Romanian stitch consists of long stitches worked close together, each one secured at its mid-point by a smaller couching stitch. It is particularly useful for filling any regular shape that is too wide to be filled in satin stitch. Great for leaves and petals, it is also perfect for the body of Susie Johns’ embroidered bee, which makes a delightful brooch for snuggly jackets.
1 Using the image as a guide, sketch and transfer the motif to white fabric – a normal pencil or pen is suitable as the embroidery stitches will cover up the lines on all areas of the design, except the wings.
2 Place the fabric on top of the felt and fix both in a hoop, making sure that the fabric is taut but not over-stretched. Thread the embroidery needle with two strands of yellow thread and fill in the top part of the bee’s body with Romanian stitch.
3 When this section has been completed, fill in the first black stripe, once again using two strands. Continue, using yellow and black, and Rom