Here is a cute idea using Coral Stitch with figures racing to the top of climbing ropes. For this project I used orange acrylic yarn for the ropes and 2 strands of black DMC thread to stitch the figures.
I had originally planned to place a smaller version of this scene on the side of a pair of child's pants however for this project I used 3 sets of figures to create a small wall hanging.
The pattern which is available in our Resources Section for free was copied onto transparent water dissolving paper using a Pigment Pen. Once dried, the ink from these pens should not run into the fabric when the paper is washed away in water.
My fabric here is linen which provides a neutral background and an even, stable base on which to work.
I pulled a thread in the fabric to find a straight cutting line. This is the same method used to find cut a straight edge in our previous video for the Gingko Table Runner. After cutting the fabric to size turn the edges twice and press with an iron, then stitch on the sewing machine to cover raw edges.
You will see that my stitches are well spaced which meant that the project worked up very quickly. The design shows 3 hanging ropes for climbing with the knots of the Coral Stitch forming hand holds for the figures. At the bottom of each rope, the rope is dangling free. Make sure that when you stitch the final knot in the Coral Stitch row, you tie off the yarn at the back with a knot. Here I used a Quilters Knot. After tying off the end of the yarn, take the thread back to the front and then cut the end of yarn about 2 inches or 5 cms from the final Coral Stitch Knot.
The little figures are a mixture of Straight Stitch and Satin Stitch using 2 strands of DMC thread in black.
To finish off the project I covered the unfinished top and bottom edges of the linen with some left over quilting fabric. I worked the top binding with extra space to accomodate a dowel rod for the hanger.
Being such a simple project, it was completed in a day. And it is a great way to use up left over yarn, thread and fabric.
Watch our video tutorial on Coral Stitch on YouTube.
See our web tutorial for Coral Stitch here.
Watch a video of making Brandon on YouTube.
