Let It Snow! : Tutorial #3 FINISHED!

Haha, I know I'm thinking, "wow, isn't she done with this candle mat yet??" It seems like it's taken forever to finish but that's only because I spent most of the time perfecting the pattern itself, getting it ready for printing.

Just to remind y'all, this is my own design. Please don't steal it! Purchase a pattern. Then, as long as you remember to give me the proper credit as the designer in your seller listings, you can do whatever you wish with the design.
Last year, for selling on Ebay, I made different sizes of candle mats, pinkeeps, and mugrugs, using this design. Once you've purchased the pattern, use your imagination to create whatever you wish with the design. I'm really anxious to see your results!


Let's finish this candle mat up today, ok?

I've embroidered the big snowflakes on which was shown in the last tutorial and now all I need to do is add the french knot falling snow above the snowman head. I start by making an arch with the french knots and just filling in from there. It doesn't have to be perfect, just try to space them evenly above his head.
Now it's time to center the mat onto the white background. Wool tends to stretch easily so even if your background is cut out exactly, you still have to work with those scallops to get them aligned evenly onto the white background. Taking one scallop at a time, measure and pin the blue onto the white, making sure that 1/2" of the white edge is showing. Blanket stitch through all thicknesses and it's looking like a completed candle mat now!

So at this point, if you've nicely tucked in and hid those threads on the backside, your mat is finished, if you want it to be. It also looks nice to blanket stitch through that single thickness of the white edging too.
I prefer to finish off that outside edge, so let's put a backing on this just to make it extra nice and thick.

Adding a backing to this, is an extra expense because of the extra wool that is used, but it's really worth it to give the mat a really nice finished look and feel. You can see from the picture how nice and thick this is now and once it's steam pressed, it lays so nicely on the table too.

Yeap, here's the finished "Let It Snow" candle mat. I just need to take it to the ironing board and steam press the back.

I received a question the other day about what size needles I use. I have to laugh at that question ... not because it's a silly question ... it's actually a very good question. It's just that I really don't know how to answer it! I don't know what size needles I use!

This is a picture of the pincushion that I use everyday. It's huge, yes. It has probably at least a dozen needles in it, all different sizes. When I need a needle for whatever I'm doing, most times, I just randomly grab a needle out of that mess and if the thread that I'm using doesn't fit through the eye of the needle, I put it back and grab another. haha ... sorry, I can't help any more than that! Just buy a pack of assorted sizes and stick them into your favorite pincushion. If anyone out there knows the answer to that question, tell me so that I'll know what to buy next time I need the needles!