hardanger

I'm a bit late this month talking about September's Needlequest challenge, but I am joining in this month! The theme for the month in "Autumn" and I immediately knew what I wanted to do.

A year ago I posted my last update on Mabel Figworthy's Fancies Song of the Weather SAL which was a Hardanger sew along I was doing.  You can find links to the previous months at the bottom of the page if you want to look.  I'd got as far as August, keeping up each month, but then I got really ill and this was one of the things to be put by the wayside.

Here's my completed block for September, the first month of autumn.  It features couched borders, Rhodes hearts, eyelet blocks and some simple wrapped bars.  I had high hopes of also doing October and November to complete the Autumn months, but this frustrated me so much I didn't get it done.  When I was working on this last year, I loved it and enjoyed most of the stitches.  I don't know what went wrong this time but every stitch was frustrating.

Here's September with July and August, completed over a year ago.  I'm making two panels with a 2 x 3 layout and will be adding a Hardanger sashing when I've done.  If I don't throw it out the window before then!  Wish me luck in not abandoning it for another year...

Related posts

January and February

March 

April
May
June
July
August

Save the Stitches block 2

Last month for Needlequest I restarted Elizabeth Almond of Blackwork Journey's Save The Stitches for the theme of blackwork.  I'm not joining in this month's needlequest, so I wanted to continue stitching this blackwork sampler.

The photo above shows where I was in my last update.  This is block 1.  Since then, I've finished block 1, but didn't think to take a photo until I'd started block 2.

Here's where I am now.  The 4 full blocks to the left are part of block 1, as is the small motif in the centre.  I've now done the cross stitch outline for block 2 and am beginning the filling stitches.  I love stitching this and would work on it every evening, but alas, a rug-hooking project was calling my name so I've had to set it aside for a week or two.

I attempted to take a close up of block 1, but it was too sunny.  Yes, you read that right, too sunny!  I'm using accents of copper, platinum and gold thread as stated in the pattern, and some gold beads too.  I will try to get some better photos next time.  If anyone else is stitching this project, please leave me a comment, I'd love to see it.


Related Posts

Block 1
The tiny version

Needlequest - Blackwork

This month's challenge on Needlequest is blackwork, so I knew exactly what project I was going to tackle.  I have done some blackwork before, if you're so inclined,you can see my attempts here, here, here and here.  For this month I wanted to pick up Elizabeth Almond of Blackwork Journey's Save The Stitches.  

You may remember I started this and discovered I was stitching over 1, rather than over 2, you can see my previous attempt if you fancy a laugh!.

Anyway, I was hmmming and haaaing over unpicking all those little fussy stitches, I didn't have enough fabric to start again and it was bloody expensive.  So I did what any sane stitcher would do, I turned the fabric upside down and started from the other end.  If necessary, I'll unpick the first attempt later, but I'm hoping not.  I know this is just putting it off, but if I have to unpick before I start to stitch again, I fear it'll never happen.

The pattern in done in blocks.  This is block 1. I think Elizabeth has released about 11 so far, so  a long way to go.  I started by putting in all the cross stitches.  I'm using the recommended thread, so cross stitches were in Perle 12, and the back stitch is done in one stand of stranded cotton.

I haven't got very far, but I love stitching this.  I have to put it aside to bind a quilt, but I'll be back to it.  If you like a bit of needlework, even if you've only done a bit of cross stitch, I really recommend giving blackwork a go.


Related posts

Needlequest January - Needlepainting
Needlequest February - Japan (Sashiko)
Needlequest March - Goldwork, starting the decoration
Needlequest April - Spring applique

Craft book review - Wild Blooms and Colourful Creatures

Good morning ladies.  Just a quick clarification on my last post. The blocks were supposed to be wonky. So thanks for the comments saying they don't look wonky, or they do but they still look alright - I was aiming for wonky as they were wonky improv blocks!

I was given access to a pdf download of Wild Blooms & Colorful Creatures (affiliate link - if you do click over and buy something, I'll get a few pence towards an Amazon voucher) to review for you.  This post is also my challenge for Needlequest January, which has the theme of "spring".

(source Amazon)

I was given a review copy of the book by C&T Publishing however this review and all opinions are 100% my own, I was not told what to say.

I showed you this sneak peak a few weeks ago.  This is my applique pieces all laid out and ready to go.  There are 15 projects in the book and I would happily make each and every one.  As I like to make a project from books I'm reviewing, I chose one of the smaller cushions, though I'd happily make any one of the quilts in the book.  Seriously, hop on over to Amazon and have a look inside the book.

The book opens with basic information about using wool fabrics and some applique techniques to get you started.  I chose Still Life Pillow as my project, though I didn't copy the exact layout or stitches.  I used wool felt on a background of cotton, the vase is cotton too, though you could make any of the projects entirely from wool or from cotton.

The vase is needle turn appliqued, the first time I've tried this technique.  I really, really enjoyed it.  The flowers and stems are all decoratively appliqued with embroidery floss and beads.  I enjoyed every second of this project.  Oh hang on, that's a lie.  I didn't enjoy being jabbed 50 million times (no exaggeration) by the pins I used to hold it together.  Next time - Bondaweb!

