Building from Bordeaux 🇫🇷

Story of the Building from Bordeaux design

The Building from Bordeaux design is a lovely street scene from the French city. It's slightly larger than most of our other patterns, but makes it a fun challenge. The design fits perfectly in a 20cm (8") diameter embroidery hoop. You can choose to leave it in the hoop for framing, or stretch the final embroidery onto a canvas frame.

This hand embroidery design is a typical example of what we love with embroidery. Namely, the ability to recreate street sketches in a touchable medium. The design was first born on the streets of Bordeaux, when we went there for a trip. Elin saw the two blue doors and was instantly hooked. Who live behind those doors? Furthermore, one can't help but draw associations to the blue door in Notting Hill... Perhaps there was another charming gentleman like Hugh Grant living behind this blue door too?

With each stitch, you can let your thoughts wander off in the most mystical directions. The process of stitching becomes like a meditative movement, with the bonus of having a unique embroidered artwork at the end of the road. The composition is a fun start for beginners to the embroidery medium. It allows you to practice both straight lines with the back stitch technique, as well as some thread painting stitches for the blue doors. The doors are stitched with a combination of satin stitch and split stitch. Furthermore, you will also get to experiment with some french knots for the door knob and the mini floral. If these stitch names are all new to you, don't worry! We've designed a free embroidery library, where you're able to learn all the techniques you need to successfully complete all our patterns.

Embroidery stitches used in this pattern:

• Back stitch

• Satin stitch

• Split stitch

• French knot

You can learn how to embroider the above techniques in this article or via our free video stitch library Going Knots .

Materials you need to complete this embroidery design:

• 🖼️ Cotton canvas (or any non-stretch and non-transparent cotton fabric such as Duck canvas 7oz)

• 🖼️ Embroidery hoop of Xcm (x")

• 🎨Embroidery needle (We love to use 1-5 Bohin France or DMC needles)

• 🧵 Embroidery floss (DMC colour codes are indicated on your pattern pdf)

• ✂️ Scissor

• 📝 Carbon paper for transfer (Alternatively solvy paper, iron-on pen or any other transfer method of your preference)

• 🖊️ Pointy ball point pen

• 📏 Optional: Small ruler

Here is an article with more information about the various materials that we use.

BONUSES

→ Included in your pattern pdf is a video tutorial on how to transfer our architectural hand embroidery designs with carbon paper.

→ Upon purchase you will also receive an invitation to our supportive Private Facebook community that is available only for stitchers of our designs and courses.

Learn more with online courses

Are you keen to dive deeper into the Architectural hand embroidery style?

Then you’d want to have a look at our in depth Architectural hand embroidery and threadpainting courses on Charles and Elin Academy!

In addition to courses on Architectural designs we also offer other inspiring courses to support you on your exploration of modern hand embroidery.