Still trying to stitch slightly ahead of the season, I spent this past weekend working on a new autumn embroidery design that I first mentioned to you here.

Whenever I try out a new embroidery design like this, I end up having to work it several times. I want to know, after all, what kind of glitches might turn up. I want to know if it’s a reasonable design for stitching in a reasonable amount of time. I want to know if it makes sense to make it available the way I envision making it available. I want to know how different threads and colors will work on it.

And I want to know if I should add to the design, subtract from the design, or leave it just as it is.

To discover all these things, I get the pleasure of stitching the design more than once! And, as is practically always the case, I change my mind on many things along the way.

With my pumpkin and leaves design, I decided it just wasn’t abundant enough.

When I envision autumn, I see a natural abundance of rich, golden color. This comes from living in Kansas, I reckon, where the land goes gold, come October.

While we are far enough north to enjoy a seasonal color change in the trees, the overall color that smacks the eyes in autumn out here is gold – bright golds, to rich, deep golds to earthy, warm browns, as the crops tone down and the fields go fallow.

Then, smattering among the golds are the brilliant colors of the trees in their autumnal glory. All of this is set against the vivid blue backdrop of massive, clear Kansas skies. When the sun sets and days go out in a glorious blaze, you really can’t beat it for huge expanses of color.

I know. Most people think that Kansas doesn’t have much to offer, natural-beauty wise. Sure, we’re not mountains. Sure, we’re not seashores. But we’ve got a grand view out here, nonetheless!

Anyway, I was thinking about these things when I stitched my first version of the pumpkin & leaves design, and I decided that abundant golds didn’t get their fair share on the design.

So I added wheat.

In some cases, I added a lot of wheat!

And as it works out, the wheat is my favorite part to stitch. Worked in simple stitches, it goes in fast and it fills out the design nicely.

Above, you can see where I played with one of the simpler versions of the design, adding a couple little wheat ears and a few more leaves to the base, under the pumpkin.

I love this type of embroidery, for the sheer relaxation value of it. It’s not complicated, but the results are pleasing!

So that’s how I spent my embroidery time this weekend. This project is coming soon for you, too! So keep an eye out, if you want some casual embroidery, perfect for the autumn days ahead.

Hope your week is off to a swell start!