Make Mollie Johanson's linen napkins embellished with thorn stitch blooms to pretty up your dining table or picnic.
You will need
Note
Use a 1cm (3⁄8in) seam allowance unless otherwise stated.
Come up at the bottom of the line of thorn stitch and go back down at the top. Leave the long stitch slightly loose. Come up on one side a short distance from the long stitch and go back down just on the other side of the centre line.
Come up on the second side a short distance from the centre line and go back down just on the other side.
Repeat the steps along the line. Always work the ‘thorns’ in the same order, from right to left and left to right.
Embroider the flower pattern on the corner of the square of linen. Stitch the stems with thorn stitch, the flower with lazy daisy stitch, and the tiny dots with French knots. Use six strands of embroidery thread for the flower and stems and three strands for the dots.
Pin the embroidered square to the quilting cotton square with right sides (RS) together. Sew around the sides with a 7mm (¼in) seam allowance, leaving an opening for turning. Trim the corners to reduce bulk.
Turn the napkin RS out and then press the seams open. Now neatly stitch the opening closed by hand.
To finish, stitch around the edges of the napkin with three strands of stranded cotton and running stitch.
Top tip: Embroider the flowers on just one corner of the napkin for a more simple look as we have, or stitch one in each corner for added detail.
