Priscilla the Forest Witch Fox - Free for October
Design by Suzie Lee Henderson
October's Free Pattern. October’s free embroidery pattern brings a little woodland magic to spooky season. Priscilla the forest witch fox wears a tall witch’s hat, combining woodland charm with just the right touch of Halloween. Created mostly with outline stitches and a few french-knots, it’s a fun project for a cozy fall afternoon.
Supplies you will need
- Hoop - 6 or 7 inches
- Needle - Size 5 or 7
- Scissosrs
- Thread or Floss - Colors listed below
- Transfer Method
- Fabric or something to stitch on
- The Priscilla the Forest Witch Fox Linework, Tutorial, or Kit
- Get the Design -
Download the free witch fox hand embroidery linework.
Hat with Acorn
Click the image to download the design.
Hat with Flower
Click the image to download the design.
The Inspiration
Petal the wildflower fox needed a friend, and Priscilla seemed like the perfect bff. She is sassy and fun. Plus, she has great taste in hats! Originally, I had drawn her with a flower in her hat from Petal. However, since she is a forest fox, she probably wears an acorn and leaf more often. I have not stitched out the version with the acorn yet.
Oops...
Before I share the colors I used in this design, I want to show you what happened when I washed this piece. This is a great example of why you should always test new threads for bleeding.
After I finish an embroidery piece, I usually give it a gentle hand wash. This helps rinse away any oils from my hands or dust that may have collected around the hoop. Then I lay the embroidered fabric on a bath towel and let it air dry. About an hour later, I noticed the purple thread had started bleeding.
If I am using hand-dyed floss or a specialty floss, I usually either test for bleeding or don't wash the piece. But in this case, I used Anchor thread and made the bad assumption that because it's a manufactured thread, it wouldn't bleed. I have a few ideas for saving this piece, but I'm not sure yet if they will work. I'll update this post after some experimentation. Use the button below to learn more about testing your thread or fabric for bleeding.
If I am using hand-dyed floss or a specialty floss, I usually either test for bleeding or don't wash the piece. But in this case, I used Anchor thread and made the bad assumption that because it's a manufactured thread, it wouldn't bleed. I have a few ideas for saving this piece, but I'm not sure yet if they will work. I'll update this post after some experimentation. Use the button below to learn more about testing your thread or fabric for bleeding.
Testing DMC Threads for Bleeding
Three DMC purple alternatives for the hat.
35, 154, 550
35, 154, 550
Washed and set out to air dry.
There is no sign of bleeding in the three DMC colors I tested. Although none of them is a perfect match to Anchor 0072, any one of them would be a great color for the hat.
Stitching the Design
Unfortunately, I didn't get all of the photos I needed before the thread bled. So please pardon the mess. I have not stitched this out with the acorn yet.
I will be restitching this pattern with all DMC thread and will update the photos as soon as I have that done.
I will be restitching this pattern with all DMC thread and will update the photos as soon as I have that done.
Threads Used
- Eye - Black, White, Anchor 0365, Anchor 0382
- Fur - DMC 301, DMC 712, DMC 3726, Anchor 0347
- Hat - Anchor 0072 (bleeds), Anchor 0269, DMC 831
- Flower - Anchor 0238, Anchor 0303, Anchor 0238
Let's start with the eye.
When you are stitching an animal I think getting the eye right is the most important part.
- Pupil - 1 strand of black DMC 310 in a satin or fill stitch. After I filled in the pupil area, I continued with the black and outlined the eye in a split stitch.
- Pupil Highlight - 1 strand of white in a three-wrap French knot. My French knot didn't want to lay down properly, so I used a tiny stitch through the center to tack it in place.
- Eye color - to give the eye some color, I added a few split stitches along each side of the pupil in 1 strand of Anchor 0365. You could also fill in the eye with that color.
- Eyelid - The eyelid and area around the eye are done in a split stitch with 2 strands of Anchor 0382.
- The Eyebrows - The two lines above the eye. I thought it would be fun to play with color a little and give her some nontraditional fur colors. Maybe the purple hat is causing the pinkish glow, or maybe she is just unique. Either way, I used 2 strands of DMC 3726 in a stem stitch for the eyebrows, cheeks, and the upper fur on her face.
Her Face
All of the details on her face were stitched with two strands of floss. Most of the fur detail is stem/outline stitch.
- Nose - Black DMC 310 in a split stitch.
- Between the eyes and the muzzle - In areas where the fur would be smoother, I used a split stitch. Her muzzle is stitched in DMC 301
- Layering the off-white DMC 712 with the pinkish DMC 3726 is optional. Stacking the colors is meant to show highlights in her fur.
Wild and Fluffy Fur
All of the fur around her face done in a stem/outline stitch in 3 strands.
Hat
All of the hat (except the flower) was stitched in a split stitch.
- The outline of the hat was stitched in a full 6 strands of floss.
- The folds or creases in the hat were stitched using 3 strands
- The band and buckle were also stitched using 3 strands
Flower
The flower was stitched using a back stitch in 2 strands. I also added a French-knot to the center of the flower.
Share Your Masterpiece
One of my favorite things is seeing your finished embroidery! If you’ve stitched one of my patterns, please share it with me. I love seeing your color choices, little details, and the special touches that make each piece uniquely yours.
Stitcher's Gallery
If you used this design in your latest project, please submit photos of your work for the stitcher's gallery.
