Showing posts with label crewel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crewel. Show all posts

Thursday, April 12, 2012

FO, WIP and Crewel Friday

I like the second Dalek better than the first. This one is crochet.
They just make me laugh. Eggsterminate!   BTW, he's left handed. My hands don't like crochet at all--I need to take it slow. Luckily, they're small.  Another red one is next.
This isn't really embroidery or anything, but I hemmed the piece of silk I got a a recent sewing expo. It's reversible so I just did a little hem on three sides.  I haven't worn it...the fabric was washed in something scented so I need to rewash it a few times to get the smell out before I can wear it.
I realized the leaf I made at the sewing expo had similar colors to a quilt square I'd been playing with (random stitching with used fabrics).  I'll have to be careful going forward--that green is very bright. I may need to recolor those bands, make them a bit bluer I think, but maybe I can balance it elsewhere. I'm going to make another few squares before thinking more about putting them together.
I finally (FINALLY!) finished the endless mounds.  I'm back working on the stem. One color family is used for both and I want to get a lot of it done. It looks dull brown under incandescent light.  If I leave it for later, I may have a UFO on my hands. The stem is coming along nicely now. Soon I'll be back to the fun stuff.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Crewel Friday and a bit more...

New Year's weekend provided some lovely stitching time.  I completed the acorns, began the main stem, outlined the hills with split stitch and stitched the deer. I feel I'm jumping around a bit but the main stem and hills are the same color family and I want to get them well underway before taking a break for some color with the last two leaves. motivation. I've also just about completed my paper.
Last week I won lovely prize. I'd mentioned I'm participating in a 30-day creativity practice with others, organized by Quinn Creative.  As part of the conversation, she asked us to post our words for 2011. She selected two participants to win these cute inner critic dolls. 
While it's supposed to be used to silence your inner critic, these days the way work has been going, I've been using it to remind me to keep my yap shut when I long to spout off.
The doll came with this awesome card.
The long holiday weekend, along with our monthly support group on Thursday, also allowed me time for Japanese embroidery. I stitched the flat silk foundation for the middle fan blade. It's a deep burgundy color (which some people see as purple, some as brown). The trellis on top is done in two metallics, alternating--gold and a variegated pink. I still need to tie it down at the intersections. I hope to get that done this coming weekend.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Crewel Friday

It's coming along...
I stitched late into the night on Sunday.  The long and short shading took a long time to do. In the middle of it, I took a break from the dull color and stitched the sprig on the right.

I'm going to take a break next week.  I'm going to be out of touch for a couple days--no big deal, a routine colonoscopy, and I hope to get some stitching done while at off work, but this is a busy time in a busy week so I may not get a chance to visit with you.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Crewel Friday--progress

I've been making progress--I don't want to put it down.

I received lesson two back from the instructor, Judy Jeroy, on Monday. She had some comments and areas for improvement in the samplers I sent her and some comments on the notes on the paper that I sent her. Now I have a lot to do--finish the paper, complete my notebook (I have fabric to make a cover for it, too), make up the pockets, and finish the edges of the band sampler.
All I want to do is stitch.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Crewel Friday Stitches

For those who asked:  I don't have images or scans of the stitch charts but I do have sources where I got some of them. Most of the fillings begin with a simple lattice, tacked down with a tiny diagonal stitch. I used a cut strip of paper to help guide the lattices, different sized strips for bigger or smaller lattices.  Most of the lattices stitched in the sampler are vertical/horizontal, but the first and last ones are diagonal. They're done the same way: lay long parallel stitches in one direction, cross at a 90 degree angle the other way and then tie down the intersections. (stitch back and forth, not like satin stitch)

The first two samples below have a laid stitch ground. The others do not. It took way too long.
The left hand box in the first row is my attempt at using a Japanese embroidery stitch, tie-dye effect, in crewel wool. First you stitch the diagonal grid, then instead of a small diagonal tie down, you take three longer satin stitches over each intersection. Last, you add two small satin stitches to the center of each open area.

The right-hand pattern is a not very successful try at my own design. Alternating lazy-daisy stitch flowers. Kind of inspired by the Dover book mentioned below.

Second row, left is a large vertical cross in pale green over the grid lines with a yellow French knot in the other squares. This is from the Dover book, Jacobean Iron-on Transfer Patterns by Linda Ormesson. While the transfers are okay, I got the book for the three pages of filling patterns at the end. 

Next to it is another lame attempt at design. I stitched large diagonal crosses and tied them down. I didn't plan it before beginning and it would be improved with better spacing, I think.

