Guest Post: Emily makes valentine pillowcases

I asked one of my new friends, a talented crafter, to guest blog! Thankfully she said yes, because the tutorial she's sharing with us today is fantastic! Be sure to follower her because she rocks. Okay, without further ado, here's Emily!
Hi! I’m Emily, and I blog at Scribbles from Emily about faith, lifestyle, and creative inspiration. Today, I’m going to show you how to make an easy Valentine’s Day craft: matching pillowcases! If you’ve never embroidered before, don’t let that scare you. I picked stitches that require no previous embroidery experience, so if you’re picking up a needle and thread for the first time, you’ll be able to pull this off with no problem.

You will need:

·         A needle.

·         Embroidery floss. I bought this floss at Walmart for a few cents.

·         A set of pillowcases.

·         A water-soluble marking pen if you have one, or a pencil.

Type your phrase into a Word document in the font of your choice, and make it as big as you’ll need it to fit on the pillowcase. Simple, clean fonts will work best. I used Learning Curve. Print it out, and slip it underneath your pillowcase. If your pillowcase is too thick to see through, try taping it to a window. Trace it with a pencil or a water-soluble marking pen. Then, add the hearts and arrows.

Now you’re ready to embroider! Cut a section of floss about ten to twelve inches long. Separate the strands in two groups of three. Thread your needle with a section of three strands, and tie a knot in the end. Begin stitching your design using a running stitch.

When you come to the end of your thread, tie a knot, or weave it underneath existing stitches. Then, re-thread your needle and continue.

If you need to dot an “i” or make a period, try tying a knot on top of your fabric. I made a French knot, but you could always take a bunch of stitches close together to create a similar effect.
When you’re finished stitching, dunk the pillowcase in water to remove the marking pen. Allow it to dry, and slide it onto your pillow. Ta da!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! Feel free to ask me any questions in the comments.
Thank you, Liz, for having me today!