I have started working on May’s poem.
I am using stem stitch. I am finding the thread (silk perlee) is unravelling.
Finished Toadstool
I finished my toadstool!
The base is half a felt dryer ball wrapped in felt. On the felt I have added french knots and bullion knots -I thought they would look like fungi and slaters.
I found some ‘treasures’ in Kings Park – the nut and the leaves. I varnished them (I am hoping that this what will stop them decaying).
Filed under Embroidery, Inspiration
Tender Whispers – May
The theme for May is nature. I decided to use Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost. I first came across this poem in the book The Outsiders by S. E Hinton – it was an assigned text. I think we even watched the movie in class. This poem had quite the impact on me at the time (melodramatic 14 year old), and when I came across it the other day I thought I would like to embroider it.
I am experimenting with printable soluble stabiliser – it didn’t destroy my printer (so one concern is gone). Now it remains to be see how easily it comes off.
June’s theme is Family, but I haven’t thought about that yet.
Filed under Embroidery, Inspiration
New Sock Start
I have started my June socks – I have skipped May.
The yarn is Schoppel Zauberball from Morris and Sons.
I am using 2.25mm Knit Pro Zings and I am going to do a vanilla sock (cuff down, heel flap and gusset).
Filed under Knitting, Sock Knitting, Yarn Stash
Sock Finish
I finished my April socks. It took me a while to get the hang of the cable pattern, but once I did, the knitting was quick.
The stitch pattern is a shifting rib from the Socktacular book (which is now ridiculously over-priced).
Usual construction – top down, heel flap and gusset. I used my 2.25 mm knit pro zings. And the yarn is from an indie dyer who doesn’t seem to dye yarn anymore.
Filed under Knitting, Sock Knitting, Yarn Stash
Toadstool Embroidery
This term’s project is a three-dimensional thread-painted toadstool.
Something like this (image from here)
Here’s my attempt
The fabric base is cotton lawn. And I have stitched floristry wire (26 gauge) around the edge. I am using DMC cotton floss.
The plan is to put it in a cloche – this one from IKEA. And we will make the bottom look like a place a toadstool would grow (I have ordered moss from Temu).
My thread painting is not great, but I am a beginner.
Filed under Embroidery, Inspiration
Fried Egg Broach
I saw this broach here, and had to have it.
It came quickly (UK to Australia) and was beautifully packaged.
I do like a beautiful kit – probably very shallow of me. I have gotten a bit carried away this year and I have bought several kits (and I think The Schoolgirl Sewing Club has four projects), not to mention the SALs I joined digitally. I have enough to keep me busy for several lifetimes. I am doing a bit of a rotation, but I am not sure I have found the best approach yet.
Filed under Bedazzle, Embroidery, Etsy, Inspiration, Purchases
Tender Whispers Supplies
Shipping was being a bit of a bug bear with the Tender Whispers group – for example, my April supplies didn’t arrive until the end of the month. To avoid that, Rebecca has sent us six months of supplies – such a nice parcel to get.
I have also ordered extra thread – depending upon my chosen quote I will probably run out.
Filed under Embroidery
Sock Knitting
I have been away. I did quite a bit of knitting on the plane (while listening to an audio book – this one).
This is my April sock – I have skipped march.
Usual needles (2.25mm knit pro zings), 20 round P2K2 cuff, and a heel flap and gusset.
After about half a leg I understood the cables and the pattern was quite easy after that.
I have started work on the second sock.
While away I bought more sock yarn (from here). I need to keep my sock production up otherwise we will be drowning in sock yarn. It was one of these, but I can’t find the exact one.
I have had parcels arrive from Paris and the UK – more on that later.
Filed under Knitting, Sock Knitting, Yarn Stash
Tender Whispers of the Heart – April
My supplies for April have arrived. There was quite a delay this month.
I have narrowed my poem choice to two possible stanzas
it all comes down to this:
In our imperfect world
we are meant to repair
and stitch together
what beauty there is, stitch it
with compassion and wire.
See how everything
we have made gathers
the light inside itself
and overflows? A blessingHolding the Light – Stuart Kestenbaum
Or
But I study what is beautiful,
what is generous. I offer it my devotion.
Even in this moment writing this poem,
I stitch in the pauses and the stumblings –
these, too, are beautiful because they are true.
I stitch in the pure potential that steeps
in uncertainty. I stitch in silence. I stitch in hope.Stitching it Together – Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
I am leaning towards the second one.
Filed under Embroidery, Inspiration