Hey everyone!

For this challenge, I wanted to create a hand embroidered map. I embroidered each continent with a different color, which adds a lot of vibrance to this map.

In this instructable, I'm going to describe...

How I mapped out the continents
How to learn a simple running stitch
How I stitched each continent
How I decorated each continent with colorful sequins
How I framed my map

If you would like to create a project similar to this, then look no further than this instructable. This project took me about 6 hours to complete, so any type of interaction with this post is greatly appreciated! With that being said, let's take a look at our supplies down below.

Supplies

White cloth (12" x 10")
Embroidery cotton thread (red, dark blue, teal, yellow, brown, green, pink, dark brown)
Star-shaped sequins (red, dark blue, teal, gold, silver, green, pink)
A needle
A pair of scissors
A ruler
Picture frame (14" x 11")
Paper (A4 or Letter size)
Pen (preferably black)

Step 1: Prep Your Workstation

Get your supplies ready. Print a world map onto your sheet of paper. Make sure you have a clean surface to work on.

Step 2: Cut Out Your Map

Cut out the outlines of the continents on your world map. Place it on the white cloth.

Step 3: Trace Over the Map

Trace over the outlines of all of the continents with a pen. At the end, you should have something that looks like image 2.

Step 4: Learn This Stitch

This is called a running stitch, which is one of the most basic stitches out there. In essence, you insert your needle upwards and then pull it back down below the cloth, and then insert it back up again and repeat.

Step 5: Stitch Asia

Take your RED thread and use a running stitch all along the border of the continent of ASIA. When I was done, mines looked like image 2.

Step 6: Stitch Africa

Take your DARK BLUE thread and use a running stitch all along the border of the continent of AFRICA. When I was done, mines looked like the image above.

Step 7: Stitch Antarctica

Take your YELLOW thread and use a running stitch all along the border of the continent of ANTARCTICA. When I was done, mines looked like the image above

Step 8: Stitch North America

Take your TEAL thread and use a running stitch all along the border of the continent of NORTH AMERICA. When I was done, mines looked like the image above.

Step 9: Stitch South America

Take your PINK thread and use a running stitch all along the border of the continent of SOUTH AMERICA. When I was done, mines looked like the image above.

Step 10: Stitch Europe

Take your LIGHT BROWN thread and use a running stitch all along the border of the continent of EUROPE. When I was done, mines looked like the image above.

Step 11: Stitch Australia

Take your GREEN thread and use a running stitch all along the border of the continent of AUSTRALIA. When I was done, mines looked like the image above

Step 12: Add the Sequins for Australia

Take your green sequins and stitch them using just one running stitch. Bring the needle up from the edge of the sequin and take it back down from the center of the sequin.

Step 13: Add the Sequins for the Rest of the Continents

Just like Australia, stitch sequins into the rest of the continents on your map. Use the reference below to add the correct color sequin to the correct continent

Europe - Silver

Asia - Red

Africa - Dark Blue

North America - Teal

South America - Pink

Antarctica - Gold