57. Gifts for Bird Lovers: Embroidered Birds

Use these bird embroidery patterns from MarthaStewart.com to embroider tea towels, eye-glass cases, pillows, or other linens.

The Martha Stewart site uses these embroidered birds to make a bird embroidered quilt, but you don't need to be that ambitious.

You'll Need

• Bird embroidery pattern [PDF]
• Fabric (on which to embroider) —can be cotton, tea towels, cloth napkins, bags, etc.
• Transfer paper (you can find this at most sewing and craft stores. Use white if transferring onto a darker color fabric, and dark if transferring onto a lighter color fabric)
• A pencil or ball point pen (for tracing)
• Embroidery hoop—large enough to fit your pattern
• Needle
• Embroidery floss (you choose the colors)

Instructions

Download and print the bird patterns [PDF]. (Instructions are included on the patterns.)

You can use a photocopier to enlarge the images or keep them the size they are when printed out.

On a solid surface, lay out your fabric. Lay the transfer paper over the fabric (toner side down). Place your bird pattern over that and trace with a ball point pen or pencil. The pressure will transfer the paper's ink to the fabric surface.

Stitch the design onto the fabric using a chain stitch.