Best embroidery patterns for your home.

[Edited on February 3, 2020.]

I am back from a two-week vacation to Portugal (more on that on my next post) but my internal clock is sort of messed up. I have been waking up in the middle of the night and it is a good two hours before I can fall back asleep. I have been up since 1:30 am this morning so I figured I might as well kick the covers off me and come write. Write about what? Stitcheries! If you are like to embroider as much as I do, then you must be always looking for the best embroidery patterns for your home, or to give as gifts.

My love affair with Lynette Anderson’s designs began about 10 years ago when I first saw a Block of the Month quilt at a local quilt store. Then, in 2017 I had a chance to visit her at Quilt Market in Houston, TX. So fun!

Have you seen her latest book Lynette’s Best-Loved Stitcheries – 13 Cottage-Style Projects You’ll Adore, published by Martingale? Whether you are a veteran or beginner, the book presents an amazing selection of projects which can be finished in an afternoon or in a few more sittings.

Drawing from her childhood in England and portraying vignettes from daily life, Lynette enchants and inspires us to create heirlooms for our home and for our friends.

All photographs by Brent Kane for Martingale. Used with permission.

At the beginning of the book, Lynette explains her Apliquick method with step-by-step photographs, although we can use whichever method is more comfortable. Combined with embroidery, buttons, and gorgeous fabrics, her playful designs come to life in pillows, pouches, wall hangings, and other quilted projects.

I see Hugo the dog! Here is Toby, my dog, in dreamland while I finish a quilt. Someday, I will feature him in one of my quilts, too!

For those of us, members of the Stick Figure Club to whom drawing up our own designs would scare us from even thinking about beginning an embroidery work, creating delightful gifts with stitchery is as quick as transferring Lynette’s patterns to fabric and selecting floss color.

Lynette’s Best-Loved Stitcheries also includes diagrams of the stitches she uses and pro tips throughout to ensure our work will turn out as wonderful as hers. We can use fabrics from her collections for Lecien Fabrics or go through our stash to put our own color signature on each creation.

I love the redwork over the applique’ against the tan floral background fabric on the journal cover above … And that bird button! Anyway, I hope I have given you enough reason to place one of Lynette’s projects at the top of your To-Do list.

Just as I decide the journal will be my first project from the book, the light in my office seems to flicker but there is nothing wrong with the electricity – my eyelids are getting heavier as the rest of the world around me gets ready for the day. I am off to get my first caffeinated drink of a string of many today!

Have fun,