut all the layers I removed the plastic template.

Here is the finished plushwork flower!

See how fluffy! It reminds me of turkey work.

I think it could have used a couple more layers of wool to make it fluffier, especially in the center of the flower, but it was good practice.

Next, I chose a bigger size flower, cut the template out of cardboard instead of plastic - it worked just as well - and I used DMC tapestry wool.

Here it is with one layer of light blue and adding my second layer of dark blue.

Added another layer of dark blue - for a total of three wool layers.

Cut through the layers and remove the template...

Notice the difference with the DMC tapestry wool? It is a thicker wool than the Appleton wool. 

I definitely like the end result with the thicker DMC wool. What do you think?

Have you ever heard of plushwork? 

If you decide to give it a try, be sure to post your photos in the Feeling Stitchy Flickr Group or tag your photos on Instagram!

For more plushwork inspiration, check out this great Pinterest board.