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Blog > How to Make a Monogram – The Letter W

 
A free tutorial: How to Make a Monogram – The Letter W
 
 
Hello, stitching world  •*¨*•♫♪. I hope you are having a good day today.  
Do you have the letter W in your name or does a special person in your life have a name that starts with a W?
This is from me to you for World Embroidery Day on 30 July! Enjoy!   
 
 
 CoverEmbroideredAlphabets-225
This monogram is on pages 104 and 105 of my book:
Embroidered Alphabets 
and 
Monograms & Words
 
Note: This book is out of print (we have no copies left) as far as I know, it's out of print almost everywhere. So if you can, get a copy soon!
You can download the pattern for your collection here.
 


Here's how to make the W monogram...


 
How to Make a Monogram – The Letter W in Ribbon Embroidery
 
METHOD
 
A list of what you need
Threads
*six-strand thread. Separate and use one strand out of the six.
 
col784
a)     Gumnut "Stars"  pure silk no. 784
Col111
b)    Chameleon stranded silk no. 111
 
Silk Ribbons
35
1) Di van Niekerk’s 2mm silk no. 35
81
2) Di van Niekerk’s 2mm silk no. 81
109
3) Di van Niekerk's 2mm silk no. 109
57
4) Di van Niekerk's 7mm silk no. 57
16
5) Di van Niekerk's 7mm silk no. 16
 
Needles
 
needles
Crewel size 9 or 10
Chenille size 18 and 22
Tapestry size 18
Crewel size 10 or straw size 9 for beading
 
NOTES:
 
I have uploaded the design to my website for you to download here:
[download id="195"]
LetterW
* Note: The PDF file is 3,71 MB in size for you to have a good-quality picture to print.
Due to the size, it may take a while to appear on your screen and to download and save.
Print the design and refer to: How to copy and print the image onto fabric on page 16 to 22 in the book.
* For a quick and easy option, you are welcome to order the panel, ribbon and threads here (choose from the W options). 
 
What else do you need?
hoop
The printed or traced panel with the design. See notes above.
Backing fabric—the same size as your embroidery panel. Read more about backing fabric on page 23.
10 inch (25 cm) hoop
 
Stitches used in this design
 
 
Stitches p 57
* See stitch gallery on pages 52 to 58 of the book and I have also added the links to the stitch blog with the step-by-step instructions that follow.
Backstitch, Detached Chain stitch, French knot, Grab stitch, Ribbon stitch, Stab stitch, Stem stitch filling, Stem stitch, Straight stitch, Twisted ribbon stitch, Twisted straight stitch
Note: use one strand of thread unless suggested otherwise.
* If you have the book, you could also refer to:
  • Before You Start on pages 23-28
  • Keeping your work clean and Useful Hints on page 29
  • Stitches and Techniques on pages 31-49
 
Step-by-step instructions
Click on the images to enlarge
The letter W by Di van Niekerk
1. Fill in the initial
Fill in the initial
With thread a, fill in the initial with stem stitch.
 stem-stitch
Make rows of stem stitch close together, filling in the shape with row after row of stem-stitch, making them close together for a neat finish. See stem-stitch filling below.
 
Stem stitch filling
Note: make short stitches when you reach the curved part of the shape.
 
straightstitch
Fill in any gaps between the stem stitches with straight stitch.
 
 
 
With thread b, make a row of stem stitch along the edge of the initial to create a dark shadow and to neaten the edge at the same time.
 
The Daisy and Lily stems
2. Make the stems
 
Use thread b and with stem or backstitch, make the brown twirled stems of the daisies.
 
For a neat finish, make short stitches to accommodate the curves.
Use two or three rows of stem stitch, formed close together, for the upright stems of the orange lilies.
 
3. Make the daisies and leaves
 
 3 Make the Daisies and their leaves
Use the green ribbon 1 and make detached chain stitches to make the small leaves of the lavender-blue daisies.
With thread b, use a grab stitch at the base of each leaf to form a neat, narrow leaf.
Insert the needle further away from the shape to create a short, slender stalk.
Grab stitch
3 Make the Daisies and their leaves
Use the lavender ribbon 2 and make ribbon or straight stitches for the daisy petals.
 
Work over a spare tapestry needle so the petals are slightly raised off the surface of the design.
 
Use thread a or b to add a little yellow bead in the centre of each lavender-blue daisy.
 
4. Make the orange lilies
 
 
Trumpet
Use ribbon 3 and make three or four straight stitches (formed at an angle) to make the trumpet part of the lily.
Work from the stem upwards.
Use thread b and make two or three straight stitches on top of the ribbon to create the dark shadows.
 
4 Make the orange Lilies
Change to ribbon 4 and make the orange petals in ribbon stitch, working from the centre outwards and stitching over a spare tapestry needle so the stitches are raised off the surface of the fabric.
 
4B Make the orange Lilies
Use thread b and make tiny straight/stab stitches to form the brown spots on the petals.
Use the same thread and stitch to form the brown tips of the petals. 
 
Use ribbon 3 and make two straight stitches to form the yellow stamens in the centre of each lily.
 
Change to thread b and use two-wrap French knots to add more brown spots on the petals.
 
Make the dark shadows between the stamens (in the centre of the lily) with tiny straight/stab stitches.
5. Make the lily leaves
 
2 Make the large green leaves
Change to ribbon 5 and with twisted straight stitch or twisted ribbon stitch, form the large green leaves.
Twisted ribbon stitch
The large green leaves
Use thread b and make a few straight/stab stitches at the tip of the leaf and add another stitch or two on the base of the leaf to secure the ribbon and to prevent it from pulling out of shape.
Folding the ribbon in half with your index finger, use a tiny straight/stab stitch or two along the edge of the ribbon to hold the shape of the leaf.
 And the completed piece...
The letter W by Di van Niekerk
I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial  
 
I have some beautiful masterpieces to share with you in the weeks to come. 
 
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Enjoy and have a Wonderful Weekend!
 
Love
Di
love from Cape Town
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