The Mellerstain Firescreen

I have finally started working properly on my version of The Mellerstain Firescreen.  This is what it will look like when finished

It is a crewelwork embroidery, an original 19th Century design from Mellerstain House in Scotland, the ancestral home of the Earls of Haddington.  I bought the kit from the Crewelwork Company about   5 years ago, as I really wanted to make a firescreen for our new cottage to use in the summer.  When certain dogs are not hogging the fire!

The kit is really good, beautiful Twill with the design printed on and full skeins of Appleton's crewel wools

I made a start, but my skill level was no where near the level it needed to be for such an advanced kit

So I packed it all away for a while (about 4 years!) I now feel confident after all my embroidery classes, to really do it justice. I have picked it up again and will try to make it my focus embroidery project this winter.

There are some lovely details, like the acorns with their french knot cups

The closed fly stitch leaves

and of course my favourite silk shading

Wool is so forgiving when it comes to silk shading as it's natural fuzziness makes it want to cling and blend