Rooster: Feather Experiment

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I tried a couple of experimental feathers (on the right) before finding an arrangement I liked: solid outline on one side with horizontal lines filling it in, which creates stylized feather shapes. This covers the same blocks that the cross-stitching would, but I find it less irritating to work and more interesting stylistically, while still fitting in with the geometric theme. I am still debating what to do with the row of black feathers above the gold feathers – maybe similar but with a diagonal fill? Something else entirely?

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May Mouse: Start

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A while ago I worked the April Mouse kit (see the finished result) from Woodland Threads as a present for my cousin’s new baby. There’s another one on the way, so it is time for mouse number two! This one is the May Mouse, and it is dancing around a maypole. Ain’t it cute!

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Rooster: Body in Blackwork

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I started work on the blackwork body. I’m glad I chose a darker ground fabric. If I was working the pattern on white I’d consider backing it with something. I think it would be tricky to keep the tails on the back from showing through unless you were very meticulous about it.

I added some running stitch temporary basting lines, partly to better keep count and partly to help sure the waste canvas doesn’t shift. That would be unfortunate!

I’m considering double running stitch for the feathers. But vertical or horizontal? Or diagonal? And how solid would it look on 16 count fabric? Still thinking!

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Rooster: Gold feathers

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I cross-stitched the gold feathers plus some decorative dots. I’m still thinking about the large black feathers – maybe fill them in with double running stitch over two squares? That would be quicker and easier than cross-stitch, and still fit with the geometric nature of the pattern.

This is going to be a nice big design. I thought about working it at a higher count and therefore smaller, but I decided to go for impressively large. The idea is it will look bold and stylized.

Posted in Blackwork, Cross-stitch, My work | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Plas Teg Bellpull: Framed up

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All framed up and entered in the show! The 50th Annual Woodlawn Needlework Exhibition is in Alexandria, Virginia. There are hundreds of pieces on display during March, so if you’re in the area you should go visit!

Posted in Crewel, Finishing techniques, My work | 20 Comments

Book Review: Free-Form Embroidery

I love Judith Baker Montano’s new book Free-form Embroidery (C&T Publishing, Inc 2012. ISBN 978-1-60705-572-3). It combines photos of fantastic art (see the excerpts for examples) and creative advice for interpreting designs in embroidery.

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For instance, the section on ground fabric also discusses how the color affects the mood of the piece. The stitch dictionary includes ideas for thread choice and their use in landscapes. There is a long chapter about sea creatures, flowers, different types of plants – different trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, plus details about bark, colors through the year, shapes of leaves, and all sorts of suggestions for stitching. The section “Think Like A Painter” talks about design questions to consider when creating a piece, with photos of wonderful embroidered landscapes as examples. The book finishes with a walk-through of the creation of her piece Laguna Pueblo (definitely worth reading and looking at photos). So, this is not a project book, but it will give you a million great ideas for your own designs.

Embroidered landscape, cliffs at the edge of the sea

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Rooster Project: Start

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blackwork roosterI can resist no longer. New project! This is the blackwork/cross-stitch rooster from Carol Leather of X-Calibre Designs. I am swapping out the suggested threads for DMC Floche 815, 310, and 437. I like this fabric, though it isn’t even-weave, so I’m trying out waste canvas (16 count) for the first time. We’ll see how that goes. The project may go down in flames. Curiosity killed the cat, as they say. But the cat did it anyway and so will I. Fortunately, I don’t think problematic embroidery is a fatal condition.

I have a terrible time with counted work – you can see the top plume in the picture below is miscounted – but I really love the design. Now, the solid black feathers are cross-stitch, but there is absolutely no way I am ever going to get through that much cross-stitch. I might be able to work the small gold feathers, but that’s it. Ideas for the large black feathers:

  1. Backstitch the outline for a solid line, then fill it in with a different stitch after the waste canvas is removed.
  2. Partial outline with running stitch, then fill it in after the waste canvas is removed.
  3. Darning stitch of some sort.
  4. Lattice work of some sort.
  5. ????

Ideas welcome 🙂 I think perhaps running stitch outline then fill them in with colcha stitch later. There’s plenty of time to think it over and lots of counted work left to go.

It’s really strange the way the waste canvas temporarily covers everything – you can’t see the final effect of the threads on the ground fabric. Sure hope it turns out well! Fingers crossed!

backstitch rooster feathers

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Embroidered Music Video

Something to rock out to this morning! Here is the music video for Favorite Place, directed by Christophe Thockler, who apparently LOVES embroidery supplies! It is SO COOL! Y’all will love it! you must watch it right now!!!!

It’s from the Southern dream pop band Black Books. I found it on Colossal, which is a blog featuring astounding and colossal art projects (well, my mother found it on Colossal). Also definitely worth a visit!

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Inspiration and links

I sent this video to Kathy at The Unbroken Thread, and she absolutely loved it. So I am reposting it here for my readers too. This is for anyone feeling discouraged that their stitching isn’t perfect:

I also added a page of links to embroidery design companies. I figure my Google skills may have helped me find some kit/design sources that y’all are unaware of, so I’ve listed them for your convenience. Knock yourself out.

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Plas Teg Bellpull: To the frame shop!

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It’s going to look fabulous! And a million billion thanks to my brother for dashing about getting it ready, and to Anna of Talliaferro for all her help making sure the thing gets ready in time for the show. I am really going to enjoying showing this off after all the time I put into it.

Posted in Crewel, Finishing techniques, My work | Tagged , , | 10 Comments