A Garden for Pam & Lola

Project presentation

Some embroidery designs are simply inspired by a pretty pattern or harmonious colors, while others are rooted in a more personal story.

Even before I started embroidering, this project was built around an emotion. I hope you will forgive me if I approach this work in a perhaps slightly more emotional way than usual: it was born out of a desire to pay tribute to my two cats, Pam and Lola, who shared my life for many years and whose absence still affects me deeply.

Thus was born “Flowers for Pam and Lola”, a work that will gradually take shape over the course of several articles. This project is broad and rich in detail enough to merit being explored step by step. We will therefore take the time to discover all its facets together.

In this first article, I suggest laying the groundwork for the work:

• the chosen color palette,

• the embroidery stitches that will serve as the basis for the work,

• as well as the cat drawing, which you can download HERE and which will allow you to begin your own interpretation.

The color palette

 I have put together a generous palette of plain DMC threads, complemented by DMC variegated threads and some beautiful shades from House of Embroidery.

Warm shades of ochre, bright yellow, coral, and soft pink evoke light and garden flowers, while greens, turquoise, and blues bring freshness and depth.

Little by little, all these nuances will interact with each other to create, stitch by stitch, a cat entirely inhabited by a garden of flowers.

To begin with, here are the plain DMC threads that form the basis of this color palette.

DMC 924, 501, 163, 807, 162, 827, 825, 824, 823

To complete this palette, I also chose four gradient threads from the DMC Color Variations collection, whose shades add depth and movement to the embroidery.

DMC 4090

Finally, I chose to add a few variegated threads from House of Embroidery, whose delicate and highly nuanced gradients allow you to create particularly vivid effects in the petals and foliage.

The Ocean 73B

To create this flowery cat, I used a set of very classic embroidery stitches that are well known to embroiderers. The aim is not to increase the technical difficulty, but rather to play with colors, textures, and the movement of the threads. These simple stitches can be used to create a wide variety of effects to bring to life the flowers, leaves, and small decorative motifs that make up the cat’s silhouette.

Here are the main stitches used in this project:

• Stem stitch

• Long and short stitch

• Satin stitch

• Split backstitch

• Blanket stitch

• Lazy daisy stitch

• Chain stitch

• Fly stitch

• Fishbone titch

• French knot

Of course, all these instructions regarding stitches and colors are only there to help you complete this project. Feel free to adapt certain stitches, change colors, or introduce your own shades so that this flowery cat becomes a little bit yours too.

All that remains now is for me to welcome anyone who would like to get involved in this project.

Next week, we will begin the first stitches of this embroidery together, focusing on the cat’s head. We will pay particular attention to embroidering the eyes, in order to give it that special look that conveys all the tenderness and affection we feel for these companions who have shared our lives.