Wednesday 15 August 2007

Fuzzy Effect

All along I had planned to use gold on this butterfly, but when I got out the metallic gold thread it looked totally wrong with the yellow and blue stitching that I have already done. It is a red gold and was not right with the blue tone. I tried the silver and liked that much better. This will mean a rethink of some of the other elements and I will have to decide how to incorporate one of the colours from 'Dad'.

I've used another new technique on the hind wing. The technique, called 'fuzzy effect' is used on my Phase III piece, but I have not stitched it yet. The method is to couch threads into alternate valleys in the fabric. This fabric does not have very pronounced valleys but I was able to follow the lines between the welt thread fairly easily. I love couching so it was inevitable that I would enjoy this, however, I did find it rather demanding. The couching stitches come out and go back into the same valley line and are arranged in a brick pattern. Once the pattern is established, things went a little quicker, but the first few rows were really slow as I measured the position for each stitch; I do not have a very good eye for distance or length.

© Jennifer Ashley Taylor/Carol-Anne Conway

I am very pleased with this, it looks exactly how I imagined it would.

Phase VIII of the Japanese Embroidery course is stitched entirely in fuzzy effect - a couching freak's dream! This version, stitched by Jennifer Orchard, uses a different colour scheme and is absolutely stunning.

Happy Stitching

6 comments:

Candi said...

Oh wow! How pretty! That is going to be beautiful!
HUGZ:)
Candi

Anonymous said...

I just really love following your progress. Thank you again for taking the time to take us through your journey on each project.

I asked about the fabric before but I would like to know the actual name of it if you know.

~Pam

coral-seas said...

Hi Pam

I don't know the name of the silk but I will ask, it would be interesting to know.

I'll get back to you
CA

coral-seas said...

Hi Pam

Jennifer, who supplied the design, fabric and silks, says that the fabric is most likely Nishijin, I favourite of hers. If not then it is Ito-Nishikim which is very similar.

Both are densely woven with a satin smooth finish.

CA

coral-seas said...

PS Jennifer has a website here

http://www.needleartworks.com/index.htm

Anonymous said...

Thank you very much.

I really like the weave it seems like it would be suitable for some of the long short stitch designs I have in mind.

Hopefully I can find some to try out.

~Pam