Hello everyone!
I'm so pleased to share with you my first Harry Potter embroidery design!
“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
– Albus Dumblebore, Prisoner of Azkaban
The Lumos Hoop Pattern is available as a printable PDF on ETSY.
It features 3 different constellations – the Canis Major (Sirius Star), Scorpio and Draco. You might notice that those names are shared with some prominent Harry Potter characters :). In fact all of them are related to the Black family (Draco through his mother and thus Scorpius through his grandmother). Traditionally the Black Family named all of their children after constellations or stars. However, with the passing of Sirius (*cries*) the male line of the Black family is now extinct.
In the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, ‘Lumos’ is a charm which turns the tip of your wand into a torch. However, you could place any spell or word you like inside the hoop. Therefore, this is pattern also great for any star gazer or constellation enthusiast!
As a Potterhead, 'Lumos' is one of my favourite Harry Potter spells and I'm also a huge fan of 'Obliviate'. What's your favourite spell? Let me know in the comments below!
The 'Lumos' hoop is a wonderful beginner project as it only uses 4 stitches!
The PDF pattern includes a stitch guide and detailed step by step instructions. This design also uses lovely silver metallic thread for an extra sprinkling of magic! But feel free to use any colour combination you like. I've added some tips and tricks for how to work with metallic thread below.
Metallic Thread Tips and Tricks
Metallic thread can be quite tricky to work with! Once it's cut, it frays almost instantly, knots easily and gets tangled. However, don't be intimidated! There are ways to make metallic thread behave more like normal thread.
(Note: I'm using DMC Light Effects embroidery thread. Each metallic thread performs differently but I would recommend Light Effects as I think is is relatively easy to use (as far as metallic threads go), very shiny and is easy to find.
- Use a larger embroidery needle than normal! A bigger needle = a bigger eye which makes it a lot easier to thread the metallic thread.
- Cut short strands of floss 40cm/16” or shorter. You might feel like you need to re-thread your needle more frequently but trust me its worth it!
- Thread your needle by folding the thread in half and pushing the loop through the eye of the needle. Avoid threading the tip of the metallic floss through the eye as the strand will separate and fray.
- OPTIONAL - Run your thread through thread conditioner so it can easily glide through the fabric. A lot of people swear by thread conditioner and it does make using metallic thread easier. However, I find that I can still use metallic thread without it.
Remember to stitch slowly and carefully. Please be patient and constantly check that your threads are even.
Materials -
Embroidery hoop
Fabric of your choice
Embroidery Needle
Pencil or water soluble pen
DMC Embroidery floss
Sharp Scissors
Please let me know if you'd like to see more Harry Potter embroidery designs?
I would love to see your WIPs or finished projects so please feel free to tag me on Instagram and use the hashtag #forthefrills
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