Scallop Mat Wavy Stitched Vine & Leaf

Delicate embroidery stitches can be easily made 

through the tiny lacing holes provided 

for three stitching elements: 

backstitch vine and stems, 

lazy daisy stitch leaves (add optional center long stitch) 

and colonial (or french) knot berry trios. 

Cut from card stock, complete stitching 

with embroidery floss (recommended 3 ply), 

then use the optional plain scallop mat shape 

to attach to backside to hide the stitchery construction. 

For a fabric version (wool or wool felt), 

cut the top mat layer as a template to transfer pencil dots 

as pattern for completing as regular 

embroidery stitching with 1 ply (vine and knots)
and 2-3 ply (daisy leaves)

like the thumbnail project shown. 

Mat measures approx. 11.75" in diameter. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A Card stock front with punched needle holes
B card stock back "cover" 
OR . . . 

 . . . C fabric mat template with holes
for marking stitch locations onto wool felt.
(this is the same shape as B above from
lower quality card stock)

(NOTE: fabric version will be demonstrated
first and in more detail.)
2. Position fabric template onto front side
of wool felt and mark the outline (trim line for later)
and each of the needle holes using a .5mm or .7mm
mechanical pencil or equivalent.
Take care that the template does not move during
the process (consider temporary securing method
such as double stick tape).

Here is the marked felt.

Trim excess away a bit beyond the trim line

(final trim after manipulation that occurs

during the stitching process).

This illustration shows the marked dots and

the stitching that corresponds to the marks.

3. Prepare to stitch vine by threading 1 ply floss

on the finest needle you are comfortable with.

Here is a line drawing of the back stitch

that will be used to stitch the vine:

Knot and anchor on the backside, then insert

and bring needle to the front at one of the stitch

marks (pull floss completely through drawing

length fully through - here and throughout).

Next, make a "back stitch" by inserting needle

down at the mark behind the exit hole of the

"up" stitch.

Shown here: a few stitches already completed,

exit thread in front, needle re-insert behind

previous exit stitch . . . 

. . . then bring needle up at the mark

in front of the previous exit hole . . .

. . . to complete a stitch.
Repeat this stitch all along the marked vine line,
also completing tiny branch stitch pairs as they
are encountered during the process. 

4. Next prepare to stitch the leaves, using 2 or 3 ply
floss loaded in the needle.
Here is a line drawing of the lazy daisy stitch
that will be used to create the leaves:

NOTE that the guide mark for the base of each leaf
is also a guide mark used in the vine stitching,
three stitches behind or to the right in this image
of the vine branch.

A. Anchor floss on the back with small knot

and tail and bring needle to the front at

the appropriate vine-shared hole.

B. Loop floss around to the top, then

re-insert needle into the same exit hole.

C. Bring needle point up again at the outer

guide mark for that stitch.

D. Draw needle and floss through and slowly
close the loop stitch until it is stopped by 
exiting floss.

E. Re-insert needle at or very near the outer
guide mark for this stitch.
F. Draw needle and floss away from work
on back side until the top hold stitch is
flush on top.

G. To fill in the leaf, add a center long stitch

by inserting (up) the needle at the leaf base guide mark,

then re-insert (down) the needle at the top guide mark  . .

. . . and drawing the needle through until stitch

is flush with mat surface.

5. Prepare to add the Colonial knot berry stitches

at the trio cluster marks by threading 1 ply floss 

onto the needle.

Here is a line drawing of the Colonial knot stitch:

6. Complete a knot stitch at each of the marks

in all the trio clusters, anchoring the floss on

back side, and "stringing" between the knots

and between the clusters (take care not to

cinch the mat between the clusters if you

do "string" between stitches).

7. When stitching is completed, carefully trim

on the outer marked line.

8. Position (back to back) stitched mat front

over second wool felt layer for back,

and secure in place with fabric or other glue stick

or straight pins.

9. Trim back layer exactly even with front.

10. Complete an edge overstitch to join

the front and back layers, such as a "blanket"

stitch by hand, illustrated here:

OR

a machine blanket stitch, shown here

in process.

CARD STOCK STITCHED MAT

11. Create a card stock mat in a similar fashion,

with these differences.

A. Anchor floss on backside with small strip

of cello tape, both at beginning and

tie-off.

B. Use 3 ply floss for vine stitching,

leaf and Colonial knots.

C. When stitching is completed,

use glue-strip tape (such as the Scotch

brand "Advanced Tape Glide" system)

to join the back "cover" layer in place

at edges.

Here is the completed wool felt mat.

(NOTE that the stitched sample

is an 80% reduction of the cut file original.)