Butterfly & Flora Embroidery Kit

Royal Horticultural Society

A soothing embroidery kit to create four miniature embroideries, inspired by botanical illustrations in the collection of the Society’s Lindley Library. The four designs mix details of dainty butterflies and graceful lily, gladioli and amaryllis forms; recalling the botanical work of Pierre-Joseph Redouté, whose landmark ‘Les Liliacées’, published 1805, illustrated over 500 related plants in the lily family. With the pattern outlines printed in a washable blue-ink, follow the annotated image guide which specifies the colour, number of threads and stitch to work each segment of the design. With thirteen pretty thread colours and brief instructions to introduce stitches, the kit creates dainty embroidered pictures which make lovely keepsakes. When finished, simply rinse the fabric to remove any traces of blue ink and then follow the guidance to add a felt backing and ribbon loop to display the hoops. Most designs require straight, outline, and long and short stitch, plus French knots to complete. A wonderful gift for anyone who wants to develop their embroidery skills; complete beginners may need additional reference and instruction sources to learn the basic stitches first.

Kit to make four embroideries, each c.9cm dia
Four bamboo embroidery hoops, c.9cm dia, plus metal closure
Four cotton squares with washable blue-pattern outlines
13 skeins/colours of cotton/polyester mix embroidery threads
Backing felt, polyester ribbon, two needles and threader/unpicker tool
Annotated two-sided guide sheet with instructions
21 x 17 x 5cm box
Age 14+, assumes some experience with basic embroidery stitches
Requires by not included: scissors
Paper and card can be recycled