Cord #7

I nearly forgot to mention cord #7. In some ways this is the most dramatic and attention grabbing of all the cords but it terms of stitching in is very quiet. Like the imitation wicker cord, it is stitched in two stages. The first stage is to couch rows of #4 gold to and fro. I did this at the same time as prepping the other cords. The gold threads are held with red couching thread in a brick effect.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

The rein effect is superimposed over the gold in 4-1 twist of 108 worked in groups of seven stitches with an equal amount of space between. Like many techniques in Japanese embroidery it sounds simpler than it is. The mechanics of the stitch are simple but judging the angles and spacing around the curves make it far more difficult.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

Happy Stitching.