Coffee Now: A Happy Little Pattern for Slow Mornings and Busy Days
Because some things really do need to happen before everything else.
There are mornings when we wake up ready to tackle the day.
And then there are mornings when the only sensible plan is:
Coffee. Now.
That little feeling was the inspiration behind our Coffee Now Hand Embroidery Pattern, and I think our sweet little chick understands it perfectly.
With her oversized polka-dot bow, patched blue overalls, sturdy boots, and coffee cup firmly in hand, she looks as though she has already decided that whatever needs doing can wait until after that first cup.
And really, who can argue with her?
Meet Our Coffee-Loving Chick
One of my favorite things about creating patterns for Thimbles & Tales is giving each little character a personality.
I didn't want this chick to simply stand there holding a coffee cup.
She needed some attitude.
So we gave her a big floppy bow, well-loved overalls, a pair of boots, flowers growing around her feet, and, of course, her steaming mug of coffee.
Beside her is a little sign that says:
Later Can Be Nicer.
I love that.
Because sometimes we need a reminder that everything doesn't have to be done immediately. The laundry will wait. The dishes will wait. That long list of things we think we should be doing will probably wait too.
Sometimes it's perfectly fine to sit down with a cup of coffee and stitch for a while.
A Pattern Made for Relaxing
If you've been following Thimbles & Tales, you already know how I feel about embroidery:
Outline it. Don't fill it.
I love the look of embroidery, but I don't believe a beginner-friendly project needs huge areas of dense stitching.
Coffee Now was designed with that philosophy in mind.
The little chick, her clothing, flowers, watering can, coffee cup, and other details are brought to life primarily with simple outlines and small touches of color.
That means you get all the personality without spending days filling in her overalls or feathers.
The result is a project that looks detailed and cheerful but is still approachable for someone who is fairly new to hand embroidery.
And if you've been stitching for years? Sometimes an uncomplicated project is exactly what we want.
Let's Talk About Those Colors
I wanted Coffee Now to have a fresh farmhouse feeling, so we kept the palette soft and cheerful.
The blue overalls and blue accents give the design that country look I love, while the red-and-white bow adds just enough personality. Little yellow-and-white daisies and touches of green make the whole piece feel like a sunny morning in the garden.
And then there are those wonderful brown boots.
They may be one of my favorite details.
The overall palette works especially well on a warm cream or natural-colored embroidery fabric. It keeps the finished piece soft rather than stark and gives it a slightly old-fashioned, homespun appearance.
Beginner? You Can Stitch This.
One of the reasons I created our Thimbles & Tales patterns this way is because I don't want someone to look at a finished project and immediately think:
“Oh, I could never make that.”
Yes, you can.
You don't need twenty complicated stitches.
You don't need perfectly even stitches.
And you certainly don't need to have been embroidering for thirty years.
Start with one line.
Then stitch the next one.
Before long, that little chick begins appearing on your fabric.
That's one of the magical things about embroidery. A plain piece of cloth slowly becomes something with a story and a personality.
What Could You Make With Coffee Now?
The finished design is wonderful framed in an embroidery hoop, especially for a kitchen, breakfast nook, or little coffee station.
But don't stop there.
I can also picture Coffee Now stitched onto a dish towel, small wall hanging, project bag, kitchen pillow, or fabric panel.
Wouldn't she also make a fun gift for a coffee-loving friend?
You could put the finished project into a little gift basket with a pretty mug, a bag of favorite coffee, and perhaps a few homemade treats.
Although if you're anything like me, you may finish stitching her and decide she's staying at your house.
That's allowed.
Make It Your Own
Remember, the colors in a pattern are suggestions—not rules.
Maybe your kitchen is decorated in red.
Give her red overalls.
Love green?
Change the bow.
Have a favorite coffee mug?
Make her little embroidered cup match yours.
You could even change her flowers to coordinate with your kitchen or sewing room.
Those little changes are what turn a pattern into your piece of embroidery.
I hope you'll always feel comfortable doing that with Thimbles & Tales patterns.
A Little Coffee and a Little Stitching
There's something lovely about beginning the day without rushing.
A warm cup of coffee.
A comfortable chair.
Morning light coming through the window.
An embroidery hoop in your lap.
And perhaps twenty quiet minutes before the rest of the day begins asking things of you.
That's what Coffee Now makes me think about.
Not just coffee, but giving ourselves permission to enjoy the little things.
So tomorrow morning, before you start tackling that long to-do list, you might want to take some advice from our little chick.
Pour the coffee.
Pick up your needle.
And remember:
Later can be nicer. ♥
Happy Stitching,
Debbie DeeThimbles & Tales
Comments