Twisted Threads Removed

I was not completely satisfied with this wing. When I stitched the foundation, I worked hard to keep the stitches parallel and a neat edge and I was pleased with my work, but when I started to add the diagonal holding, some of the stitches did not lay nicely. I am not sure why this happened; I think that my foundation stitches may have been too close together so when the holding stitches press them to the background fabric they cannot all fit in.

I've said before how reluctant I am to remove work, especially if I am not certain that I will do things any better the second time, but the more I looked, the more I disliked it. I feel I have to at least try to improve on this. Before I can change my mind I have taken steps that leave me no choice.

Diagonal Holding

For the diagonal holding, I made a 1-2 twist of the yellow silk. One strand of silk is divided into four; two of the quarters are under-twisted separately before being over-twisted together. This makes a very fine, strong thread which is laid across the foundation. If the laid stitches are at the wrong angle, the thread is clearly visible.


The trick is to angle the holding thread across the foundation in such a way that it merges with the twist in the foundation threads.


Finally, the laid stitches are couched with the same thread.


Happy Stitching

Nice Matters Blog Award

I have been awarded the Nice Matters Blog Award by Hideko. Thank you so much, Hideko.

Bella Enchanted, who started the award says, "This award will be awarded to those that are just nice people, good blog friends and those that inspire good feelings and inspiration! Those that care about others that are there to lend support or those that are just a positive influence in our blogging world!"

Now I am supposed to nominate seven bloggers to receive the award. I am going to pick seven ladies from the Hand Embroidery Group. The group is full of the friendliest, most supportive ladies, who all qualify for the award, so it is hard to chose only seven. I have not renominated two because I know Hideko included in her list.

AnnetteB, Candi, Lill, Lori, LouAnne, Norma and Vivian.

Thank you ladies, and everyone in the group for you friendship.

Yellow Twist with Blue Specks

For the main area of the fore wings, I made a 3-1 twist from the yellow silk with half a strand of yellow replaced by half a strand of deep blue for one of the under-twist threads. This gives me random specks of blue in the yellow foundation.

© Jennifer Ashley Taylor/Carol-Anne Conway

The foundation will be held with diagonal holding for which I will make a 1-2 twist in yellow silk.

Happy Stitching

Sketches for Second Butterfly

The next butterfly that I will stitch represents my eldest brother. His, and the butterfly that represents my youngest brother were the two that I had the fewest ideas for. I could not think of a colour, or design element that I associate with either of them that I could translate into a butterfly.

A few months ago I visited my older brother and noticed that he had a new print hanging beside his desk. Listening to him talk about the painting, and the very moving story of how he came by it, I knew that this would be the inspiration for the design of his butterfly.

Here are my rough sketches for The Optimists Suit.

The Blue Eyed Boy is Done

The katayori that I intended to outline the hind wings with was too thick (again) so I decided to outline them with a line of staggered diagonal stitch in a single strand of #1 silver. I then couched the black and silver katayori with a single strand of #1 silver for the antennae. I like how how the antennae look. J says that this thread is also too thick. He is usually right about these things, but for now I am going to leave it in until the neighbouring butterflies are completed and I can see how things balance. I won't sink any of the ends until all the stitching is complete so he for now this butterfly is finished.

© Jennifer Ashley Taylor/Carol-Anne Conway

I am really pleased with my Blue Eyed Boy. For me long and short stitch is the most difficult technique I know, so I feel this is an acheivement.

One down, five to go and it is already August.

Happy Stitching

Playing Safe

I decided to use a holding stitch that I have done a couple of times before, that I know I can do, and like how it looks. Lattice holding is relatively simple but I like the quilted appearance it gives.

I used a 2-1 twist of the same colour silk as the foundation whenever I did this before, this time I used a single strand of #1 silver. The metallic thread sits on top of the silk more than the fine twist, which may also be because I stitched the foundation with a single strand of silk instead of two. That was because when I tried it with two strands, it looked heavier than the fore wings.

© Jennifer Ashley Taylor/Carol-Anne Conway

I am pleased with this; it looks delicate and does not dominate the fore wings. I have twisted a 6-1 pale blue and silver katayori to outline the hind wings, I think this will give a softer edge to the wing. I have also twisted a 6-1 black and silver katayori for the antennae. After twisting, these threads are wound around a glass, dampened, and left to dry naturally before it can be used.

Happy Stitching