The bottom row patterns were taken from Stitches of Creative Embroidery by Jacqueline Enthoven.  One is a double vertical cross, tied down with a small diagonal cross and French knots.  The other is a double lattice.  I stitched one lattice and tied it down and then stitched another in the same directions, midway between the laid lines of the first, and tied it down. The experiment here was with color. The bottom lattice is dark green tied down with red. The top lattice is pale green tied down with the same pale green. It gives kind of a plaid effect.
The top left strawberry is spaced buttonhole stitches on a laid ground from Crewelwork Embroidery Stitches by Anchor.  The leaf on that side is satin stitch held with long laid lines that are couched at intervals.  I saw this in several of the older books I've been reading and it seems to have been a common Medieval filling stitch in Europe and was also used in many other countries.

The little three-lobed leaf is shaded chain stitch.

On the right hand side, the top leaf is Battlement Couching, which is layers of grids, just moved over a bit each time, with the top layer secured at the intersections.  I found that in several books. I outlined it with stem stitch. The right-hand strawberry is also from the Anchor book.  Blocks of satin stitch are alternated with large crosses, tied in the centers.  It was very hard to keep the satin stitch blocks even and square, even though I drew them onto the fabric.

The mounds: the top mound is rows of shaded chain stitch with the topmost row being a twisted chain so one arm sticks out (hopefully like grass).  The mound on the right is a buttonhole stitch I saw in the old books.  It was done as a solid filling in the books; here I spaced it out more. You stitch the first row like regular buttonhole, with the "purl" edge down. For each subsequent row you begin each stitch just above the purl edge of the previous row, stitching over the edge, as you make a new row.  If it's close it doesn't look like buttonhole at all but rows of satin stitch with a raised edge. 

The mound on the left began with laid stitch, then a diamond filling.  I made my tie downs long--each one began right at the bottom edge of where two laid threads crossed, but then extended up midway into the diamond. I added a French knot at the end of each tie down. The idea was to look like flowers and stems. 

Friday, August 19, 2011

Crewel Friday

Some slow progress. I did not like the wussy pale yellow French knots I'd done in the upper right square so I removed them and put in bold red lazy daisy stitches. I'm still not thrilled but happier.
Then I stitched two more squares. I'm not thrilled with the one on the right but it's okay.
I'm still reading my various books. A new one arrived this week on English Embroidery. I'm feeling pretty firmly entrenched in the 17th century right now.

 I found a wonderful online embroidery resource at the Folger Shakespeare Library: The Trevelyon Miscellany of 1608.  Thomas Trevelyon. This book is amazing and I've just skimmed the surface.  It has a wealth of embroidery patterns, geometric designs, illustrations, portraits, alphabets, astrology and astronomy.
In particular I love the repeat patterns and the many designs for elaborately embroidered caps, like this one I photographed at the V&A this spring.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Crewel Friday

Here are some of my line stitches and my first two fillings.  I'm not thrilled with the one on the right. The one on the left is actually a Japanese pattern--tie-die effect.  Now that I've shown I can do the laid ground, I think I'm going to do the rest of the fillings without the stitched ground. It'll go a lot faster.
And I began the second pocket. I made notes on what I want where and then used some of the plain and wrapped line stitches for the stems. 

I'm also still reading. I'm trying to be more focused and transcribing some notes and quotes into a Word file to use to write up something. The more I read, the more amazed I am that at a time of all of this very fine and delicate silk and metal thread embroidery, these huge wool designs were stitched. I wonder if some stitchers made both, like I would...the fine work when I have time, energy and good light and the large, useful (mostly bedhangings remain) wool designs when I need a change of pace.

Today is Camp Quality. I'm off with the kids and our nautical flag project.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Crewel Friday--lesson 1 done!

By the time you read this my lesson one materials will be on their way to the EGA Individual Correspondence Course in Crewel instructor, Judy Jeroy. I took the whole estimated course time to do this one lesson! I need to move quicker and think I can now--I spent a lot of time reading and planning before beginning any stitching. Here is the pocket sampler all stretched and nice. It does make a huge difference (and it stayed that nice, even when I undid the lacing and removed it from the frame). Check out the crumpled photo from last week here. The band sampler below will be included in the package along with the notebook of materials I've gathered and a letter. I have a long way to go, even while my samplers are under review and I can't add to them... I've decided I want to do a sampler of leaf stitches, perhaps on plain oval () leaves, using some of the older books I have. I need to work on my paper. I've gotten a list of threads I don't have for the final sampler. I need to order them and I can get going on that--trace the design and begin working in some areas. I've already taken two EGA Group Correspondence Courses with Judy Jeroy so I feel fairly competent and confident.

