As we’re getting ready for a move in two weeks, I decided to put a temporary ban on buying any new plants. Normally, I’d be at the nursery every other week, grabbing whatever’s in season, but now I need to get my plant fix in different ways. This gave me the perfect opportunity to explore other plant-themed crafts, and I landed on something fun: embroidered pocket plants!

A New Crafting Adventure: Embroidery with DMC Magic Paper

A few months ago, I took a leap into the world of embroidery. When DMC reached out to see if I wanted to try one of their beginner-friendly kits from the 1000 Patterns Project, I was both nervous and excited. Growing up, my mom used DMC patterns to hand-stitch stockings for our family every year, so embroidery always felt like a skill level I could never quite reach.

While I’m still far from matching my mom’s craftsmanship, I’m really enjoying DMC’s Magic Paper for beginners. (This isn’t a sponsored post, by the way. I genuinely loved using the Magic Paper kit and thought it could be helpful for fellow embroidery newbies!)

What You’ll Need:

• Plant patterns + Magic Paper
• Embroidery thread
• Embroidery needle
• Embroidery hoop
• Shirt or garment to embroider on

DMC offers blank Magic Paper sheets for creating your own designs, although I haven’t used them yet. The Magic Paper is water-soluble, which makes it easy to remove once the embroidery is done. It’s like magic—watching the paper dissolve in water was honestly the coolest part of the process!

How to Get Started:

1. Prepare Your Design:
   Start by cutting out your plant patterns with enough border to securely attach them to your shirt or garment. I chose a variety of plants, including a Pothos vine and a Monstera leaf, for a fun mix.
2. Place the Pattern:
   Arrange your cut-out designs on the pocket, making sure you won’t sew the pocket closed while working. I layered the Monstera leaf on top of the Pothos vine to create some depth.
3. Stick the Design to the Shirt:
   Peel the backing off the Magic Paper and stick your plant design directly onto the fabric.
4. Set Up for Embroidery:
   If you’re working with a thinner fabric, an embroidery hoop will keep everything tight and in place. For thicker materials like denim, you can usually skip the hoop.
5. Start Stitching:
   For the Monstera leaf, I used 6 threads of DMC 319 for a chunky split stitch, with metallic DMC 5283 for the veins. The Pothos vine was done with a backstitch using DMC 3753, and I used satin stitches for the leaves. The pattern lines were a bit hard to see on this fabric, so I treated them as a suggestion and experimented with new stitches. In hindsight, I’d choose a simpler stitch for the metallic thread, as it turned out a bit stiffer than I expected.
6. The Magic Moment:
   Here’s the best part—simply pour water over the paper! Rub it gently, and watch as the white paper disappears, leaving only your beautiful embroidery. The dark blue lines might stick a bit under the thread, but a quick wash takes care of any remnants.

I’m so pleased with how these turned out. I learned new stitches and completed a finished piece in just a few hours. Plus, my sister has already tried to steal it, so I’d say that’s a sign of success!

Have you tried embroidery before? What’s a DIY skill you’ve been meaning to tackle? Let me know in the comments!