Slow Stitching a Small Mat

I have been using some lovely scraps of fabric to make small mats and will be sharing my ideas - and scraps with a local group soon.

So I thought I’d share some of the mats I have made, and my guidance here. However although I give one technique there are no rules!

scissors, thread, fabric, needle and pins

You will need

• 12.5 cm square of fabric for the background eg denim

• Rectangular scraps of fabric

• Embroidery thread

• Needle suitable for embroidery thread

• A few pins

• Scissors

• A needle-threader (optional)

1. Place one of your smaller pieces at the centre of the  square.

2. Add other pieces around the first piece, overlapping slightly When you are happy with the arrangement pin them in place. You can trim the pieces to suit your arrangement.

   Use just 2 or 3 strands of embroidery thread to thread your needle. Use a quilters knot to knot it at the end. Take the needle between the layers of fabric to hide the knot and bring it up in the first square.

3. Use running stitch to stitch in a spiral around the first piece. Continue with a running stitch. Stitch in a spiral from the first square.
   Continue stitching in a spiral, trapping down the edges as you come to them.

   When you come to the end of a thread, finish with a back stitch on the back then bury the end in between the layers.

4. Add more scraps to completely cover the square, overlapping the edges. Pin in place and then stitch.
   Trim the edges.

How to do running stitch and quilters knot?
Mary Corbet has a comprehensive collection with clear instructions for many embroidery stitches.Running Stitch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4nhj8kMpAI And for the quilters knot take a look at Needlepointers.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g04jPV8tM2E

I have used the same technique to make small vessels.