You will need

If you’d like to stitch your own you’ll need to download the templates from Mollie Makes, and then enlarge it to 150% for a large pineapple. You will also need:

A needle and small sharp scissors

An air erasable pen

White fabric

An 8 x 12″ oval embroidery hoop – I got mine here

Paint and paintbrush (optional)

The thread I used is DMC thread in the following colours (Anchor thread numbers also given), and you’ll need 1 skein of each:

Shade 1 = DMC 3842 / Anchor 164

Shade 2 = DMC 3760 / Anchor 169

Shade 3 = DMC 807 / Anchor 168

Shade 4 = DMC 519 / Anchor 1038

Shade 5 = DMC 828 / Anchor 9159

Shade 6 = DMC 905 / Anchor 257

Shade 7 = DMC 907 / Anchor 255

Shade 8 = DMC 904 / Anchor 258

Shade 9 = DMC 472 / Anchor 254

Shades 1-5 are pinks, and 6-9 are greens (refer to template for shade numbers and placement).

Stitching tips

I’ve really worked hard to improve my satin stitch recently, and I’ve found that doing the stitches with little gaps and filling in works a treat. It’s much neater (for me) than doing the stitches immediately next to each other. I also love to use Thread Heaven conditioner on my thread, as it keeps it together as you stitch. I got mine from Cloud Craft. It’s a lifesaver! It definitely helps to keep the thread together more if you’ve split it up. I generally use 3 strands at a time for satin stitch, as I’ve found that this gives the neatest finish.

When embroidering the leaves, you can either draw a line down the middle of each leaf so that you can work out where you are stitching to, or just do it freehand like I did. Start at the outer edge, and stitch diagonally inwards. I varied the angle on each leaf to give contrast.

This blue pineapple was part of a larger embroidery of three pineapples – the middle, larger pineapple is the original colours, and I also included a pink one too. I love how the colours work so well together, and the bright turquoise hoop compliments it I think. I still used an 8 x 12″ hoop for this design, so these pineapples are a little smaller than my original big pink one. It’s actually nice to stitch smaller, although slightly more fiddly.

Hope you have a great weekend! Have you got any stitching plans?

The post Blue pineapple embroidery appeared first on Hello! Hooray!.

I love pineapples and they’re everywhere right now. Sadly, I’m allergic to real pineapples, but that doesn’t stop me from stitching a pink pineapple embroidery! I spotted this project in last month’s Mollie Makes (issue 55), which was designed by Catherine Greenslade, and knew that I’d have to have a go at making it. The original project uses golds and oranges for the pineapple, but having seen pink pineapples on Columbia Road a few weeks ago, I decided to make mine with a twist!

These are the pineapples that were the inspiration for the adaptation of this project. I had wondered about trying to stitch the pink to cream to green shading on the leaves, but to be honest it was just a bit too small to be able to do that, and I like the contrast of the greens and pinks on the final project.

Materials

If you’d like to stitch your own you’ll need to download the templates from Mollie Makes, and then enlarge it to 150%. You will also need:

A needle and small sharp scissors

An air erasable pen

White fabric

An 8 x 12″ oval embroidery hoop – I got mine here

Paint and paintbrush (optional)

The thread I used is Anchor thread in the following colours (EDIT: DMC now also given), and you’ll need 1 skein of each:

Shade 1 = 59 (DMC 3350)

Shade 2 = 57 (DMC 601)

Shade 3 = 54 (DMC 956)

Shade 4 = 52 (DMC 899)

Shade 5 = 50 (DMC 957)

Shade 6 = 257 (DMC 905)

Shade 7 = 255 (DMC 907)

Shade 8 = 258 (DMC 904)

Shade 9 = 254 (DMC 472)

Shades 1-5 are pinks, and 6-9 are greens (refer to template for shade numbers and placement).

Let’s get stitching!

I had to draw over the lines a few times as they kept disappearing faster than I was stitching, but that’s ok! You can outline the satin stitch on the pineapple if you wish (I didn’t bother with that). You’ll need to use 6 strands for the pinks and 3 for the greens, so separate these carefully.

I decided to paint my hoop to add a little colour, and I just picked up a tester pot of the ‘minted’ shade from Wilkinsons. Their tester pots are only £1 so I’m always getting them for new projects! This colour is nice and bright and gives good contrast with the pinks and greens of the stitching.

I’m so pleased with how my pink pineapple embroidery turned out. We’re going to hang it up in our hall This is because the pineapple is the symbol of welcome – that’s why you often see them on top of grand gateposts at the entrance to big country houses! Hope you’ve had a super weekend – have you been working on any craft projects?

Post updated 28th July 2017 and 12th February 2020.

The post Pink pineapple embroidery appeared first on Hello! Hooray!.