Instructions & Tips To 'Stitch Your Cocktails'
Follow our tutorials and top tips for stitching up your Cocktails!
This is a great project for trying out new embroidery stitches! Whether you just sew your favourite, or fill in every cocktail your tote bag / napkins or tea towel will soon come to life with colourful stitches!
The Cocktails:
Thread Colours
These are the thread colours that come in your kit - of course cocktails can vary so you don't need to stick to my example!
The Basics: Step by step
Dividing your thread
- Our embroidery thread is made up of 6 strands. We recommend splitting your thread in half to 3 strands for the main outlines (but you can use a mixture of thicknesses for various textures.)
- Separate the threads in half at one end - then gently pull them apart.
- The thread has a tendency to tangle so it is best to keep the other end taught as you separate them (a third hand is helpful if you have someone nearby!)
- Now thread your needle (moisten the ends to help guide all 3 strands through) and tie a knot in the other end. You're ready to start stitching!
Backstitch
Backstitch is brilliant for outlining the cocktails and is the perfect stitch to master as a beginner.
- Starting from the back of the fabric, push your needle through the gold outline at your starting point, pulling the thread fully through.
- Put your needle back down about 3mm along the grey outline. Pull the thread firmly through to make your first stitch.
- Push your needle back up through the fabric another 3mm along the outline from your last stitch. Pull the thread fully through.
- Now push your needle back down the same hole as your last stitch so that the line has no gaps.
- Continue to stitch 3mm ahead and then back down the previous hole to make a continuous line... this is backstitch!
- Complete the outline in this way until you get to the end of the design.
- Tie off your thread (see the last stage). Now you can swap your thread for the next colour. Remember to divide the green down to 3 strands, thread the needle and knot the end.
- You can continue to use backstitch to outline the stalk until it is complete.
- For the detail marks, we recommend using only 1 strand of thread for a finer line. Like before, split the thread so that you have only 1 strand.
- Use backstitch to fill in the detail lines
- Try to keep using neat, close stitches for a consistent look.
Tying off your thread
- When you've finished with a colour you need to tie off your thread. Turn your bag or apron over so you're looking at the back of your fabric. With your needle still threaded, go through a stitch (but not through the fabric) - and rather than pulling it all the way, pull the thread just halfway through.
- A loop is created - put your needle through the loop and then pull the thread tight to create a knot. Repeat this stage to secure the stitch.
- Cut the thread close to the knot, and trim any other loose threads from the back.
You've finished your first vegetable! (Or cocktail!)
Creating Corn Kernels
Watch our video to see the corn kernels stitched using French knots, then follow along with the detailed step by step instructions below.
How to do a French Knot
- Use a piece of 6 strand thread (no need to divide), and come up from the back where you want the middle of the French knot to be. Hold the thread in your left hand, with the needle in your right.
- Holding the thread taught, wrap it around your needle. Once, then twice.
- Keep the thread taught with your left hand, and then push your needle back down the same hole (roughly) that you came up through.
- Pull the needle down from the back, ensuring the loops are tight, it will create a neat French knot.
Now mix your cocktails!
Mojito
juice of 1 lime
1 tsp granulated sugar
small handful mint leaves, plus extra sprig to serve
60ml white rum
soda water, to taste
Muddle the lime juice, sugar and mint leaves. Pour with rum into a tall glass and add a handful of ice. Top up with soda water, garnish with mint and serve.
Dirty Martini
4-6 green olives, pitted, plus 25ml of the brine
ice
150ml Gin
25ml dry vermouth
Fill a jug with the ice, then pour in the Gin, vermouth and olive brine. Stir then strain into chilled martini glasses and garnish with olive skewers.
Amaretto Sour
200ml amaretto
3-4 lemons, juiced (you will need 120ml)
1 egg white
small jar or can of cherries in syrup
ice
Put the amaretto, lemon juice, egg white and 4 tsp of the cherry syrup into a large cocktail shaker or blender. Shake or whizz up the mixture until it is pale and starting to increase in volume. Pour into glasses with ice and garnish with cherries to serve.
Pina Colada
120ml pineapple juice
60ml white rum
60ml coconut cream
wedge of pineapple & glacé cherry, to garnish
Pulse all the ingredients along with a handful of ice in a blender until smooth. Pour into a tall glass and garnish with pineapple & cherry
Bloody Mary
large handful of ice
100ml vodka
500ml tomato juice
1 tbsp lemon juice, plus 2 slices to serve
few shakes Worcestershire sauce
few shakes Tabasco
pinch celery salt
pinch black pepper
2 celery sticks, to serve
Pour the vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice and ice into a large jug.
Add 3 shakes of Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco and a pinch of celery salt and pepper. Stir until cold, then strain into 2 tall glasses. Top up with fresh ice, add a celery stick and lemon slice.
Margarita
50ml tequila
25ml lime juice
20ml triple sec
salt
2 lime wedges
Sprinkle salt on a small plate. Rub one wedge of lime along the rim of the glass and dip it into the salt. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then add the tequila, lime juice and triple sec. Shake until the outside of the shaker feels cold. Strain the mix into the prepared glass over fresh ice. Serve with a wedge of lime.
Have fun stitching your cocktails and if you have any queries, please do email us at info@chasingthreads.com - we'd also love to see your embroidered items <3