Embroidered Autumn Leaves ~ My Method

One more free form embroidered leaf on my  

Autumn Leaves Quilt

The weather has turned a bit cooler and I have been sitting and stitching 

on our covered deck in the backyard.

The oaks have been dropping their leaves early and green this year.

I gathered some to inspire my free form stitching.

It has been so very dry and hot this summer that even these big trees

cannot get enough water to support their big canopies.

It is concerning when the deepest rooted trees in our area 

cannot find enough water deep in the ground 

and have to shed their leaves.

I cannot recall seeing a summer so dry here.

I am hoping for nourishing rains to feed the trees and bushes

and grasses and crops.

Our water comes from the city taken by the big river that flows on to the sea

so we have plenty of water for the small plants and bushes 

and have been moving the hoses from place to place

but the big trees need water to fall from above.

There is a wide variety of embroidery and pearl cotton threads

in these leaves, but for the last few I have done have 

I have used these lovely variegated 

Valdani Fabulous Fall Collection

which I purchased at Fat Quarter Shop

I have had these threads for two years and love stitching with them.

For these quilted leaves, I use a double strand and a chunky large eye needle.

I start my stitch with a loop method borrowed from my cross stitch methods.

I cut a length about 36" and thread both ends through the eye.

I start by bringing my needle up from the back and insert it down to the back 

about 1/4" away.  I do not pull it tight yet.

On the back, I insert the needle through the loop that is formed by folding

the thread in half.

Then I pull the first stitch secure but not too tight.

This locks my stitches without a big knot. 

Then I insert my needle from the back up into the first stitch 

to start my next stitch.

I like to embroider these leaves in a chain stitch.

Here is the back of the stem and main vein of my leaf.

I end my stitching by inserting my needle through the 

last stitch in the back and pulling it secure.

I slip my needle though the batting to hide my tail and snip my thread.

I usually start each side at the bottom stem and stitch upward to close at the top.

Sometimes I add small veins branching off from the center

like the one you can see in the bottom right of the photo.

Sometimes I do the outside of the leaf first and add the center veins afterwards.

Every one of these organic embroidered leaves is different, 

as real leaves are in nature.

I am making good progress on this project this year.

I am finding it relaxing to sit and stitch.

Linking up today with

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

I hope you are enjoying a happy and safe weekend.