Stitching with a Shimmy

Shimmying through life with needles and thread…
January 21st, 2011

No stitching makes Romilly a sad girl…

Cats by Kelly (purrina) cross stitch

"Poookah!" - Cats by Kelly (In Stitches)

As I said, the past year was hard. But this year has started much better. I have a plan. And I’m well on the way to following that plan. This is a good thing.

Over the past two weeks, however, the *little* things on that plan (like stitching) have been squished by the big things.  Big things being things like the household getting a second car (which took chauffeuring of the EO to and from…) and the father-unit needing to run to the doctor for maintenance type stuff, but stuff that they had to make him loopy to perform! And, the big thing, the overhaul of the studio revving up so that I can easily find my supplies.

It’s the last that really has me stymied. You see, all of my stitching supplies are up there. And the pseudo-ivory embroidery piece that I’ve been working on is up there… I went to take it with me to the last doctor’s appointment and couldn’t’ find any scissors. Now this is unusual, since I have about 30 pair of embroidery scissors. Today I found my scissors, had about an hour to work on the next couple of petals, photograph it and post it here, and lo and behold but the THREAD is gone.  As usual, I suspect a cat. One of ours has taken to stealing threads from my stitching stands… and the arm of the couch, and anywhere else she finds it…

So I’ve been knitting socks in the evening. Finally the EO has a pair of hand knit socks that fit him. And I’ve got an idea of how to shape them to fit his weird foot and leg.  This is the third (fourth?) try. And it finally worked. MY socks, I’ve ripped out three times now and am about to cast on yet again.

But the stitching? It’s been non-existent. And I’m annoyed, and impatient, because I have PLANS!  And I really really want to share my discoveries about Ivory embroidery with you!  So. Soon. I’ll keep plugging away, but posts may be a bit sporadic for the next little while while I dig out my studio – it’s almost there, but the EO needs to do electrical work before I can put up the new drafting table, so probably at LEAST another week, durn it…; configure and learn to use my nifty new computer (I’m living on the laptop and pining for my big monitor right now!).

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December 10th, 2010

Jacobean Design – Ivory Embroidery Step 2

Three petals stitched

Three petals finished

Wow. Friday already. I didn’t realize that it was so late in the week! Where does the time go?

Note: You might be interested in the first post in this series.

Step 2 – Filling the Large Petals

Last week I stitched the larger petals with geometric stitch patterns from Weldon’s.  I used two different patterns, alternating them between the petals.

They are as follows:

Pattern 1: Star and Lattice Filling

Star and Lattice Filling

Star and Lattice Filling - every chart line = One fabric thread

This is created by stitching the lattice pattern first. It’s stitched over THREE threads of the linen, using backstitch to make the squares.

Then the little star shapes are stitched over one thread at each intersection.  Use the same color floss for all stitches. I used different colors in the chart for ease of reading.

Pattern 2: Cross and Lattice Filling

Cross and Lattice Filling

Cross & Lattice Filling - every chart line = one fabric thread

This is created by again stitching the lattice pattern first. Again, over three threads (three over, three up) I stitched it with backstitch a well, although Weldon’s suggests stitching little “V” shapes and going row by row, horizontally left to right, then returning right to left. I haven’t tried it that way.

Then the crosses are added in the middle of the lattice work, crossing over two threads (two over, two up).

On both of these patterns, you will need to compensate the pattern slightly at the edge of the design. It’s not difficult, and there are closeups in the Gallery below.

As usual, click on any of the images for a larger view.

Enjoy! This is becoming a fun excercise for me. I’m going to move on this weekend, so I should have new filling stitches for you next Friday.

Stitched Examples

Star & Lattice Filling

Star and Lattice Petal

Cross and Lattice petals

Cross and Lattice Petals

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December 3rd, 2010

OK… Pseudo Ivory for Winter

Beginning of embroidered flower

Ivory embroidery in rose?

I still wanted to be stitching, even though I don’ thave the gold yet, and really can’t afford to order it until after the first of the year.  Ah, budgets. :(

But then I thought. You know, I’ve got this stash. And there’s this thing called “Ivory Embroidery” that I’ve talked about before in my Weldon’s.  Since I still haven’t’ been able to find an extant piece to look at, I figured I’d just try following some of the instructions and see what happened.

Still using the Jacobean Flower pattern. I’m stitching it on a pale rose 32 count linen, using DMC  #12 perle cotton in #233 (a bit darker rose). I’m thinking I should probably have used embroidery floss in the same color, as it’s coming out a bit heavy on the embroidery, but it’s still pretty.

So.

Supplies

Linen or Evenweave (I’m using 32 count. You could use 28 count, enlarge the pattern slightly)

#12 perle cotton in the same color or close to it as your linen (If you’re using 32 count linen, you might want to use embroidery floss or floche instead. )

6″ embroidery hoop

Step One

Transfer your design to your linen.

I will start diagramming stitches for you next week.

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November 19th, 2010

Jacobean Goldwork Flower – Step 2-NOT!

Too-thin gold thread!

This was not quite as intended...

OK. I was going to post the wonderful work I’d done on the goldwork flower this week. Unfortunately, I was stymied. I put Japan Gold #5 in the supply list, because I knew I had it, and I thought it would work.

It doesn’t. I have it on hand because I was working on a cuff in Imperial Chinese embroidery long ago, and I forgot just how tiny it is. It’s not a passing thread, by any means, but it’s definitely thinner than I really want for this piece. Click on the photo to see just how small. That’s one strand of Zwicky silk floss holding it down – and a size 8 needle! And I don’ t have any #7 gold. Yet.  So. Step 2 for me is to log on to Hedgehog Handworks (I love Joady and company-not affiliated!) or Threadneedle Street (my old LNS) and order more thread (In this case, I’ll probably call Threadneedle street, because I also need some threads that Hedgehog doesn’t carry.  This project is now on hold for a little while. Sorry about the bad supply list, and sorry about the postponement! I feel like I’ve led y’all down a primrose path, and a bit guilty!Back to knitting while I wait for it to come in, I guess. (I’ve also got about an hour’s work left on the cafe curtain, then it needs to be sewn together… so I guess there’s enough for me to keep busy with!)

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November 12th, 2010

Jacobean Goldwork – Step One

Transfer the pattern to your fabric.  (We’ve been car shopping this week, and that’s actually all I got done on this!). My studio is still a wreck – mostly now because I’m actually in the process of revamping it, starting with making the shelves in the closet actually stay up – they fell on my head last year and I haven’t’ had the chance to empty it out an put the supports up properly (like into studs rather than loosely into drywall without anchors?!!!?) Anyway, between car hunting and searching for just the right ground fabric, I didn’t get much done!

So. Use any method you prefer, and transfer your design onto your chosen ground fabric.  I’ll add my photo here when I get it off my camera card. :)

Supplies list can be found here.

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