Autumn Threads: Woodland Toadstool Embroidery

Autumn has a way of wrapping everything in warmth and texture. The air turns crisp, leaves crunch underfoot, and the woods come alive with colour and quiet magic. When I saw that this month’s Aurifil Artisan Challenge was all about sweater weather and stitches that capture the spirit of Fall, I immediately thought of woodland walks and the little treasures you find if you look closely, like the bright red Fly Agaric toadstool.

For my piece, I chose to stitch a woodland toadstool - the iconic Fly Agaric - by hand, using Aurifloss in a rich palette of autumnal shades: 2026, 2021, 5011, 2890, 1147, 2905, 2250, 1103, and 2260. These colours gave me everything I needed, from earthy greens and deep reds to crisp whites.

The Aurifloss Swatch Book was invaluable for selecting the perfect shades for this autumn challenge.

To bring the surface to life, I added French knots and tiny seed beads, mimicking the sparkle of dew and the first hint of early frost clinging to the toadstool’s cap. The texture felt perfectly in keeping with the challenge - soft layers of thread building dimension, echoing the comforting feel of knitwear and quilted fabrics.

This little stitchery became a way of bottling up the feeling of an autumn walk: sunlight breaking through the branches, cool air on your face, leaves scattering around your boots, and the sudden joy of spotting a toadstool amongst the moss. It’s a reminder that Fall is not just about cosiness indoors, but also the richness of the season outdoors - those fleeting, vivid moments before winter settles in.

I don’t have any photos of the stitching process, as I found it was the perfect way to relax in the evenings- candlelit, with something good on the TV, letting the meditative rhythm of stitching take over. I didn’t even touch my phone to record the process, and sometimes that kind of complete switch-off is exactly what’s needed!

If you’re inspired to create your own woodland toadstool embroidery, I’ve been updating my slow stitch kits to make the process even easier. The Woodland Toadstools kit now comes with fusible adhesive paper and reversed templates for tracing. You can also follow my newly written instructions for the Woodland Toadstool, perfect for recreating a similar look or learning the technique of using fusible adhesive paper for appliqué.

Woodland Toadstools Slow Stitch Collage Kit

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See what other makers are creating each month by checking out Aurifil’s official blog, Auribuzz.