25 March 2014

Tipsy Thistle Progress

Now that I have given myself permission to change anything I don't like about this project! I am making great progress and really enjoying stitching it!
I am not fond of bullion knots, so I changed these for French Knots...
I did stick to the recommended Closed Herringbone for this section...
and Buttonhole Triangles with French Knots on this one...
With a couple of small changes to the Trellis squares...

This one is as suggested - Laidwork with a Trellis ...
It is funny how different this looks in wools, it is the same stitch combination I used on my pomegranate except it was stitched with silks with an added bead...

20 March 2014

The Tipsy Thistle, First Hurdle

I sat down yesterday afternoon eager to start stitching on my new project. This was to be a 'no thinking' project, one where instead of having to come up with a design and decide on stitch choices colours etc, I would simply follow the instructions to the letter and enjoy the actual process of embroidery, free from having to make any decisions. Great idea in theory, but as I discovered very quickly, that while the kit comes with a very helpful digram detailing which colour and stitch to use where, it doesn't actually have any stitch diagrams or a 'how to' section!
Ok, no problem I thought, I have bought a couple of good embroidery books since I started learning, I'll just use those for the stitches I don't know. The first section contained Fishbone stitch and seeding; I have done both of these before, so a quick refresher and I was off. I did decide to substitute the smaller fishbone section in pale green for a detached chain/lazy daisy stitch which I thought looked better.
Next up section two: 'Alternate or magic chain and trellis with cross stitch' ok I have done a little trellis work and cross stitch, there was also a helpful section in my book if I got stuck, but magic chain?!!! what on earth is that?! it's not in any of my stitching books! I know I could look it up on the internet, but I was comfortably seated and wanted to stitch not get up and turn on the computer. I decided to substitute chain stitch with a backstitch filling which turned out ok
I have since checked and Mary Corbet has a great video demonstrating alternate chain which you can find HERE should you wish to have a go. I might try it one day, but for now I think I will just accept that my thistle will look nothing like the original :) I am really enjoying working the design and am more than happy to change stitches if they don't suit me, I see next up are bullion knots one of my least favourites - french knots anyone?

17 March 2014

The Tipsy Thistle

I have started a new project :) You may have heard of the 'Great Tapestry of Scotland' the brain child of author Alexander McCall Smith which was finished last year. It was stitched by embroiders from all over mainland Scotland and the Islands, and tells the story of Scotland's 1000 year history. It is the world's longest tapestry, but like the Bayeaux Tapestry it is not actually a tapestry but a crewelwork embroidery. You can read more about it HERE

I followed it's progress with interest having been born in Aberdeen and spending the first 29 years of my life there, I always feel an affinity with all things Scottish even although I no longer live there. I bought the book which tells the whole fascinating story...
and more recently a kit to stitch 'The Tipsy Thistle'...
The thistle is taken from panel 155 and is of course the national emblem...
It is a sampler of the stitches used in the rest of the piece along with two hands stitching. I have mounted the linen and am ready to stitch :)


12 March 2014

A Proper Finish!

Do you remember the crewelwork robin embroidery that I finished back in January?
I blogged about this project as I stitched, you can find all the details HERE
This afternoon I finally got around to making it up into a cushion
I really enjoyed stitching this design by Nicola Jarvis, here are a few more close ups of the embroidery...



03 March 2014

Wingless Bird

I will miss embroidery class this afternoon, my sister is arriving for a few days and I have to collect her from the airport; It will be lovely to see her, but it does cut down on my stitching time!! I spent yesterday afternoon working on my bird so I shouldn't be too far behind for class next week. I have almost finished the bird, she still needs her bling gold collar and I have no idea how to make her detached wing, but she is looking ok so far.

The tail is finished, a mixture of stem stitch in silks, couched silk wrapped purl and couched gold threads...
and her head feathers, stitched in soie de paris with fern stitch...
I have stitched the first of the leaves, stem stitch outline in soie crystale with a fly stitch filling...

And the mound at the bottom, stem stitch, chain stitch and cable stitch in three shades of soie d'alger; I am not sure about this part, it looks a bit messy I may unpick it...
But overall it is coming along nicely