Getting Back on Track

Yep, I'm back on track. I had to physically cover up the Crewel work and move it out of sight - and temptation - so that I could concentrate on the task in hand. But I'm getting on with my homework!

Padding for capitals

After padding out the area at the top of the pillars - the capitals - I finished off the pieces that will cover them and which I was struggling with last week!

It was then onto a nightmare! The border at the foot of my design. It had looked so naive when I started, a doddle ( well not a doddle, this is RSN but you know what I mean). I hate jigsaws after 5 minutes and cutting out small patterns and what am I doing? The tiniest, multicoloured, multi-layered pattern you could devise!! NOW you know why I couldn't get motivated.

Just bondaweb it all on and then embroider it said Tracy. I've had a headache all week. I had pots and dishes all over with correct pieces, waste pieces, backing paper, tracing paper. I lost pieces, they attached themselves to the dogs. It all sounds so easy but in reality is a bloody nightmare.

Anyway here is the result - I think I'd rather try marquetry which I reckon it looks like. And if I have to do it again because I or Tracy is not happy with it I think I'll have a complete Violet Elizabeth tantrum!

Border panel of multi-coloured silk pieces

Detached fly stitch as edging for applique.

The finials and ribbons will be all edged in detached fly and the long scroll in a different stitch mainly so the the whole thing does not become over fussy. Just keep everything crossed with me that it doesn't all go horribly wrong......

Addicted to stitch

Didn't do too bad for the weekend!

Getting there!

Got those bullion knots finished and laid down some trellis work

Bullion knots completed

Trellis with satin stitch and french knots and whipped chain

Woven wheel trellis, stem stitch outline

Looking at these photos though I'm not too sure about the fishbone stitch. Might have to look at that again as it looks a little weak. Any suggestions?

Now I must put this down and do some applique .............it's just too addictive!

Happy Stitching

Well I got the pulpit fall done just in time for Lent - I was hemming the lining back on on the Tuesday, just before Ash Wednesday, but we got there.


Not much seems to be happening with the Applique. I have embroidered the pillars in the style of Durham Cathedral - a nod to the city I'm taught in - and there will be other Durham references later on. At least I think I now have a plan of work and the order it will be done in so hopefully there will be more to see in the next week or so. I had a really bad day yesterday and spent six hours at Tracy's working on the embroidering the capitol of the pillars only to decide that it would all have to be redone. Sometimes that's just the way it goes and one thing you have to learn is not to become frustrated - it is quite normal and happens to EVERYBODY.

Embroidered Pillars

However, I have been getting on with the new crewel work design I began. Sometimes it is just better to go with what you are happy in. You can think about the embroidery and the stitch almost by second nature and it becomes soothing when you cannot concentrate on something new. Yes I have assessed this and reverse stitched where I had to but I cannot do up and down like a yo yo cutting and stitching when my head is somewhere else.

I've just about finished the flower head now so now we're onto the middle section.

Upper section of flower

Long and short shading, coral stitch and seeding

Fishbone stitched leaf

Fishbone stitch leaf

Padded satin stitch and shaded bullion knots

So I have at least done something this week now I've just to sort out the applique..............

The Learning Curve

Here's a quick preview of another project – got to have two on the go.

I took the crewel leaf I worked last month ......

and played around with the design a bit. 

I’m not arty and hopeless at drawing but after lots of scribbling and rubbing out, I’ve come up with something that I think is worth a bash at. And I'm really quite chuffed. OK so there's not a lot going on and it's just one motif basically but it is my own design inspired by historical examples and more importantly drawn by me! Yeah.....!

Jacobean couching

Commencing stem stitch shading

I've decided to do this properly so it's framed up and being worked on linen twill - oh, and it's back to the Appletons wools, I just like the rather naive texture they give your work. When it's finished I will mount it, and then compare it with my certificate piece. Would love to hear any comments about what you think, good or not? As they say...'it's all a learning curve!'