A stitchy tail...

I worked the tail feathers for the peacock in pulled thread stitches as one of the first things I did. Now it is time to define them with padded satin stitch and trailing.

Padded satin stitch 

And to work a centre feature with eyelets.

Ready to work the eyelets

Satin stitch complete

Continuous eyelets and working larger eyelets

Some of the larger eyelet holes will be filled in with Ayreshire needlelace fillings.

Watch the birdie!

Still a lot of trailing to go, but I can now also work on the body of the peacock.
The main body is worked in 60/2 cotton lace thread in a darning stitch

Darning stitch body

The feathers are worked freehand in fishbone stitch in DMC Retours d'Alsace which is similar to cotton perle

Fishbone stitch feathers

The eyelet eye is in 60/2 cotton lace thread and the ladder stitch branch is a cotton a broder cordonnet with 50/3 lace thread for the pulled stitches and a single strand of Retours trailed on the outside edge. I have also worked the beak in padded satin stitch with stranded cotton.

Eyelet and ladder stitch 

Now for the tail feathers.........

A white peacock

I have decided to continue my studies by taking the Royal School of Needlework's Advanced Diploma in Fine Whitework with Tracy A Franklin in Durham. This is worked on 65 count fine linen so it is a challenge to see it let alone work it!

I have actually, rashly maybe, drawn my own design of a stylised peacock inspired by some Indian embroidery. This technique is worked in layers -

Pulled threads

Embroidery patterns on net

The net is then sandwiched between two layers of linen and it is all basted together while you work the rest of your embroidery

Trailing - single thread stranded cotton over 10 core threads

Trailing is worked around the area where your net embroidery is to be exposed to hold it in place without distorting it

Double trailing round the outer edges

Now I can concentrate on the actual peacock.

Hello again!

Well, I have completed some things since I last posted.

The cushion was made up and a gold cord stitched around the edge with knotted corners

Knotted cord corners

The chair seat was mounted on a newly upholstered base

.

I made a small purse with a gold embroidered front panel for my sister's birthday.

My Applique embroidery is featured in Julia Triston and Rachel Lombard's book Contemporary Applique

....and I started my Advanced Fine Whitework module for the RSN  (I will post more about this as I go along).

All in all it kept me out of mischief and I've lots on the go for 2015. I love this work!