Camellias, flower 1

There are three methods for realistic stitching (long and short stitch) in Japanese embroidery: alternating LSS (nagamijika-sashinui), random LSS (midare-sashinui) and curved angular stitches (kussetsu-sashinui).

The first flower is worked in alternating long and short stitch in twisted silk.

Long and short stitch is something of a misnomer, only the first row is worked in long and short stitches. It seems to me that the first row is crucial; if that one is not right then none of the following rows will be. I really concentrated making the long and short stitches consistent lengths, spacing them evenly and following the contours of the petal.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

In subsequent rows the stitches are all roughly the same length as the original long stitches and only every other stitched is worked filling the space between the 'long' stitches.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

Each petal is worked in three shades. The first row, on the outer edge of the petal, is worked in the darkest shade, followed by the next darkest with the palest shade at the inner edge. The thickness of the thread also gradually decreases from the outside to the inside of each petal.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

I don’t think that I have ever concentrated so hard on a piece of embroidery. To my delight and surprise I completed the first petal without too much angst.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

I was feeling a little less anxious about LSS but did not want to move onto the other methods until I was comfortable with this one so I spent the rest of day one and the whole of day two completing the petals on the first flower.

© JEC/Carol-Anne Conway

I must say that I really surprised myself with this flower. I like how it came out. So far, so good.

Happy Stitching