Moon and Moth Embroidery Kit, 8 in Hoop

About the designs

Each design puts one creature or one moon at the center of a circular wreath of leaves and flowers, set against black fabric scattered with tiny stars. The dark ground makes every color glow, so the finished hoop looks rich even though each motif is quite simple. Choose from:

• Luna moth: a pale green moth with long tails under the phases of the moon, ringed with pink flowers and blue leaves.
• Autumn moth: a brown moth with eyespots below three hanging bellflowers, in a wreath of rust leaves and golden berries.
• Bumblebee and full moon: a striped bumblebee beneath a full moon, between lily of the valley and long blue-green leaves.
• Crescent moon and bee: a big golden crescent wrapped in orange, cream and yellow flowers, with a small bee crossing the sky.

The two moths are the most detailed, with shading across the wings. The crescent moon is the quickest: one large shape in yellow and a cluster of simple flowers.

Stitches you will use

You can work the whole picture with a handful of classic stitches. Satin stitch fills small shapes like petals and the stripes on a bee. Long and short stitch blends one shade into the next across a wing or a mushroom cap, which is what gives these designs their soft, painted look. Back stitch and stem stitch draw stems, antennae and fine lines, and French knots add pollen, berries and stars.

Split the floss into two or three strands for fills and use a single strand for the finest details. Keep your stitches short on curves, and work from the back of a shape to the front so the top layers sit neatly over the ones behind.

What is in the kit

• Black cotton fabric printed with the design
• Embroidery floss in every color the design uses
• An 8 in (20 cm) embroidery hoop
• Instructions in English

You will also need small sharp scissors and an embroidery needle.

How long it takes

Plan on about 8 to 12 hours. The wreath and the stars go quickly; the wings and the moon take most of the time, and they are the part most people enjoy. It splits nicely into evening sessions of an hour or two.

Finishing and display

When the last stitch is in, tighten the hoop, trim the fabric to about an inch (2.5 cm) beyond the frame and run a gathering stitch around the edge to pull it to the back. A circle of felt over the back makes it neat. The hoop hangs from its own screw, leans happily on a shelf, or can go into a picture frame. Two or more of these look good hung together, and the Garden Bugs kit is made in the same style if you want a ladybug or a dragonfly to join them.

Delivery and returns

Delivery is $6.95, and free on orders from $49. The delivery estimate for your address shows on this page and at checkout. You can return the kit within 30 days of delivery; return shipping is yours unless it arrives faulty or wrong. See delivery and returns for the details, or compare the other embroidery kits.