In some ways I took the class for "permission" to play and take the time to really focus on this one thing (well as much as I ever focus on anything). (So sorry, I can't cook dinner tonight, I have to finish this book for my class.) And, yes, I get the convoluted thinking that goes into needing permission to do what one wants. For me, it works and I'll go with that-- the commitment and money involved are something I can hold on to when other projects, tasks, ideas and people are pulling at me.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Crewel Friday

Busy times at work tends to lead to busy-work at home--I'm often too tired to really focus on anything else. So, over the course of this week I made a list of the books I've assembled in a pile and am reviewing in more or less depth for the crewel course. Some are on the instructor's list, some not. All but one are mine. In these days of feeling overwhelmed by stuff, I'm not sure if that's good or bad, but there it is.

I've found there are two pretty separate types of books. Those that focus on history and design and those that focus on stitches. Most books have at least a bit of both, but I believe the best in each category focus on one or the other.

A few stand out. I'd most recommend Crewel Embroidery in England by Joan Edwards and The Art of Crewel Embroidery by Mildred Davis as the place to spend your money if you're buying to read up on traditional crewel embroidery.

I love stitch books, full of diagrams and potential (I always intend to go through each new book and try each new stitch--somehow it never happens)--some newer and some older are on my list. I like them all.I've found if I don't grasp a stitch from the instructions in one book, another book is likely to present it in a way that will click.

While I was at it I found a duplicate--so it's time for a giveaway!This is a 70s book that has great stitch diagrams. The designs are thoughtful though and rooted in history they look less dated than many from this era. No orange and olive and no mushrooms. Most of the models look to be stitched with floss and not wool, it's hard to tell from the photos. That would be easy to change. The back of the book has an envelope with full-size pattern sheets for all of the designs. It's hardback, not in pristine condition but pretty good.

Usual giveaway rules apply. Please leave a comment on this post and I'll use the random number generator to pick one on March 7. Not a long time, but I want to get it into the mail before vacation in March. Make sure your comment provides some way for me to get in touch with you. I'll mail anywhere. It'll probably go book rate so patience is advised. Good luck.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

WIP-land

To stave off boredom while sitting last week, I began a whole slew of projects that I'm rotating between, sometimes a row or section of one then moving on to another. I'm restless.This is a hat, knit with cables in an Alpaca yarn--very soft. It was a kit from Knitpicks from my stash. This is a lacy washcloth and below is another. I have cotton (also from Knitpicks) for a third...which is perfect since the pattern book has three different patterns. The cloths are knit with short-rows. You can see I've learned my lace-knitting lessons--I'm using markers and lifelines, even for something this small. The good thing is that I've learned enough now to be able to figure out where I went wrong and fix it. The not-so-good thing is that I go wrong way too often. This is the completed flower from the needlebook I began way back when and then let languish. I've begun the second flower.
Last is an easy but slow pillowcase project. The first one came to me stitched, with the second stamped case and a few tangles of green floss and perle. I'm using those threads along with some more greens from my stash to satin stitch the leaves. I'll need to get to a store for the variegateds used for the flowers and for some thread to use to crochet the edgings. What color do you suggest I use? Variegated greens is an obvious choice but I'm just not so sure...

Friday, June 4, 2010

Long weekend projects

The first thing I did last weekend (once I found the missing cut fabric squares, mentioned here) was begin the kits for the crewel chatelaine project I'm teaching in July. This represents between 8 and 10 hours of work. I didn't stop for much all day. The needles are snuggled into felt pieces, the design fabric cut, finishing fabrics cut, and all of the Appleton crewel wools measured out and allocated. I still have to print the design onto the fabric (the part I'm most anxious about turning out right) and finalize and print the instructions.On Sunday I worked on the edging for this pillowcase--it came to me with the embroidery complete. I'm working on the second of the pair.Early Monday morning I completed step two of the altar cloth--adding a slightly less raised line down the center of each arm. It's been passed back to the church.On Sunday and Monday I worked on this scissors case. The Watercolors are what makes it work--it's pretty mindless. It's all lined and has scissors tucked inside. And quickly Monday night I finished up some bookmarks for the EGA's literacy outreach and Hammond Reads (more here).

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Books, part 2

This first book is very 1960s and looks to be reprints from past books and articles. I can't tell yet if it will have any gems of wisdom. It's pretty unprepossessing.This one is very, very 1970s. Since that's "my" era, I rather like it. It's another one I'm hoping will have more depth than it looks like right now.This next book isn't crewel. I came upon it on my way to the crewel books and pulled it out to consider passing on. It's a keeper. It's not necessarily about blackwork, it's about design and design development and I'd forgotten how wonderful it was.So, I pulled it out for another review.I just love the images in it and the line drawings for inspiration.
This last one is also more current. I've taken EGA group correspondence courses with Judy Jeroy and I love her style. I recommend her courses--they're quite detailed. It's likely I have much of the content of this book in the various course materials from her, but here it is all in one place (and not scribbled on).

