Colorful Succulent Tote Bag
Succulents!!! These little dudes are trickier to keep alive than you may think. Too much water, too little water: the balance can seem like a mystery. But you know what kind of succulent you can’t tragically over-water? An embroidered one. I love this spunky design with three happy succulents in earthy tones! It’s perfect to stitch onto a tote for all of your plant shopping needs. There’s no such thing as too many plants. This is one of my favorite designs in this book.
I love how layering the thread colors and adding a highlight color can add so much depth to a two-dimensional work of art. Have fun with this design, and feel free to add more small flowers once the design is complete.
Materials List
- Natural or khaki cotton tote bag
- Template (page 167, linked here)
- Water-soluble marker
- Tape
- 8-inch (20-cm) wooden embroidery hoop
- Size 18 chenille needle
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Embroidery scissors
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EMBROIDERY THREAD COLORS
- Dark hunter green (DMC 3345)
- Medium purple (DMC 3835)
- Medium green (DMC 702)
- Light green (DMC 471)
- Light pink (DMC 761)
- Medium pink (DMC 223)
- Light purple (DMC 211)
E M B R O I D E R !
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Transfer the pattern onto the tote bag. This entire project will be created using the Double Thread Method.
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Begin by stitching the stems using the dark hunter green thread. Start at the base of each stem and use the backstitch. Create the leaves by using the satin stitch in the same color.
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To create each succulent, begin with the outline color. Start with the top succulent, which has a medium purple outline and a medium green and light green interior. Use single stitches and the backstitch to outline the succulent. Switch to the medium green thread and, with the long and short stitch (page 14), begin to fill in the inside of each succulent leaf.
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Switch to the light green thread and use the long and short stitch to complete the top half of each succulent leaf, being careful not to overlap the purple outline. Feel free to overlap the medium green stitches.
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Use the same method with the other succulents. The big green succulent uses light green for the outline with dark hunter green and medium green for the leaves. The pink succulent is created using light pink for the outline with medium pink for the inside of the leaves.
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Use medium pink and light purple to create the small floral buds. Use the light purple thread to outline the tip of each leaf of the purple succulent with the backstitch. Do the same to the green succulent with the light pink thread.
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Remove the water-soluble marker lines. I ironed my tote bag at the end to remove the crease from the hoop.