Making an Embroidered Meerkat Device

I finished this large embroidered heraldic device last year. It is worked in wools, predominantly in split stitch.

I traced the heraldic design out in  pencil, and worked the piece in a hoop

I had an earlier attempt at the design but was unhappy with the stitching and texture of the thread

Adding in the details of the 'weasels'

Blocking the panel

Adding tacked lines as a sewing guide

Stitching the ermines 

Backing the piece with felt and adding twill tape belt loops

I added a band of purple trim around the edge to finish it off
 

'Bunnies' Heraldic Device

I finished another heraldic device for the Baronial device banner a while ago. It has a felt base with applied felt on top.

I had a couple of tries at working the bunnies, with slips being my first idea. It was unsuccessful, and in the end I appliqued a bunny shaped felt base to add a bit of dimension, and then split stitched on top of it.

The central chevron was stitched in place and then gilt thread appliqued over the edges. The pink dots are guidelines for where ermines need to be embroidered.

I did the back legs of the bunny in a very pale grey to look a bit like shadow and add depth. I did a black outline for definition and added shiny black beads for eyes. I used smaller black beads for the centre parts of the ermines. They really catch the light.

The teeny cotton puffs came in a Christmas craft pack and I was just thrilled with them. 

Pinning and sewing another piece of felt on the back for extra stability (the banner gets rolled up).

The completed piece. I like how this one turned out.

Some of the banners from the Baronial Device Banner Project on display last year.