Stitch yourself some fancy sea slugs.
The completed cross-stitch of all five nudibranch designs
You will need:
- nudibranch-coloured embroidery thread (we used DMC thread and the colours you need are on the pattern, but you can also choose your own colours)
- cross-stitch fabric (we used Aida 14 count fabric)
- an embroidery needle
- an embroidery hoop
- scissors
What to do
To cross-stitch your nudibranch, you need to make a small cross of embroidery thread to match every coloured square on the pattern.
- Choose a square roughly in the middle of the nudibranch pattern and sew a cross of that colour in the centre of your fabric.
- Keep following the pattern, making a cross in each square. Work outwards from the centre, changing colour when needed.
- A good way to know when to change colour is to count how many squares there are of the same colour on the pattern in a given direction.
- To make a cross, sew two stitches of thread diagonally over each other.
Nudibranchs are hermaphrodites, and so can mate with any other individual, a process which sometimes involves a dance-like courtship between the two slugs ©Elias Levy/Flickr CC BY 2.0
Tips
- Use three strands of embroidery thread (standard DMC thread is six strands thick, so you'll need to separate it into two).
- Always start from the back of the fabric when making a cross and always sew the two diagonal stitches of every cross in the same order, so that the same diagonal stitch is always on top.
- When you have a line of squares of the same colour, you can save time by sewing them in one go. Start by sewing one diagonal stitch for each of the crosses in your line and then return with the other diagonal stitch.
- Don't worry if the back of the fabric becomes a little messy with thread, it will be hidden.
Did you know?
Nudibranchs are a diverse group of marine gastropods which shed their shells when they develop into adults. There are around 3,000 known species of nudibranchs, found from the Arctic to the Southern Ocean.
Try this at home
Why not try out more of our simple crafts and activities?
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