When I look at the the beautiful embroidery stitches that people like Allison do, I'm awed. Then I found this crewel pillow that I made in 1975 (yes, it's signed and dated). It's a sampler of background filler and ornamental stitches, and I must say I'm proud of it. I found the idea in a book or magazine, but I changed it a great deal, including the color scheme. Funny, although these 70's shades look dated to me, the red color family combined with green is still one of my favorite color schemes. But the amazing thing to me is that I really could make all those stitches. Now I have no clue, and even if I found the book and reviewed, I don't think they'd turn out as well. Truly a past life!
On a completely unrelated topic: I have been machine quilting using Signature Threads Rainbows. It's 40 weight polyester, variegated. Very pretty, but it's so fine and slippery that I find the stitches coming undone unless I both backstitch and use small stitches at the beginning and end of the stitching rows. Just a word of warning.
9 comments:
You should definitely get back to embroidery work! I don't find that to be dated at all--did you see my sampler for the class--I am making some of the same flowers.
Kay, that's beautiful work. How about incorporating it into a crazy quilt? It could be something small, like a footstool cover ... sewing machine cover? ... toaster cozy? computer monitor bonnet? It really shouldn't spend the NEXT 30 years in solitary confinement!
That is incredible work. I wonder if it is like riding a bike, and once you started doing it again, it would come back to you?
Actually I have taken the pillow out again, and it's on my sofa. I can't do this work anymore though because I have problems with my wrist--beginning of carpal tunnel, and I don't do much handwork. Too bad because I did enjoy embroidery. It allows the same kind of play with color and texture that quilting does. So now I just admire other people's work.
Oooh, wow, look at you! Holy smoke! Sorry to hear about the carpal. Sucks.
I agree 40 wt thread for quilting is too fine. I like #30 embroidery thread for MQ. I wanna see it!
Your embroidery is lovely.
Have you tried leaving long tails at the beginning & end, then take a crewel embroidery needle, thread your ends through that, then weave it into the batting through a seam or 2 to keep it anchored. That's how I do show quilts.
Nice stitching, Kay!
Kay, I have a friend, Cindy Thury-Smith, who has extreme carpal tunnel...she loves CQ so does all of it on machine. Lots of terrific machine embroidery, piecing, etc. Maybe machine embroidery would interest you too...like a real embroidery machine. The possibilities are endless with it.
ps You say the sweetest things...and your pillow is fantastic!
Wow--beautiful work! I love the color palette too.
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