Autumn Napkin Ring Tutorial

Thanksgiving is coming right up. 

To get into the autumn groove, try stitching up some fall decorations with our designer felt, glitzy thread from DMC, and few glass beads.  With a full table to set, these playful napkin rings pack a big bang for little buck.

Trimming up the acorns is my favorite part.  Aren't they fun?  And Charlotte is always game to help embroider -- she likes to the pull the needle through, then hand it back to me.  This is a much slower process, as you can imagine, but I love her.

To share the fun, I've put together a tutorial and a free pattern download...

 

 

MATERIALS LIST

• HB Designer Felt: Dark Chocolate, Evergreen, Fairy Pool, Ginger Root, Mustard Seed, Peacock, Pumpkin Pie, Straw
• DMC Antique Silver Metallic Floss
• Brown glass seed beads, small
• Gold glass seed bead, large (1/8")
• Thread
• Monofilament for beading

 

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Download Paper Pattern - Click here to download the pattern sheet for Oak Leaf Large, Oak Leaf Small, Acorn, Acorn Cap, and Napkin Ring.

2. Sew Napkin Ring Base - Cut 2 Napkin Ring pieces, one in Fairy Pool, one in Dark Chocolate.  Pink long edges of Dark Chocolate band with pinking shears.  Lay this over Fairy Pool piece, then roll to create ring, overlapping ends 1/2".  Stitch neatly along overlapped edge to secure all layers.

3. Embroider Leaves - Cut 2 small Oak Leaves and cut 2 large Oak Leaves, one from each of the following felts:  Evergreen, Mustard Seed, Straw & Peacock. Fold each leaf in half along center vein and edge-stitch 1 3/8" from bottom of leaf toward top to give the leaf dimension.  Using a single strand of Antique Silver floss, embroider a stem stitch on right side of leaf along marked veins.

4. Make Acorns - Cut 2 Acorn strips from Pumpkin Pie felt.  Roll felt from wide end to narrow end, tightly keeping one edge aligned.  Hand-stitch through all layers of aligned end to secure.  This flat end will be covered by the Acorn Cap.  With small, sharp scissors, carve the tapered end of the felt roll into a more distinct acorn shape, trimming away a small bit of felt with each snip.

5. Attach Acorn Caps - Cut 4 Acorn Caps from Ginger Root felt.  Pink edges.  Hand-baste 1/8" from edge around two of the caps, then pull thread slightly to round.  Stack one gathered cap on top of one ungathered cap to form the top of each acorn.  Set stacked cap on each acorn and stitch in place through all layers. With small scissors, cut little "V"s lightly into top surface of cap without snipping completely through felt.  Cut 2 acorn stems 1/2" x 3/4" and roll each.  Hand-stitch each roll to secure, then stitch a stem to top of each acorn.  Once both acorns are made, stitch them together at tip of stems.

6. Assemble Napkin Ring - Layer leaves at center of napkin ring, stitching each in place as it is added.  Attach acorns.

7. Make Beaded Bow - Create beaded bow by running fine monofilament through a first bead several times to anchor, leaving an inch of monofilament to later thread back through finished piece.  Thread seed beads for 1 1/4", then add large gold bead (center of bow).  Thread about 1 3/4" more of seed beads, then thread monofilament through gold bead.  Add another 1 3/4" of seed beads, then thread monofilament once again through gold bead.  Thread beads for 1 1/4", wrapping monofilament through last bead several times, then back through beading toward gold bead to bury thread.  Thread monofilament at first leg of bow up through beading toward gold bead to bury thread.  Trim any remaining monofilament that pokes out.  Stitch bead bow at top of acorn stems.

ENJOY!

Comments

[Marija]

How pretty!
Thanks for the tutorial - it looks like a fun project.

[Seanna Lea]

Very nice! I love things that combine embroidery and beading and some simple sewing.

[Cindy]

How lovely. What a pretty addition to the table. Thanks.

[gina f.]

looks like a fun project! Thanks for the templates and tutorial! Happy Thanksgiving!

[Amy]

Ooooh! Perfect project! Fall is such a wonderful season.

[Ann]

How beautiful are these - especially those delicious acorns! Thanks so much for the tutorial Heather.

[Natalie VV]

I have a little helper too and I know she would be so proud to stitch these pretty leaves. Thank you Heather!

[Mariolonza]

But thanks! I love the tutorial!! Thank you thank you I run to work! ;-)

Mariolonza

[Natalie VV]

I shared this post in my blog today... It's too good not to share.

[Angie]

Lovely! Thank you so much!

[andrea]

these are supercute! wish i'd have seen them before thanksgiving ;)
next year!

[Susan Nhem]

This is soooooooo CUTE!