Kokeshi Make & Take from Melly

Late yesterday I received an email from a customer that put a huge grin on my face.

Hello ladies!

I stopped by your booth at the AQS show in Knoxville and picked up your embroidery special - 2 DMC thread colors and a hoop, then you get the linen with the pattern stamped on it.  so cute!  Of course I'm addicted to embroidery now! Finished that cute doll pattern, and have downloaded several more :)  My question for you is:  I loved the linen that your free pattern was printed/stamped on.  What is it called?  And do you stock it in your store?  And do you stock any more embroidery patterns?

Thanks ladies - for introducing me to hand embroidery!  What fun fun fun!

Quick Stitch

This quick to stitch hand towel would make a lovely housewarming gift, birthday present, or new neighbor welcome. Add this to a basket filled with coffee, jams, jellies, and some homemade bread, and you have a one of a kind gift that's sure to be appreciated.

To make: cut your main fabric 18 x 20 and make a double 1/4 inch hem on all four sides. Cut the hem band 18 x 10. Fold the hem band in half long ways and press. Embroider one side. Sew wrong sides (1/2 inch seam allowance) together leaving a hole to turn. Turn band inside out and stitch hole closed by hand. Faggot stitch the hem band to the main towel. I did mine by hand but you could machine faggot stitch as well.

The embroidery is a simple backstitch. I made up my own designs, drawing ideas from the main fabric. You could use a coloring book or embroidery iron-on transfers as well. "Kitchen" in simple block letters would also work. Think of the hem as a blank canvas that screams to be embellished.

Kokka fabric from Japan would look great in a cottage style kitchen. It would make absolutely adorable window coverings, seat cushions, or table linens. It's a lovely stable woven linen cotton blend that is easy to work with and enjoyable to sew. It coordinates well with chocolate brown or natural colored linen.