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Books, part 1

It's finally arrived: my autographed copy of the Mystery of Lewis Carroll. I'm looking forward to reading it--thanks, Jenny, for signing and sending it to me. Woo-hoo!!!I've been reading a lot again lately. I finished the other books I'd pulled out of the piles to read. This time I pulled out several crewel books. I've been browsing them a bit, picking up one and reading a bit and then picking up the other. Rather like my spotty stitching this weekend. I try to focus on one in the mornings before and during breakfast (I can't stitch weekday mornings or I'd never go to work). Most of these books are older--1960s and 70s. This is based on Winterthur collections and looks to be well researched.This one is also well researched and museum based. It focuses on design and not type of stitching and does not have many samplers nor much whitework. So far it's talking about the inspiration for designs and the practical reasons (lack of thread in the colonies) for some designs.

Friday, March 26, 2010

More stitchin'

This project is what stopped my stitching, I realized. I was doing buttonhole stitch with pale pink on the dark green fabric and I hated it. I ripped it all out and then just stopped. With a couple of weeks of thought I started in again--but in a different spot where the color of the ground showing through wouldn't bother me as much.It's moving along, finally. Since taking this photo, I've completed the three yellow petals. I've also decided to pad the pink area at the other end with pink. That should solve my problem. I'm not sure if I'm going to fuse on pink fabric or if I'll use pink felt (which may be too thick).This is another project for the YMCA, for fall classes. We'll call it "Tattoo Your Jeans" and ask students to bring in a garment (with parental permission) to embellish with embroidery. This is a WIP because I hope to add a lot more embroidery to these teeny (toddler size 2) jeans from Goodwill. This week was our last class for this session. I hope we can find more teachers so everyone gets more of a break--we're hoping to find people willing to teach four weeks (one month), and then have a few new people take over for the next month. Hopefully we can rotate and no one will get as burnt out on it as we are right now.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Crazy Busy

Time to post is hard to find right now. I'm about up to my eyebrows in planning a conference for next weekend. It's a bigger than usual event with a few more pieces than normal.

And I've had Finished Objects to show! This weekend I got the sewing machine out and finished some things. I'm going to put them all here in one post, because I know I won't get back to the computer for a while.
This 1970s Columbia Minerva, Erica Wilson design chatelaine is brand-spanking new. I bought it at an antique shop several years ago, all in the closed package (probably what's called "mint in box" by antiquers and they'd probably be appalled that I opened and stitched it). It took me a long time to stitch. I found it a bit fiddly but fun. The duck fabric was hard to sew and my hands hurt from the finishing by the time I was done--and I did all I could on the machine. But I like it, it's so bright and colorful.
The loops at the bottom hold strands of thread or scissors. The pattern had them stitched but I sewed on large snaps.This little pin doll is another long-languishing project. It was just a pattern so it took forever to find all the bits of fabric and trim and get them all in the same place at the same time. Once I had that, it went together quickly. The design is called Lil' Butterfly by Susan McFadden (1990--I told you it sat around a long time!)I know I've shown this before, with the knitting complete. But now it's really, finally done. It has ties and a lining (red corduroy). I also have a lovely little red corduroy gift bag when I cut the original lining piece too small and didn't notice it until it was stitched, French seams and all. It will come in handy for the holidays.I found these nifty little bits at J0-Ann's. The are preprinted fabric designs but instead of buying yardage, you get a small piece (fat 1/8th?) with the two ornaments (printed front and back) or the pincushion (front, back and sides). Both came with instructions and the ornaments came with the ribbon for hanging. I added some touches of embroidery to the angel but left the others alone. The bottom of the pincushion has the blue of the angel on it. Everyone needs a holiday pincushion! I also stitched the completed pears. Here are the third sides. I began stuffing them and ran out of polyfill. The pattern suggests doll pellets to weight the pears and I think that or a large washer is a good idea, but I haven't had a chance to get out to the store. Maybe Friday.

We're off for the long holiday weekend and I can't wait. (although I know I'll be tempted to come in to work--it's just looming!) Thursday we're going to Brookfield Zoo with a friend. (it's free day, too!) We're doing the family gathering on Saturday. Sunday is a car event (a collector is hosting an "open garage"). Busy weekend.

Tuesday is my first holiday party and I need to have gifts done, wrapped and ready. Yikes!