Month: September 2020

September 27, 2020

Whitework Embroidery

I’ve been trying my hand at different types of embroidery. The San Francisco School of Needlework and Design has been offering classes and stitch ins during SIP and I have been really enjoying myself. Hopefully, they will continue some classes online once everything opens up again. My most current finished piece is in whitework.

Whitework (class from San Francisco School of Needlework & Design)

I love the simplicity of white thread on white fabric. My very favorite part of this piece is the center. It’s a pulled stitch called Diagonal Cross Filling. The stitch is very easy to do and the effect is lovely.

I’m not in love with my eyelets. I had a really tough time with these. I drew a circle where the eyelet was to be, cut an “x” in the middle, and then whip stitched the edge with one strand of floss. We were told to come up only once in each hole around the outside and then down in the middle of the eyelet. I found that if I did that, I did not get full coverage so I came up more than once in many holes which then left it’s own little gap.

I did really enjoy the couching on the trailing stitch (the stems). That took forever. The longest stem (to the flower) I did as instructed with only one strand of floss. The second stem (the one to the leaf) I stitched with two threads – more to see how it would look than anything else. I like it, but I was surprised to see that there is definitely an obvious difference between couching with one thread and two. Not bad, but different. It was also much quicker to stitch and I was able to use only one hole per pass.

Another thing that is bugging me. Both the floss and the perle are white; however, on my project they look quite different in color. My hands were squeaky clean, but maybe I had some oils left on them anyway? Also I’m wondering if using a pencil may not have been the right way to mark my fabric – the graphite could have colored the thread as well.

Back of work where the threads that were couched have been pulled through.

This is the back where the threads that I used (4) were couched and then the ends – both top and bottom of stem – were pulled through to the back. Our instructor told us to cut them off even with the fabric. I am scared to do this!!! What will keep them from popping through to the top of the work? I’m going to email my teacher with both pictures to see if I can get come clarification.

Today I’m linking up with Kathy over at Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitch Sunday.

September 20, 2020

September HQAL Update

This HQAL (Hand Quilt-A-Long) update is not going to be about the project I chose for the HQAL – The Grandmother’s Garden. Grandmother’s Garden is laying dormant on the table behind the couch and although it has been calling to me, I have been ignoring it. She is in the same state as she was at the last update:

Still in this stacked form.

I have been working on the plan for the embroidery for each flower and will show that on a later update. I have seriously gotten the embroidery bug:

Heirloom Family Sampler for our summer EGA project.
Embroidery class project – San Francisco School of Needlework and Design (online classes)
Stitches learned – Raised Stem, Coral Knot, Wheat.
Embroidery class project – San Francisco School of Needlework and Design (online classes)
This is the wing for the bird above. The class was on stumpwork. I learned the Long and Short stitch
Pulled thread class at my EGA. This coming week we will be learning different kinds of hem stitching to do over the pulled thread part.
Something I saw on FB and wanted to recreate. It was a video showing different fun stitches – I will be putting rosebuds on the stems of the vine.
3-D hair. My grand uncle used to bring my sister and I postcards with 3-D images on them. This is nothing like those, but it reminded me of them.

So this is what I have been working on. I will get to my Grandmother’s Flower Garden soon, I have just been floating to whatever project, media and skill that calls me at any given moment. It just seems to be what I need to do right now.

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Margaret, Tracy, Deb, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen, Daisy, Connie, Monica and Sherrie

I’m also linking up with Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitch Sunday.

September 13, 2020

September SAL Update

This is the first time using WordPress’ new look and I am NOT one for changes. The other way was so much easier!!

Oh, well, I guess I better get used to it!! This is where I was the last time we updated in August.

August SAL Update

This is where I am now.

September SAL Update

I have been working on the toe area a little bit each day. I have worked on other areas, but not a lot. Just when I have a bit of thread left over from a toe area and an easily accessible area somewhere else that calls for the same color thread.

I am so grateful to take part in this SAL. The members of the SAL all work on their own project and post progress each month. I love being a part of this talented and supportive group of stitchers. If you’d like to join us, please contact AVIS – her link is below. And please take a look at the other stitchers taking part in this SAL.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Helen