Next come the projects, ranging from quilts and cushions to a couple of bags and some ideas for embellishing shop bought (or hand made though no pattern is provided) items.  At the end there are 38 pages of full size patterns for all the projects.

So what do I think of the book?  I think the applique section could be a bit more informative, I had to turn to another book I had to learn to needle-turn applique.  Apart from that, I love this book.  The projects are truly gorgeous and would be so easy to alter and personalise, as I have done with this project.

I actually wish I had a hard copy of this book, I know I'd sit and flick through it time and again.  I'd love to make one of the quilts in the book, and maybe one day I'll find the time!

If you'd like a copy of the book, you can buy it here: Wild Blooms & Colorful Creatures

(affiliate link - if you do click over and buy something, I'll get a few pence towards an Amazon voucher).

I was given a review copy of the book by C&T Publishing however this review and all opinions are 100% my own, I was not told what to say.

I'm linking up to: 

Craft Book Sew along and Something New for 2014 (rather tenuously, though this was my first go at needle-turn applique, however small!)

A goldwork decoration

Happy April the first!  Here's hoping no-one tries to fool me today as I will fall for it.  I finished the canvas work decoration that was challenge for Needlequest's March theme of goldwork.

I am so happy with how it turned out.  Yep, that's right, I'm happy with it.  There are no major mistakes that I feel compelled to point out.  It's about 6" tip to top, not including the tassle.

The cream stitches are all Rhodes stitches, which is a lovely textural stitch.  The gold squares are leather which I stab stitched in place.  That was quite challenging, as was cutting them to the right size.  Each one has 2 layers of felt underneath to give it some depth.  The outside is sewn up with beads.  I forgot to take a picture of the back, but it's just a plain cream silk.

I hung it up in my craft room to take a picture and it's currently living there until I find a better home for it!  I really enjoyed this quick foray into goldwork and I will be doing some more.  It's also got me itching to do some more canvas work... If only I didn't have 360 WIPs as it is... 


Related posts
Needlequest January - Needlepainting
Needlequest February - Japan (Sashiko)
Needlequest March - Goldwork, starting the decoration

making a start on the gold work

I've been doing a lot of stitching recently.  I have started a rather mammoth blackwork project which I'll tell you all about soon, but first I need an update on this month's challenge for Needlequest.   The topic is goldwork and it just so happens I have two kits.

This is where I'm starting.  It's a canvas work project that uses copper threads.  OK, it's not gold, but goldwork is a term which encompasses metal threads in general, so that's fine.  I've never seen canvas work with goldwork before but the counted nature makes it easier than surface embroidery, for me at least.

It's by Carolyn, I bought it at Harrogate last year.  This is the contents of the kit:

Instructions, a piece of copper coloured canvas, silk for the back, felt for padding, wadding, various threads, beads for the edging and a couple of needles.  Also pictured are the card of goldwork needles and the goldwork scissors I bought from Golden Hinde (the maker of my second kit), but I didn't actually need them for this kit.

This is the result of 2 night's stitching.  It does work pretty fast!  The middle is made up of Rhodes Stars in cream Perle 12.  They make a lovely texture as they've very raised.  Then we have rows of satin stitch of various lengths in copper threads, grey rayon (nightmare to stitch!), cream stranded cotton - all 6 strands, copper thread again and now I'm embarking on a final row of Rhodes Stars.

I think this will be finished pretty quickly, if I can keep my focus on it and not start something else!  Bit tricky as I just received an embroidery book to review...

I've put my little scissors in this picture for scale.  I also started an applique project, this is for yet another book review!

You'll have to wait to see the results of this one!


Related posts
Needlequest January - Needlepainting
Needlequest February - Japan (Sashiko)

continuing with the crewel

Good morning ladies, I hope you are all enjoying the spring weather...  yeah, I would be too if we were having any.

I wanted to show you how I'm getting on with the crewel flowers pieces I started for January's Needlequest challenge.  I bet you thought I'd abandoned it, didn't you?

Last time I showed you this piece, I was worried about the flatness of the stems.  I took all your comments on board and know that I have to do some highlighting.  I took the piece down to my brother's the other weekend along with a selection of crewel wools so he could help me choose the colour to use.  He's a graphic designer and has an excellent eye for these things. He advised me to wait until I've finished the piece.  So I will.

All the flower heads and buds are now finished, except the flower centre in the bottom right of course.  I've also finished off the stems so only have the leaves and the green bits of the buds/flowers (no idea what they're called) to do.

I thought it would take me forever, but it seems to be going pretty quickly.  I love the texture of the piece.  Now, when I asked for help, a few of you suggested using one strand of embroidery thread to do the highlights.  This isn't feasible as I'm working this piece in crewel wool, but I understand a lot of you may not have seen crewel wool, so I attempted to take some photos to show you the difference.

The green strand at the top is the crewel, the blue is one strand of floss.  Can you see the difference?  The crewel is matt and fuzzy, the floss is smooth and shiny.  That's why I thought the floss highlights would stand out like a sore thumb.

Maybe that shows it better?  This is one strand of floss over the crewel stitching.  Anyway, I'll show you the piece again when I've finished, then I'll have to start the highlighting!  Thanks for the suggestions everyone, they were very much appreciated.


Related posts

the beginning
flat flowers