pattern: tiny easter eggs (and a polka dot stitch!)

I love stitching at a small size, something you've seen here before, and will definitely see again. (In a big way soon...but that's still a secret!) For Easter, I thought it would be fun to stitch some tiny Easter eggs. Somewhere I have some not quite finished counted cross-stitch eggs that are similar, but I don't think I've seen that work in progress for, oh, 15 years or more!

These new eggs, on the other hand, were quick to stitch, and they are already done! At least, the three that I chose are done. Because in the PDF pattern that I have to share with you has a total of NINE egg designs, and each is just 1.5 inches tall.

One of the eggs has polka dots, and I did that to use a new stitch that I learned and thought you'd like to try! I found this stitch in an old book, and it was listed as a variation on the lazy daisy. Hmm...It sort of is, but it's not a stitch that I've seen anywhere else. And the diagram made it confusing, so I'm going to revise it with photos and call it the Polka Dot Stitch!

Here's how to do it:



1. Bring your needle up from the back, just inside the bottom of the circle.



2. In one stitch, go down just outside the bottom of the circle, then back up just inside the top of the circle. Don't pull it through yet. (The original diagram numbered it in such a way that you would need to make a loop like this. It's just too difficult!)

3. Loop the thread around the needle point that is poking out at the top. Make two loops that are circular, then pull the needle through gently so as not to pull the circles.



4. Go back down just outside the top of the circle. This small stitch holds the top of the circle in place.

5. Bring the needle back up just outside the bottom of the circle, then go down just inside the bottom of the circle. This small stitch holds the bottom of the circle in place.




It take a few practice tries, but then they go fairly quickly. They make good tiny flowers, or polka dots for eggs!

If you know more about this stitch or what it's really called, please let me know!




Now, how about stitching up these eggs? On their own they'd make lovely little pins or patches, or you could stitch a whole row of them for the edge of a towel or table runner!

Download the Tiny Easter Eggs PDF Pattern

Come back tomorrow for a printable with some tiny Easter eggs!