To Err is Human

The karayori and katayori threads used for the calyx and branches have to be soaked in water and allowed to dry thoroughly to set the twist. When the plum blossoms were complete, I twisted my threads, wound them onto a glass, soaked them and left them to dry ready for the next day. I remember it was late when I did this and I was probably a little tired. Although I referred to my box chart (a stitching guide for the design), I mistakenly made a karayori instead of a katayori for the branches.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

I only discovered the error after I had used most of the thread to couch along the branches and realised I was going to run out. I referred again to the box chart to make sure I used the same number of threads. The box chart said to use a katayori and the thread I had been couching was a karayori.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

Karayori is the smoother of the two threads. I had stitched mainly the twigs and small branches and had sufficient left to complete the remaining twigs. The more knobbly katayori that I made, I used to stitch the main branch.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

We have plum tree in our garden. The new growth is quite smooth, and the older branches are more gnarled. Although my plum blossoms are not as suggested, I like the outcome of my mistake. Perhaps it was divine intervention.

Happy Stitching