28 June 2014

Still Tripping

I have just finished round 13 on my Trip Around The World, I am still really enjoying this hand piecing project.
I have selected the fabrics for the next few rows
I think they will work well!

20 June 2014

On To The Leaves

I have started to stitch the leaves on the Tipsy Thistle, they are outlined first in Stem stitch in four different colours of Appleton's crewel wool, before being filled in with Chain stitch amongst other things. I love the choice of colours for this project, and am enjoying working on it, but sadly I have to start on something new! Here it is before I set it aside for a few weeks...


You may remember that I am taking lessons in embroidery, the class officially starts again in September, but Sophie has kindly agreed to teach a few of us for a couple of days over the summer. I know what I am doing with this kit (sort of!) so I decided to try and learn something new during lesson time. I would really like to try Canvas work (I think it is called Needlepoint in America?) I did stitch these two cushions in tent stitch years ago, and have to admit I thought that was all you could do with canvas, a bit like when I thought cross-stitch was the only type of embroidery!


I have since discovered that there are hundreds of stitch combinations you can use and I want to try some of them! You are also not limited to just using wool! who knew?? (everyone except me probably!) I plan to try and adapt a cross stitch chart, I will let you know how it goes, but for now will leave you with a picture of some of the luscious threads I want to incorporate...

14 June 2014

Still Tripping

I am still really enjoying working on this hand pieced Trip around the World quilt, here it is after round twelve...

I am alternating between cool/warm colours which really makes each round stand out, I love how it is looking so far! Up next is a repeat of the red polk a dot.

10 June 2014

A Tipsy Centre

I have finished stitching the centre portion of The Tipsy Thistle!

This section was supposed to be Spider's Web stitch in different directions, but I couldn't find it in any of my books and I really wanted to learn some raised stitches, so ... The side columns are worked in Raised Stem Stitch and the centre column in Raised Chain Stitch. It took me several attempts to get these right, in the end I watched the excellent videos on the Needle n Thread blog and finally got it!
These small areas are worked in Stem stitch, Fishbone and Colonial knots; I much prefer Colonial knots to French knots, an Australian friend showed me these years ago, I think they are also known as Candlewicking knots; you twist the thread around the needle in a figure of eight rather than wrap it as in a French knot. I think they are much easier and give a nice raised knot.

The hands are outlined in Stem stitch, an all time favourite stitch of mine and one I actually know how to do! I am really enjoying learning all the different stitches on this piece, they are far from perfect, and I did think about removing the hands from the design, but I want to make this into a workbag when it is finished so a few wonky stitches and 'stitching hands' should make sense right?
The best part about finishing the centre section means no more green! I get to work on the thistle leaves next and use all the lovely special threads and colours in the kit!

06 June 2014

Slow Progress

The nice thing about having a project set up and ready to go on my millennium frame, is that I can put in a few stitches here and there whenever I have a minute. Progress on my Tipsy Thistle is slow, but it is at least progress :)
There were lots of new stitches for me to learn, this is Bullion and French knots, I really struggled with the Bullion knots - any tips for getting a good tension?
This section was Buttonhole filling
Followed by Battlement stitch
This is part was supposed to be filled with French Knots, but as I swapped the Bullion Knots back in section 2 for French Knots, I thought I would try something different, this is Brick stitch, one I will definitely use again.
and finally Double seeding
I am almost finished the middle section