It’s school holidays here, which means no students for a couple of weeks, so I have set my embroidery machine up on my desk.
The design is from Pixie Willow Patterns. The instructions were good and it was easy to put together (it did take me a couple of hours).
My corners aren’t very crisp and I wish I had done the stitching down of the background in black, but I am sure I will make another one and I will do that then.
Filed under Applique, Digitizing, Embroidery, Fabric Stash, Machine Embroidery
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
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
This is my current class project. I am doing various stitches on Mattress ticking (using the lines on the ticking). I am going to turn this into a needle book (because currently my needles are stored in random bits of fabric and even paper).
As you can see, my design is symmetrical.
Starting from the centre, I have done chain stitch, blanket stitch with running stitch and colonial knots, tête de boeuf (gold on the left, pale pink on the right), cretan stitch. And the two outer gold ladders will be a raised bar stitch.
Filed under Embroidery
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
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
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
My kit from Jardin Privé has arrived – it was very quick. I am super keen to get started, there is a sheep and a chook!
I do have to finish my Gingerbread House, and my Cinnamon Stars first.
Filed under Cross Stitch, Cross Stitch, Embroidery
I have splurged and bought myself a new embroidery workstand – it’s a Lowery in stainless steel. I had considered them in the past, but thought they were too expensive and I made do with different table stands (but none of those were ideal). This is great. It’s so sturdy, my clip on magnifier doesn’t make it sag and I can sit on the couch and watch TV while stitching.
I am very happy with my purchase (which I got from JK’s cross stitching supplies – brilliant service). Now I am considering the table clamp for my friday morning stitching class.
Filed under Canvas Work, Cross Stitch, Cross Stitch, Embroidery
After having been lost in the system for a while, my embroidery kit from the Royal School of Needlework arrived. It’s beautifully packaged – I have already started work on the pomegranate.
Filed under Embroidery, Inspiration
