Make a tiny treasure! Designer Ursula Michael has designed this adorable project using silk gauze. The photo at the left shows the actual size of the design stitched on 40-count silk gauze.

Why is silk gauze so special?

Materials needed:

• Kreinik 40-count pure silk gauze
• Kreinik Silk Mori®, a spun silk thread with a creamy, deep sheen
• optional: Kreinik Blending Filament® 091 Star Yellow metallic thread for light play and color
• #28 Tapestry needle
• embroidery scissors

Instructions:

Stitch this design over one thread on your piece of framed silk gauze using tent or continental stitch. Use one strand of silk or metallic following the color key. Each square on the chart equals one fabric intersection on your gauze. Optional: stitch the background in white silk, using tent stitch or a specialty stitch for added fun. Finish by inserting in a jewelry finding (brooch or pendant), ornament frame, or a tiny picture frame (ideal for doll house models).

Stitching tips:

• Sharp scissors, the right size needle, and good lighting can make stitching on silk gauze a breeze. If the gauze size is too small for the naked eye, use a magnifier. A dark piece of cloth behind your work makes the holes of the silk gauze ‘pop’ and you can see the threads that need to be covered.
• Starting at the top or bottom of a chart makes it easier to keep your place on the chart while stitching. Rather than starting, stopping, and clipping threads when you change colors, leave colors you aren’t using to be hidden under other stitches, and thus ‘travel” to the next stitched area.