Frog & Dragonfly Basket
Make a fabric hexagon basket with embroidered frogs, dragonflies, and a water lily. Each panel is hand-embroidered and the entire basket is assembled with hand stitching. No sewing machine required.
This design was created in collaboration with Nic from Craftapalooza. I designed the embroidery specifically to fit Nic’s clever Blossie Basket pattern, combining her beautiful basket construction with my original embroidery design. The panel contains 7 unique hexagons with frogs and dragonflies, with a waterlily for the bottom center of the basket. Each hexagon has a pattern of embroidery stitches and sequins to embellish the frogs and dragonflies. Each embroidered hexagon introduces a few new stitches, so you’ll build your skills naturally as the basket comes together. Finished baskets are about 6 1/2 inches wide. It’s the perfect size for sewing notions, embroidery supplies, wrapped treats, or displaying on a shelf.
You’ll learn the following stitches in this class: mattress stitch, french knot, magic chain, back stitch, satin stitch, couching, backstitch chain, pistil, blanket stitch, woven oval stitch, running stitch, lattice couching. You stitch seven individual hexagons and then watch them transform into a sturdy little basket; the basket goes together one hexagon at a time with simple hand stitching—no complicated construction or sewing machine required.
There’s a materials list with everything you’ll need for this project below. In the lessons, you’ll find a picture-in-picture view so you can see both the instructor and a close up view of the studio table so you can see every stitch step-by-step.
What’s included in this class:
- 6 video lessons
- Complete instructions and diagrams for embroidering 7 hexagon panels
- Step by step demos from start to finish
- Large photos with close up views of the stitches
- Lessons are accessible via your web browser on any device
This project uses two professionally designed components: my printed embroidery panel and the Blossie Basket pattern. Together they let you skip the math and design choices so you can focus on stitching and creating your basket.
Materials you’ll need
- You will need to purchase a Frog & Dragonfly pre-printed fabric panel for this class. It is available in my Spoonflower shop. The design fits on one fat quarter of fabric and includes 2 panels if you choose one of the wider fabrics. I recommend the Petal Signature Cotton, Cotton Sateen or Cotton Lawn for this project.
- You’ll also need 1/8 yard of a complementary fabric to complete the basket. Links for suggested fabrics are included in the lessons.
- Basic sewing supplies (needles, scissors, Clover clips or pins, sewing thread)
- The threads needed for this project are designed to be use-what-you-have. You will need 2-3 shades of green, white, and bright colors for the dragonflies. You don’t need an exact thread kit. I’ll show you how to choose colors from the embroidery thread you already own. You can download a list of suggested colors used in the sample here. I recommend #8 perle cotton or 6-stranded embroidery thread.
This class uses Craftapalooza’s Blossie Basket pattern (sold separately as a downloadable PDF). You’ll find a direct link in the materials list, and you can start the embroidery lessons while you gather your supplies. You are also REQUIRED to purchase a copy of the Blossie Basket pattern in order to complete the project. I do not include the pattern templates or finishing instructions as part of this class. You’ll need the pattern for that.
This class works on your schedule.
In this on-demand version you work at your own pace, completing the lessons on your schedule whenever you want to stitch. There’s a comments section in every lesson to ask questions if you need help.
Want to watch a sample lesson? You can watch the “Materials & Tools” lesson for free by clicking on the “Enroll in this class” button below.
I love beginners.
You do not need embroidery experience for this class. Beginners are welcome! If you’ve done a little embroidery before, great!
The fabric panel has guidelines marked to help with your stitching so you can make precise stitches by just following the guidelines. I’ll give you some suggestions for which colors to use for your stitches but you can be as creative as you want with colors. I demonstrate every stitch step by step. You can pause and re-watch the video as many times as you need to.
Every lesson has a comment block so you can ask questions. I will do my best to respond to your questions as soon as I see them so you can keep stitching.
