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Seasonal Silhouettes Luminary

Free project instructions to embroider a spooky silhouettes luminary.

Free project instructions to embroider a seasonal silhouettes luminary.

Light the way to your front door with a seasonal luminary featuring silhouette scenes. The glow from a flameless candle shines through the organza panels, both highlighting the serene embroidery and adding a soft, glowing look.
 

Project Needs & Notes

- 1/3 yard polyester organza
- Three 36" long by 1/2" thick wooden dowels
- Heavy-weight water soluble stabilizer (I prefer Sulky Ultra Solvy)
- Temporary spray adhesive (like Gunold KK100)
- Air-erase pen for marking
- 3 1/3 yards 3/8" wide decorative trim
- 1 1/3 yards thin cord
- Fabric glue
- Hot glue and gun
- Small hand saw
- Flameless battery operated candle or small mason jar with battery-operated fairy lights
- Large decorative bead (optional)

The designs used in this tutorial include:
- L5753, Haunted House Silhouette Panel
- L5739, Jack-o-Lantern Silhouette Panel
- L5743, Black Cat Silhouette Panel
- L5747, Witch Silhouette Panel

Sizing Notes:
The finished size of your lantern will depend on the size of your designs. You can use any size panel designs with this project. The frame of the lantern will be sized to fit the design and fabric. The examples below are for the various sizes of silhouette designs (width x height x depth).

Extra Large (7" x 11.8" designs): 6 7/8" x 13 3/4" x 6 7/8"
Large (6" x 10" designs): 5 1/2" x 11" x 5 1/2"
Medium (7.9" x 7.9" designs): 4 1/2" x 9" x 4 1/2"
Small (5" x 7" designs): 4"x 8" x 4"

This project was featured in the following:
 Spooktacular Halloween Lookbook
 

Free project instructions to embroider a seasonal silhouettes luminary.
Organza fabric adds a soft, luminous filter for the light to shine through in this luminary.

Cut a piece of polyester organza a bit larger than your hoop. Cut
a piece of heavy-weight water-soluble stabilizer and place it on top of the organza. Hoop both layers together.

Note that the water-soluble stabilizer is on top of the organza. This is because organza has a rougher texture than most fabrics. When the stabilizer is on top, there's a smooth surface for the embroidery foot.

Free project instructions to embroider a seasonal silhouettes luminary.
When embroidering on organza, the stitches are seen from both sides. Wind a bobbin with the same thread that you're using in the top needle.

Free project instructions to embroider a seasonal silhouettes luminary.
Attach the hoop to the machine and load the first design.

Embroider the design.

Free project instructions to embroider a seasonal silhouettes luminary.
Unhoop the fabric and stabilizer.

Measure and mark the water-soluble stabilizer one inch out from the outer edges of the design.

Draw lines connecting the marks.

Cut out the shape.

Free project instructions to embroider a seasonal silhouettes luminary.
After embroidering, trim the excess stabilizer away.

Soak the remaining stabilizer away according to packaging instructions.

Allow to airy dry completely. Then, press. Use a pressing cloth over the organza to prevent scorching.

Repeat for a total of 4 panels.

Free project instructions to embroider a seasonal silhouettes luminary.
To make the luminary frame, cut eight short and four long pieces of wooden dowel.

The size of the dowel pieces will depend on your design and fabric size.

To determine your size, subtract 1 3/4" from your fabric width and 1/2" from your fabric height.

The new width measurement is the size of the short pieces. The new height measurement is the size of the long pieces.

Free project instructions to embroider a seasonal silhouettes luminary.
Hot glue the ends of two short pieces with the ends of two long pieces to create a rectangle.

Repeat this process to create a second rectangle.

Free project instructions to embroider a seasonal silhouettes luminary.
Hot glue the four remaining short pieces to one of the rectangles, as shown.

Free project instructions to embroider a seasonal silhouettes luminary.
Then, hot glue the remaining rectangle piece to the open end of the four short dowel pieces to create the frame of the luminary.

Free project instructions to embroider a seasonal silhouettes luminary.
To assemble the organza panels, lay one panel flat.

Align a second panel on top, right sides together.

Pin in place, and sew a 1/2" seam along the pinned side.

Then, zigzag stitch or serge the seam to prevent any unraveling.

Free project instructions to embroider a seasonal silhouettes luminary.
Align the third panel on top of the second panel, right sides together.

Pin in place, and sew a 1/2" seam along the pinned side; zigzag stitch or serge the seam.

Add the fourth panel on top of the third panel, and stitch in place just as you did the other panels.

Then, align the first and fourth panels, right sides together, and stitch the raw edges together.

Free project instructions to embroider a seasonal silhouettes luminary.
Turn the fabric right side out and carefully slide the fabric over the frame.

The seams should be positioned over the side corners.

Free project instructions to embroider a seasonal silhouettes luminary.
Use fabric glue to add decorate trim along the frame of the luminary.

It should go all the way around the four sides, then around the bottom and the top.

Free project instructions to embroider a seasonal silhouettes luminary.
To create the hanger, cut two 16" lengths of cord.

Hot glue the ends of each cord to the inside of two top corners of the frame.

Tie cord around the center of the two pieces you just glued, add a decorative bead, and then tie a loop at the other end.

Free project instructions to embroider a seasonal silhouettes luminary.
For the bottom of the frame, cut two pieces of wooden skewer long enough to reach corner to corner along the bottom of the frame. It will make an "X" shape.

Add hot glue to the ends of the skewer piece and press them into place at the bottom of the frame.

Place a flameless candle inside the frame to finish, or use battery-operated fairy lights inside a mason jar.

Free project instructions to embroider a seasonal silhouettes luminary.
Use these luminaries as a way to light your walkway on October 31! Trick-or-treaters will love the spooky look the lanterns add to your haunted house.

Free project instructions to embroider a seasonal silhouettes luminary.
This stunning lantern is also a hit for the most festive time of year. Give your house a holiday makeover with a Christmas version of the luminary.

Free project instructions to embroider a seasonal silhouettes luminary.
Create a spiritual variation of the Christmas lantern with scenes depicting the events at Bethlehem on December 24.

Free project instructions to embroider a seasonal silhouettes luminary.
Panels featuring the great outdoors come together to make a luminary that's perfect for cabins, backyards, and patios. Whip one up for your home!
Silhouettes Luminary



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Products used in this Project: