Micro Embroidery: A Lavender Pendant in a Couple of Hours
A step-by-step guide to making a micro-embroidered pendant: draw the lavender motif, work it in rococo/bullion stitch and stem stitch, cut ovals from fabric, cardboard, and felt, gather the blank, and glue it into the base.
Beginner2 hrFree
Translated
Things you will learn
For micro embroidery, it is best to use a fabric base, preferably evenweave.
The example uses three lavender sprigs: the flower spikes are worked in rococo stitch, and the stems in stem stitch.
The embroidered oval is cut with a 1 cm allowance, and the cardboard template is made from an imprint of the pendant base.
The blank has three inner layers: a cardboard oval, felt, and the embroidered fabric.
What you'll make
You'll make a small piece of jewelry with miniature embroidery set inside a metal pendant base. The original example uses three lavender sprigs, but the same method works for a twig, flower, leaf, or any other small design that fits inside the base oval.
Materials and tools
Materials
Fabric base, preferably evenweave
Embroidery floss in the required shades, for the lavender, you need three lilac shades and green for the stems
Felt, 1 piece, for the inner layer beneath the embroidery
Cardboard, for the oval template and firm insert
Pendant base, 1 pc., the base size determines the embroidery size
Glue, for attaching the embroidery to the pendant base
Ribbon, jewelry cord, or chain, for wearing the finished pendant
Tools
Self-erasing fabric marker, for marking the motif on the fabric
Embroidery needle, for rococo/bullion stitch, stem stitch, and gathering the edge
Scissors, for cutting the fabric and felt ovals
Embroidery hoop, not listed in the materials, but visible in the process and helpful for keeping the fabric taut
Preparation
Choose the pendant base first
The base size determines the shape of the embroidery, cardboard template, and felt insert. Before cutting, place the future motif against the oval and make sure it will not sit too close to the edge.
Choose a small motif
The source suggests a twig, flower, or leaf; the example uses three lavender sprigs. If you use a ready-made chart, check it against the oval size first instead of transferring it straight to the fabric.
Draw and embroider the miniature
The main embroidery is tiny: first draw the motif, then work the lavender flower spikes and green stems.
Draw the motif with a marker
Use a self-erasing marker to draw a twig, flower, leaf, or another small motif on the fabric. In the example, it is three lavender sprigs.
Embroider the lavender spikes in rococo stitch
Rococo stitch is a good way to imitate lavender flower spikes. For a color transition, use three lilac shades, moving from light at the top to a richer shade lower down.
Work the stems in green
Work the stems in green thread using stem stitch. Then check that the embroidery fits inside the future pendant oval.
Prepare the fabric, cardboard, and felt
To make the embroidery sit evenly in the base, you need three oval pieces: the fabric with an allowance, cardboard, and felt.
Cut an oval with a 1 cm allowance
Cut the embroidery into a neat oval to match the pendant, leaving a 1 cm allowance around the edge. This extra fabric is needed so you can stitch and gather it on the back later.
Make a cardboard template from the base imprint
Press the front of the pendant base firmly onto cardboard to make a simple imprint. Use it to cut the cardboard oval for the inner insert.
Cut a felt oval
Use the template to cut one more oval from felt. On your work surface, you should have the embroidery, the cardboard oval, the felt oval, and the pendant base.
Tip from the discussion
If you already have fabric, floss, and tools, the only thing you will usually need to buy is a suitable pendant base.
Assemble the embroidered insert
The insert is built in layers: cardboard, felt, and the embroidered fabric. Then the edge is stitched and gathered.
Make a three-layer sandwich
Place the felt oval on top of the cardboard oval, then cover both layers with the embroidery. Keep the motif centered on the front.
Stitch around the blank
Stitch around the fabric allowance. This seam lets you gather the fabric evenly around the cardboard and felt insert.
Gather the thread on the back
Gently pull the thread so the fabric wraps around the inner layers. Check the front to make sure the embroidery has not shifted or tilted.
Glue the embroidery into the pendant base
Use glue to attach the assembled embroidered insert to the metal pendant base. Press carefully so you do not soil the front of the embroidery.
Choose how to hang the finished pendant
The final look depends not only on the embroidery, but also on what the pendant will hang from.
Wear the pendant on ribbon, cord, or a chain
Wear the finished pendant on ribbon, jewelry cord, or a chain. Choose the option that suits the color of the base and embroidery.
Finish and variations
Finish
You're done when
the motif is centered in the base, the fabric is neatly gathered on the back, the insert is glued securely into the base, and the pendant is ready to wear on ribbon, jewelry cord, or a chain.
Variations
Dark fabric
The discussion noted separately that embroidered pendants look striking on a dark background. If you choose dark fabric, test the contrast of the threads and the marker lines in advance.
Other mini motifs
Instead of lavender, you can embroider a tiny twig, flower, or leaf. The important part is to check that the design fits inside the oval of the chosen base.
The embroidery suits the design, but once tested, it sits too close to the edge or extends beyond the oval.
Likely cause
The motif was transferred to the fabric before checking the size of the pendant base.
How to fix it
First make a cardboard template by imprinting the base and check the composition inside the oval. Only then transfer the motif to the fabric.
There is not enough fabric to gather
Problem
After cutting the oval, the fabric is hard to stitch around and gather on the back.
Likely cause
The oval was cut with no allowance, or the edge allowance was too small.
How to fix it
The source specifies a 1 cm allowance around the edges. Do not trim the fabric right up to the embroidery: this extra fabric is needed to assemble the insert.
The embroidery shifted during assembly
Problem
On the front, the motif looks off-center after the fabric has been gathered.
Likely cause
The layers were stacked unevenly, or the thread was pulled sharply from one side.
How to fix it
Before gathering, check the layer order: cardboard, felt, embroidery. Pull the thread gradually and keep checking the motif position on the front.
The lavender looks flat
Problem
The lavender spikes do not have a pleasing color transition.
Likely cause
Only one floss shade was used, or the shades were arranged without a gradient.
How to fix it
For lavender, use three lilac shades and move from light to rich from top to bottom, as described in the source.
?FAQ
What fabric works best for micro-embroidering a pendant?
The original material specifies a fabric base, preferably evenweave. It makes it easier to keep a tiny motif neat and control the size of the embroidery.
Which stitches are used for the lavender?
The lavender flower spikes are worked in rococo stitch, also known as bullion stitch, and the green stems are worked in stem stitch. For the color transition, use three lilac shades from light at the top to richer lower down.
Why leave a 1 cm allowance around the embroidery?
The seam allowance lets you stitch around the fabric and gather it around the cardboard and felt layers. If you cut the oval with no extra fabric, it will be hard to assemble the insert neatly.
Can I use a ready-made chart instead of drawing with a marker?
Yes, but first check the chart against the size of the pendant base. The discussion raised a separate question about fitting a design into a circle: the safer approach is to make an oval template and test the composition before transferring it to fabric.
What can I wear the finished pendant on?
The author suggests ribbon, jewelry cord, or a chain. Choose according to the color of the base, the embroidery, and how dressy you want the finished pendant to be.
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Beginner2 hrFree
