I have been working solely on this project (Dame Nature Du Printemps). I bought the kit with 32 count linen.
Category Archives: Canvas Work
Dame Nature Du Printemps Cross Stitch
Filed under Cross Stitch, Cross Stitch, Embroidery
Machine Embroidery – Blackwork
My plan is to cover a wooden box with embroidery – something like this one. Because I don’t know how well this is going to go, I am doing my first attempt with machine embroidery (the above took 35 minutes).
I am using a design from Embroidery Library. I am stitching on linen using sewing machine thread and a cutaway medium weight stabiliser.
Filed under Blackwork, Digitizing, Embroidery, Machine Embroidery
New Project Bag
I am determined to turn my stitched pieces into something useful – rather than framing them. Hence the needle book and now a project bag.
The cross stitch is cinnamon stars by Plum Street Samplers. I quilted around the cross stitch, lined the bag with mushroom fabric and added a zip.
This bag is enormous 56cm by 50cm, which means my largest Q Snap should fit.
Filed under Cross Stitch, Cross Stitch, Embroidery, Fabric Stash, Quilting, Sewing
Cinnamon Stars is Finished
I finished my Cinnamon Stars cross stitch.
The design is from Plum Street Samplers, and I stitched it on 32 count linen (it’s a mystery colour – I bought it from a craft fair), two threads over two threads, using all of the called for colours (a combination of weeks dye works and gentle arts).
I think I am going to make it into a project bag.
Filed under Canvas Work, Cross Stitch, Embroidery
Record, Map and Capture – Jordan Cunliffe
My embroidery teacher brought this book to class, and clearly, I had to find a copy. This is like the intersection of two of my great loves; stitching and maths. Not to mention story telling with stitching and maths.
Here’s a bit of a book description …
This stylish and fascinating book from up-and-coming textile art star Jordan Cunliffe shows how raw data, maps and personal experience can be distilled into textile art, producing mesmerising works with deep meaning, whether obvious or hidden, and concentrating on the smaller, quieter moments that make up our lives.
Jordan explores the use of stitched data to tell stories, pinpoint special places on maps, convey secret messages, and record personal detail, for example daily walks or nightly sleep patterns. Her finished work is beautifully precise, including a long strip of fabric containing a stitch for every day of her life, a reimagination of a favourite childhood book in unreadable code, and pleasing beaded representations of secretly important documents.
Almost any aspect of your life can be represented in graph or map form, and here are many practical ways to achieve this, whether it’s recording the colours of flowers on a favourite path to create your own unique palette, or encoding your most private thoughts in beaded morse code. This visually stunning book explores a new way of working and will help you explore a fresh new angle in your embroidery and textile work.
Illustrated with a wealth of examples of the author’s own work as well as pieces from other data focused artists from around the world, Record, Map and Capture in Textile Art proves beyond all doubt that data can be beautiful, and can inspire stunning works of stitched art.
I have so many ideas for my memory/special things project. I can incorporate special pieces of fabric, use evenweave fabric (my preferred choice) maybe even put in a secret code.
Filed under Book Review, Canvas Work, Cross Stitch, Embroidery, Inspiration
New Class Project
Now that my Gingerbread House is finished, I needed a new project for class. It has to be something easy that doesn’t require all of my paraphernalia (magnifying glass, stand, etc.). So I ordered this cushion from Ehrman, it is Blooming Roses Charcoal by David Merry. I am just doing tent stitch.
There are a lot of colours in similar shades, so I might be getting it wrong, but I am just going to push on.
Filed under Canvas Work, Embroidery
Testing Reds
After all my other embroidery projects (Cinnamon Stars and the RSN crewel work), I want to make the Home Sweet Home sampler from Modern Folk Embroidery. So I have bought a few different reds from Stitchers’ Corner to test. I am going to use this linen (Sand 40 count)
Filed under Cross Stitch, Cross Stitch
Gingerbread House Finish
I finished the Gingerbread House! First mentioned in December 2018. I stopped working on it for a number of years, but in the last six or so months I was determined to get it finished.
The pattern was from the 2016 Family Circle Christmas Special and for a while you could get the charts online, but I don’t think they available anymore.
I used a plastic canvas I bought from Spotlight (kind of like this one), one sheet is probably enough for two houses.
I used the called for DMC floss (six strands). I needed multiple skeins of the white and the gingerbread colour, but a single skein of the other colours is enough.
Filed under Canvas Work, Cross Stitch, Cross Stitch
Cinnamon Stars Progress
This is my year of finishes. I want to finish projects that I have started. Like my Cinnamon Stars project. This is what I work on at home, at my two stitching groups, I have been working on my Gingerbread House. It’s looking a bit ramshackle because I have sewn it altogether yet.
Below is my previous progress photo – I have now finished the top half and just have to work on the bottom left and right.
I think I finally have a set-up that works well. My Lowery frame, magnifier and working at a table.
Filed under Canvas Work, Cross Stitch, Cross Stitch, Embroidery
Crafty Purchases
Stitchers’ corner re-opened in its new location with a new owner, so, of course, I had to go and be supportive. The store is fabulous, so much beautiful stuff (and finally some modern patterns).
I want to try a higher count linen, so I only have to use one strand. The linen above is Newcastle (40 count) in colourway sand. I am also keen to try Au ver à soie 100/3
My plan is to stitch Modern Folk Embroidery’s Home Sweet Home, in a rich shade of red. I like the DMC 321 in the photo above, so I might choose that.
The other things is the LA D Da Needlebook. I saw this on Brenda and the Serial Starter’s flosstube.
Filed under Cross Stitch, Cross Stitch, Embroidery, Patterns