• Sharp embroidery scissors 4-5" hoop Milliners or Straw needles

• Gripper (or piece of rubber glove) Darning needle Wash-out pen

• Piece of fabric, rayon threads (or Beginning Stitches Sampler**)

Using your wash-out pen, draw a little design of leaves, a stem, flower, fine growth and field flowers (similar to pattern above).

Brazilian Embroidery is three-dimensional, therefore your work must give the appearance of layer upon layer. Embroider your design in the following order:

1. Ribbons or background lines

2. Greenery (stems leading to flowers, buds and leaves, and leaves)

3. Couching lines (stems without flowers or leaves attached)

4. Flowers, buds, etc. (focal items)

5. Calyx (green portion under buds and side-view flowers.)

6. Fine growth (fine thread couched in to add "filler" to achieve a dimensional look)

7. Field Flowers (clumps or bunches of French Knots, added along couched lines)

Hint: The trick to stitching with rayon threads is to keep your thread on the top side of your work at all times. (Rayon Threads are a Z-twist, they must be worked clockwise so they do not unwind) (Cotton Threads (DMC, Anchor, etc. are a S-twist, they are worked counter-clockwise). Keep this in mind if you choose to do 3-Dimensional Stitches with threads other than rayon threads. Rayon threads are not meant to be split, that is why the manufacturer has different weights or thicknesses. Keep in mind -- the heavier the thread, the larger the flower.

If you wish to purchase supplies for the above Beginning Stitches Sampler kit, please e-mail the author at madgeh@mindlink.bc.ca

The kit includes threads, instructional booklet, fabric and needles.