Cotton Reels pattern: Creating texture with embroidery stitches

The idea of creating texture using various embroidery stitches had been on my mind for a while and I was just waiting for the right design idea to pop into my head, when I realised it had been staring me in the face the whole time. There’s a bowl of vintage wooden spools of sewing cotton on the bookshelf next to my desk, which I’ve picked up in various charity shops and thrift stores over time.

They’re perfect for holding textured “thread” and small enough to do multiple versions in a single design. I love the reels worked in a grid pattern – you could repeat the grid to experiment with even more thread texture – but you could also rearrange them to create a border or use one as a single motif with your favourite stitch.

If you're keen to try your hand at creating texture, this pattern is a good starting point. It's available as an instant download on Etsy and Craftsy.