Pi Hand Embroidery on Paper

Embroidery on Paper?? How does this idea sound? I have always enjoying trying different things. Learning, sharing and having a happy time with my arts and crafts projects. Instructables is one such superb platform to boost my creative energy.

The inspiration for this idea comes from nail-and-thread patterns on wood. Just that the nail are replaced by holes on paper. It makes like a lot easier to do the same work on more easy, safe and affordable medium as paper. A nail-and-thread pattern on wood looks amazingly intricate and create a sequel of the original pattern when symmetric geometrical shaped patterns.

Even though the design appears simple and easy, it requires patience and perseverance as paper is not the same a fabric or any other natural material for embroidery. Having said that a careful work will fetch you great results.

In this project I have hand embroidered Pi on paper. Come and join me in this incredible journey to learn a simple trick to enjoy Pi Day.

1. Construction Paper

2. 5 in X 7 in Photo frame

3. Silk threads

4. Needle

5. A pair of scissors

6. Pen or pencil

The list of materials are shared in the image 1 above. Make sure you have a good quality construction paper. A good quality photo frame takes it the next level. Silk threads of a good quality does the magic. The construction paper is choose is dark grey (looks almost black in pictures) in color and is of a great quality.

The photo frame I selected is 5 in X 7 in and so I cut the paper to the same size with the help of a pair of scissors. See image 1 & 2. Keep this ready for the next step.

With the help of a pen, I drew Pi as a freehand drawing. See image 1 & 2. As the paper color is dark, it was not easy to see this on the photo.

This is the fundamental step and is crucial for the success of the project. I have used a small needle to makes holes as an almost equidistance on the outline of the Pi image drawn on paper. The distance and the contour matters for the final looks of the project. It is important that you maintain the distance well and also follow the outline as per the design. Furthermore, as I know that is paper and not fabric or wood, so accuracy and patience is the key. With utmost precaution I pierced holes and this is seen from image 1 through 8 entirely. With this Pi image is ready. Keep coming with me.

I picked green color as my first thread. Remember that this Pi figure is not a symmetrical pattern and so the image will not have a resulting sequel in the perfect symmetry, shape or form. I then created cross-stitches keeping 2 pairs of holes in between. This was to accommodate two other colors (pink and blue) later as planned. I continue the left arm of the Pi, then the horizontal top and later moved on to complete the right arm. As the right arm has a bend at the very end, the thread with keep on following the contour accordingly. Check for these steps from image 1 until the end. So far so good.

In this step I continued to add the pink thread crosses just beside the green ones. As said it carefully working on one cross at a time and moving over from the left arm to the top one and then the right. I completed these crosses with the image 9.

Very similar to the green and pink crosses now I followed the blue thread crosses in the same row. Making sure the holes that are meant for this is utilized with care by lifting the needle up and down. Finally I completed the entire Pi as seen in image 6 above.

In order to complete the image in its entirety, I decided to border this with a nice yellow and white shaded silk thread with a simple running stitch. This outline or border gives a nice smooth finish and enhances the entire handmade embroidery work.

As a last step, I added this image to the 5 in X 7 in photo frame. Looks great. In reality it is hard to believe that the handmade embroidery is on a paper and not fabric. Looks rich and royal just a fabric. Ditto!!!

What's your experience embroidering on paper?