Forget-me-not

My local branch of the Embroiderer’s Guild always has a social evening for the July meeting. Sometimes we have a small competition. This year we were invited to make Magic Wallets for the competition.

Although I had plenty of notice, I ended up making mine at the last minute.

And instead of keeping it nice and simple, I decided to make my own silk paper and speckle it with gold leaf!

The metal thread that I used in the sewing machine kept jamming and breaking so it all ended up being a bit rushed and stressful. Give me hand stitching anyday!

Happy Stitching

Do You Twizzle?

The silk motifs on the Gold Work Sampler are stitched with a single strand of Soie de Paris – a 'Z' twisted thread.

I noticed that as I stitched I was adding over-twist to the thread especially as the thread got shorter. This causes the thread to twist around itself and even to twist itself into knots.

To correct this, I like to twizzle. I am right handed and stitch with my right hand on top of the frame and my left hand below. When I take the needle with my right hand and begin to pull it through the fabric I slide my thumb towards the tip of my index finger just a tiny amount rolling the needle between them. It is not necessary to do this every stitch but is necessary more often with a shorter thread. I watch the thread and try always to maintain the original amount of over-twist.

Do you twizzle?

Happy Stitching

Gold Work Sampler, motifs finished

If it had not been for the gold work I would never have begun this spot sampler. It is many years since I have done a large counted technique piece and frankly it does not appeal to me now. I expected to find it boring and wondered if one of the other projects currently in progress would lure me away. Surprisingly, I did not tire of it except briefly while doing the large rose and by that time I was so close to finishing that the thought of the gold work kept me going.

© Thistle Threads/Carol-Anne Conway

I have grown quite fond of Queen stitch and found it to be another of those techniques that I find relaxing, despite the counting. I found myself counting all of the time: counting stitches on the chart, counting the four stitches that make up each Queen stitch, counting threads. The constant counting became rather meditative and rhythmic. Even so, I am pleased to have finished the motifs and am really excited to move onto the gold work.

© Thistle Threads/Carol-Anne Conway

As usual, it has taken me far longer than I anticipated. I have been having a problem with my right shoulder. While using the computer or stitching I was getting a burning sensation in the shoulder muscle. I have to use the computer for work so I have been limited the amount of time I use the computer at home and strictly limiting my stitching time to 30 minutes a day or stopping sooner at the first hint of pain. While frustrating, this has paid off and my shoulder is now much better although I still get some pain occasionally. Over the past few weeks I have gradually allowed myself a little more stitching time but I take frequent breaks and still stop if my shoulder starts to complain.

Happy Stitching

Gold Work Sampler - Motif #11

I saved this pretty little motif for last expecting it to work up quite quickly and it did. I’m not certain what this flower is, a carnation perhaps!

© Thistle Threads/Carol-Anne Conway

Happy Stitching

Gold Work Sampler - Motif #10

This is the largest motif on the sampler but I stitched it in less time than it took me to do the large rose. It is one of the more complicated shapes but I didn’t make any counting errors – perhaps because it was so intricate I took more time to check and recheck before stitching.

© Thistle Threads/Carol-Anne Conway

Happy Stitching

Gold Work Sampler - Motif #9

Another break from Queen Stitch. This motif is worked in two stitches that I have never done before but I found both of them easy to learn and quick to execute.

First the four squares are outlined with Romaine stitch.

© Thistle Threads/Carol-Anne Conway

I worked the stitch in one direction on the top left and bottom right squares and the opposite direction on the remaining two squares. The instructions did not call for this but it pleases me to have adjacent stitches pointing in the same direction.

© Thistle Threads/Carol-Anne Conway

Five rice stitches are then worked into each square.

© Thistle Threads/Carol-Anne Conway

© Thistle Threads/Carol-Anne Conway

© Thistle Threads/Carol-Anne Conway

Happy Stitching

Gold Work Sampler - Motif #8

The large rose motif took me longer to stitch than any other motif and I made a few mistakes with the counting so had to remove some stitches and rework them. Queen stitch is even more fiddly to remove than it is to stitch and I found it virtually impossible to do without damaging the thread.

© Thistle Threads/Carol-Anne Conway

Happy Stitching