Let's just get all the cakes out of the way right now.

Another little embroidered cake from the archives, made a few years ago for a friend who makes cakes based on her paintings, & vice versa. The original cake can be seen here- don't you just love that magical little city (mountain range?) on top? I picked this cake partly for the amazing combination of white-red-yellow-pink-brown, and partly/mostly because I will sew anything if I get to do French knots. What's cuter than a perky little dinner-roll-like bundle of thread?

I got hooked on French knots after seeing the nutty amounts of them being cranked out over at Posie gets Cozy, like on this pillowcase, or this pillow. I still aspire to do some project requiring thousands of French knots, but haven't come up with anything yet. Any ideas? Please help! French knots are my anti-drug!

There's a nice tutorial from the Purl Bee, if you'd like to be as nerdy as I am...

Hold the phone. I was already to hit "Publish", when I remembered What I Hate About French Knots! They're like... remember how Christmas lights used to be wired in series, so if one burnt out all the rest went out, too, and the magic was over? Well, that's how French knots work. There you are, just knottin' along, gettin' cozy with some Austen- Keira! Gwyneth! Aishwarya! Alicia!- and you couldn't be happier. But then, one of your knots is wonky, or too loose, or the thread gets stuck, and you can't just cut it off because they're freakin' sewn in series! What are you supposed to do? Start from scratch?

Hmmm... As always, there's a good chance I'm doing this all wrong. Though I directed you to a tutorial, I didn't actually read it. Everything I know about sewing I learned from a little free-with-embroidery-floss pamphlet from 1939. I love it, and I'm stickin' with it.

Comments

[Sarah W J]

this is AH-MAZ-ING!
love love love!
you should set up an etsy store with these!
a cupcake version would be adorable!

[redmenace]

I am in LOVE with this. I want one for the baby's room! xo

[cecelia westerberg]

PLEASE set up an etsy shop. i n e e d one of these.

[Denise]

I love this! The colors, the texture, the simple linen background. Fabulous.

[tess]

Thanks, everybody!
This was so fun to make, especially since it was for such a lovely birthday girl. I would looooooove to have a shop someday- this might just be the encouragement I needed...

[Melissa de la Fuente]

Oh! I am in love....saw your lovely cakes on Oh happy day! I so hope you open a shop & put these in it! ;) If you do, please let me know!
xo
Melis

[Rose fr FineCraftGuild.com]

I actually love how you did your embroidery tutorial showing how you went from sketch to the real thing, with hints from the trenches.

I guess I work like you a bit, I glance at a tutorial somewhere online (perhaps), and then I start venturing out on my own, playing and designing away. Way easier than following someone else's idea verbatum.

But this idea sketch to the 'tada' sequence is helpfully encouraging.

The cakes are all beautiful, and so do come link up either your sketches or this post on our blog, so our readers can find you also:
http://www.finecraftguild.com/free-craft-tutorials-party-16/

[Hypnotherapy London]

WOW, that is amazing. Makes me want to have a god at it although sure it isn't easy.

[4D Ultrasounds]

PLEASE set up an etsy shop.I Need one of these. :)

[cake decorating supplies]

weavinggggggg. its so nice!

[Annie]

Wow, how cool is that project? So simple but gorgeous. It inspires me to create similar to this one. Thanks a lot :) have a great day.

[find doctor]

WOW! Good art work with embroidery and cake idea so good. It's show creativity.