The Maple Leaf is worked in needle painting also known as thread painting and long and short stitch. This is the most realistic form of surface embroidery which is worked in staggered straight stitches in a single strand of embroidery thread on a closely woven fabric, blending rows of colour to create a very realistic embroidery. The sheen of the threads adds to the soft effect of the leaf. The Maple Leaf is a beginners design, please visit the Needle Painting Information page for more information on needle painting and rating of the designs from easy to hard. The fabric comes with the design printed on so you do not have to be concerned about transferring the design yourself and the threads come on a numbered thread template so you know exactly which colour to use on the embroidery. There are 7 DMC cotton thread colours used in the embroidery. There is a choice of a bright green or olive green for the veins of the maple leaf. The maple leaf with the olive veins in the picture gallery is worked by Beryl Marshall. In the kit I provide a detailed instruction booklet with 10 pages of step-by-step diagrams and instructions. Needle painting can be challenging so I suggest learning the technique from one of my kits rather than from a book as you get much more instructions in my kit rather than a book which usually only has a few pages of instructions for one design. I am offering free on-going critique with this kit…..you can email me at any time if you have questions or would like me to critique your embroidery. Embroidery Size: 3 1/4 inches (8 1/4 cm) high by 2 1/2 inches (6 1/4 cm) wide Suggested Designs to Work Prior to the Maple Leaf: Purple Icicle Pansy and 3 PDF Files with the work-in-progress pictures for an in depth learning of the technique. Kit Contents: Instruction Booklet Piece of Southern Belle Cotton Muslin Fabric 11 inches by 11 inches (27 1/2 cm by 27 1/2 cm) With the Design Printed on Seven Shades of DMC Embroidery Cotton on a Numbered Thread Template Two Size 10 Crewel Embroidery Needles Recommended Supplies: 9 inch by 9 inch Stretcher Bar Frame and Thumb Tacks Packet of Size 10 Crewel Embroidery Needles Embroidery Scissors Pencil – To Draw Stitch Direction Lines on the Fabric Additional Piece of Fabric with the Design to Practice Stitches
