Pillowcase Embroidery

 

 

This is a post about comfort things--how certain smells, textures, or pictures can evoke emotion, soothe, and bring back memories as if they happened just the day before.  And it includes my rather awful attempt at embroidery, which hopefully is balanced out by my good intentions.

 

So first look at my flowers.  Pretty, aren't they?  I grabbed them from the garden this weekend and I couldn't be more thrilled.  I love both sweet peas and roses, but the smell of the sweet peas especially brings me back to my childhood.   I remember loving planting the seeds as a child, and then eagerly awaiting their sweet blooms.

 

Now let's look at the not so pretty.  My embroidery:

 



 

 

I've never been much for embroidery.  Well, the doing part, that is.  I love the finished product.  I've been blessed with family members on both my mom and dad's side who have made (and in my grandmother's case, still make) beautiful embroidered things. 

I remember as a little kid stroking the edge of my pillowcase where the embroidery was.  There was just something comforting to me about the embroidery.  Maybe it was the difference in texture, or maybe it was the knowledge that someone had spent so long doing it.  Or maybe just because it was beautiful, and sometimes the world just needs more beauty.  Especially when one is burying their head in a pillow for a good cry.

I made these pillowcases for my girls, in hope that they find some little bit of comfort from them.  Because it is a hard world out there, you know?  Lu requested a princess, and I decided that if I had to make a princess she would be doing something strong--like moving mountains.  Lu's pillowcase has the quote from Napoleon "Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move mountains."

Ellie is my little lion.  She thinks it is absolutely hilarious to roar at everyone (and everything).  So for Ellie I embroidered the quote from Shakespeare, "Though she be but little, she is fierce."  Two strong quotes for my two strong little girls.  The embroidery could look better, ok, a lot better.

But that's what is great about kids.  My girls are loving their new pillowcases, even though my stitches aren't perfect, and some pucker because I should have used a stabilizer under the fabric (but didn't).  I love them though, maybe more because of their good intentions rather than anything else.  And I love the designs.  Especially that little lion.

I'm sure that one of you much more talented readers could make this template look so much better.  Which is why I've included the template in my pattern store, because I'd love to see someone else turn it into something much more beautiful than my own.  It's an instantly available downloadable PDF, so you'll need to trace the design onto your fabric. 

As always, this template is intended for the home sewer.  You are welcome to use this template--whether it be at a craft booth or personal online shop--as long as you credit Snugglebug University for the design (no mass production though, please).   Happy sewing everyone!  Please let me know if you have any questions. 

Have a wonderful 4th of July everyone, and I'll see you back here next week.