National Christmas Jumper day is on Friday 15th Dec SO we have created this blog post to inspire you to get creative with your Christmas Jumpers using Duplicate Stitch and Chain Stitch. All you need is a jumper, some leftover yarn and a whole load of festive cheer. Follow these simple steps and techniques to make your jumper truly unique.
the tools for duplicate stitch:
- A jumper, we’re using our Freedom Jumper in Ivory White
- 1 Ball of Crazy Sexy Wool in Duck Egg Blue
- 1 Sewing needle
STEP 1:
Following the chart below, we will start with our star, so find the point in your knitted piece where you will want to top of the star to sit.
STEP 2:
Cut a long strand of yarn and secure it on the wrong side of the fabric by sewing a couple of stitches close to where you want the first stitch. Each full box on the chart represents a full stitch. Each half box represents a half stitch. We will start by explaining how to work a full stitch, then go on to explain those half stitches.
TOP TIP: When cutting your yarn ready to embroider, don’t cut your yarn too long. Cut lengths of approximately 80cm/30’’ that way your yarn won’t get too fluffy when you pull it through the fabric.
STEP 3:
Bring the needle through to the right side of the fabric, at the bottom of the first stitch you want to embroider over. Tug on the yarn until all of it has been pulled through to the right side.
STEP 4:
The spot where you’ve pulled the yarn through is at the bottom of the little ‘V’ formed by the stitch in the knitted fabric. Your duplicate stitch will sit on top of this stitch, hiding the yarn under it, and it will look as if it was a knitted stitch. Form the right-hand ‘leg’ of the stitch by inserting the needle at the top of the stitch, under both ‘legs’ of the stitch above it. Now pull the yarn through.
STEP 5:
Complete the stitch by inserting the needle in the same place where you started off.
STEP 6:
Pull the yarn through to the wrong side of the fabric, and finish off the stitch.
To work a half stitch, work step 3 as normal, then when you come to work step 4, rather than inserting your sewing needle underneath the two legs of the stitch above, just go through to the back of the fabric at the top of the right ‘leg’. Ta – dah, you have made a half stitch!
TOP TIP: To make the duplicate stitches sit evenly over the top of your knitted stitches, work the embroidery vertically, in columns or horizontally, in rows.
THE TOOLS FOR CHAIN STITCH:
- A jumper, we’re using our Freedom Jumper in Ivory White
- 1 Ball of Feeling Good Yarn in Space Black
- 1 Crochet hook, we recommend a 5mm or 6.5mm hook
- 1 Sewing needle
STEP 1:
Following the diagram below, you will start at the top of the ‘h’ and work down and then along the rest of the ‘ho’ in 1 continuous chain.
STEP 2:
Cut a long strand of yarn and secure it on the wrong side of the fabric by sewing a couple of stitches close to where you want your first ‘ho’ to be. Holding the yarn at the back, insert your crochet hook through from the front of your piece to the back and pull a loop of yarn through to the front.
STEP 3:
Moving along your design, insert your crochet hook through to the back of your jumper, wrap your yarn around the hook and pull the loop back through to the front of your jumper. You will now have 2 loops on your hoop.
STEP 4:
Using your crochet hook, pull the new loop on your hook through the original loop. There will now be 1 loop on your hook.
STEP 5:
Repeat steps 3 and 4 following the template to complete your ‘ho’. Once you get to the end of the design pull on your loop until the end of the yarn pops through. Secure your yarn end.
STEP 6:
Repeat steps 2-5 for your ‘ho’ all over the jumper as many times as you want. We think the more the better!
And in two shakes of a reindeers nose, you’ve got a cute and cozy jumper that even Mrs Claus would be proud of. Don’t forget to hide it on Christmas Eve, you don’t want it disappearing back up your chimney. Let us know how you customised your jumper ready for Christmas, tag us at #woolandthegang