Free Pattern: Monogram for Hand Embroidery
Since we're on the subject of hand embroidered monongrams (are you sick of it yet?!), I thought I'd share with you an alphabet! Unfortunately, it has to come in bits and pieces, since it requires a lot of clean-up work!
Here's the first letter! This is taken from an old publication (1912) called La Broderie Blanche, an old French magazine that sported lots of embroidery patterns. The image is not as clean as I would like, but it does suffice for a pattern!
You can enlarge the monogram or reduce it either on your computer or on a photocopier. An easy way to transfer the monogram onto white fabric is to use a sunny window. Tape the monogram onto a sunny window, tape your fabric over it, and trace it. If you have a light box, it may save your arm a bit!
You can also trace the monogram onto good tracing paper (use red ink), then turn the paper over and trace over the design with either a regular #2 pencil or with a white dressmaker's pencil (if you're transfering onto darker fabric). Place the monogram red-ink side up on your fabric where you want it, and use a ball point pen (don't break through the paper!) and trace back over the monogram. This should transfer your design clearly enough to see it, and then you can go back and touch up if needed.
Anyway, here's the A. I'll post the rest of the alphabet as I get it cleaned up.
Ain't it perty? I love this alphabet! I like it a lot better than the one I used on my guest towel project; it just lacks the convenience of an iron-on.
As far as embroidering, and what stitches to use, it really depends on your project. If you're doing something large, like a pillow case or sheets, or something medium-sized like a guest towel, you could outline the letter and fill in with tiny seed stitches, then satin stitch the flower petals and leaves, which would give a nice, light effect, and good contrast in texture and so forth. If you're doing something small, like a hanky, I'd probably go with overcast (barely padded, if at all) satin stitch. For hankies, the monogram needs to be pretty small, so in reducing this, I think you'd get to the point where you wouldn't have double lines on some parts of the letter. I think overcasting would work well in areas like that.
If anyone's positively antsy for a specific letter, let me know! I'll skip ahead.
For more monogram patterns, please visit my Index of Monograms for Hand Embroidery.
Here's the first letter! This is taken from an old publication (1912) called La Broderie Blanche, an old French magazine that sported lots of embroidery patterns. The image is not as clean as I would like, but it does suffice for a pattern!
You can enlarge the monogram or reduce it either on your computer or on a photocopier. An easy way to transfer the monogram onto white fabric is to use a sunny window. Tape the monogram onto a sunny window, tape your fabric over it, and trace it. If you have a light box, it may save your arm a bit!
You can also trace the monogram onto good tracing paper (use red ink), then turn the paper over and trace over the design with either a regular #2 pencil or with a white dressmaker's pencil (if you're transfering onto darker fabric). Place the monogram red-ink side up on your fabric where you want it, and use a ball point pen (don't break through the paper!) and trace back over the monogram. This should transfer your design clearly enough to see it, and then you can go back and touch up if needed.
Anyway, here's the A. I'll post the rest of the alphabet as I get it cleaned up.
Ain't it perty? I love this alphabet! I like it a lot better than the one I used on my guest towel project; it just lacks the convenience of an iron-on.
As far as embroidering, and what stitches to use, it really depends on your project. If you're doing something large, like a pillow case or sheets, or something medium-sized like a guest towel, you could outline the letter and fill in with tiny seed stitches, then satin stitch the flower petals and leaves, which would give a nice, light effect, and good contrast in texture and so forth. If you're doing something small, like a hanky, I'd probably go with overcast (barely padded, if at all) satin stitch. For hankies, the monogram needs to be pretty small, so in reducing this, I think you'd get to the point where you wouldn't have double lines on some parts of the letter. I think overcasting would work well in areas like that.
If anyone's positively antsy for a specific letter, let me know! I'll skip ahead.
For more monogram patterns, please visit my Index of Monograms for Hand Embroidery.
Labels: free embroidery patterns, monograms, whitework
Posted By: Mary Corbet on Tuesday, June 24, 2008
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8 Comments:
Nice alphabet. Those old magazines have great patterns. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Mary for sharing the patterns and since you gave permission, I'll be the first to put in my request for the "M".
~Susan
Thank you Mary for the detailed instructions on how to transfer monograms on fabric. I will definitely use your method.
The letter 'A' looks so simple and yet dainty. I would love to have the patterns for letters 'M', 'V' and 'S' if it's not too much of a problem. Greatly appreciate your work!
Mary, thank you for this alphabet. I did go to the site, but all the letters in the book looked quite 'messy'.
I will wait until all the letters are done.
Hey Mary, what a great idea to 'reprint' beautiful old patterns that may otherwise be lost. I'm not in the market for monograms myself, but am curious to see what the S will look like. I've always thought S was such a pretty letter anyway!
Thanks for all the great ideas and inspirations!
Very pretty! I don't know as I'd be able to do it justice but I'll look forward to seeing more of the alphabet later anyway. :)
-Jeannine
CONGRATULATIONS
on reaching over 1000 RSS feeders! :-)
(That was sneaky - it went up over 1000 quickly, didn't it!)
Hi, I love your monograms!!! i love the little flowers in the corner. I'm still patiently waiting on L, R, and Y.
keep up the wonderful work!
~Hilary
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