Tudor Rose - Part 3

In third and final Tudor Rose lesson we stitched the three remaining leaves on each bunch of five leaves.

The first leaf in this lesson was the top leaf on each bunch. First we used #371 Gold Wire to make a Ceylon stitch foundation. This is an extended version of Ceylon stitch with only three rows of ‘chains’; one on each edge and one along the leaf stem. I recall that I had some difficulty maintaining an even tension while practising extended Ceylon stitch for the gold work sampler. I was also mindful of the problems I had with Ladder stitch on the gold work sampler so took care with the tension on the rungs between each ‘chain’. My Ceylon stitch foundation for the first leaf is not perfect but I was reasonably happy with it.

© Thistle Threads/Carol-Anne Conway

The second step for this leaf was to weave under and over the rungs created by the Ceylon stitch using Soie Perlee. Several rows of weaving are packed quite tightly into the available space. The trick was to weave sufficient rows to nicely fill the leaf but not so many that the gold was completely obscured by the silk. It is the hints of gold glinting from between the silk that make these combination stitches so attractive.

© Thistle Threads/Carol-Anne Conway

The fourth leaf on each bunch of leaves is outlined with reverse chain stitch Soie Perlee. The leaf is then filled with detached buttonhole with return stitch using #371 gold wire.

© Thistle Threads/Carol-Anne Conway

The fifth leaf is worked in exactly the same way as the third using a different shade of Soie Perlee.

© Thistle Threads/Carol-Anne Conway

I really enjoyed making these composite stitches and like the effect of the silk and metallic combinations. Silk and metallic individually are my favourite threads and I think they are even lovelier when combined – each complimenting and enhancing the other. Two of the stitch combinations were used twice on each bunch (four times in all). I would have preferred to used two different stitch combinations rather than repeating some of the stitches but I think the bunch of leaves looks very attractive.

Happy Stitching