It's dry

Here's a close up of the really big flower which I had not shown before on its own.  I really need to make it up into something now and it looks like the cushion idea won.  I have some braid in a lovely pale sage green which I think will be perfect.  I do need to go and find something lovely for the backing though and of course a cushion inside too. Until then, I will leave it blocked out on the board with just a few pins to keep it still, it's the best place for it as I am teaching machine embroidery on Thursday at Keswick EG and I know I will make a hell of a mess tomorrow! I hope to have something to show you for it though as I am doing 'backgrounds' so need to make a few. I usually try and clear my mind and then 'go with the flo' so I surprise myself sometimes.

Blocked out



I have thoroughly wet the woollen embroidery threads and backing linen

This is it folks.  I have to wait about three days now for it to dry out and it must be kept flat like this.  It looks good at the moment but it was a bit scary at times when I removed it from the frame because some of the flowers were so heavily stitched that the linen puckered up around them, but it seems to have flattened out perfectly, phew! I am glad I am not making a full set of 17th century bed hangings though; imagine trying to block them out.......

Close detail of crewel flower

This is where I am tonight. I had hoped to finish this flower but tomorrow is another day and I only can work for so long in artificial light. It's photographed a little bit more orange than it is but I can't fiddle now and its getting late.  Anyhow, you can see how the soft shading is done, a double thread light pink on the outside with the needle going over the blue line and then the darker shade single thread is opposite, i.e. you push the needle through the stitches about half way down and then go down the flower with the thread.  But most of you probably know that better than I do! I might post tomorrow but I am not sure if I will finish it.

Creeping towards a finish

Yesterdays progress, today I have been working on a very large design, so it will probably be a couple of days in the sewing, then only one more intricate large flower.  Its looking good.

Crewel progress

Autumn Glory

Well I have been busy of late and no sewing has been done apart from the Crewel work and this is the latest flower to be finished.  I have most of it done in the right hand corner too so mainly 3 very large flowers to work on and then finito.....

I seem to have done nothing but attend meetings towards the end of last week which left me feeling a bit flat.  But the cold spell gave me the chance to get out on the hills this weekend and take my ice axe for a hike (once a year) and so that was good for me. We had very good conditions on the top with fresh snow so the axe was not needed. I did get my crampons out though and they are wonderful on crisp snow which was what we found on the windward side of the hill.

Well I must dash, I have a fair bit to do.

Making steady progress

Long and Short stitch on the leaves and Stem stitch on the ahem ..  stems

I have been concentrating on this crewel work kit and I think its coming along ok, so too is my sore back.  I am happy with the progress of both at the moment.

So until I have more to show you I will keep this posting short and sweet.

Progress

Autumn Glory kit by The Crewel Work Company

I am going to have a go at another crewel project, not sure if it will turn out quite like this photo of it because I only bought the linen marked out ready (not the full kit) as Phillipa Turnbull was selling off some redundant stock a couple of years ago.  I have had this waiting since then, yikes, how time flies. So this is the project, to see if I can make this huge cushion anything like it should be. I am not even sure what some of the stitches are because I don't have the instructions either, so I shall ask one of our EG ladies who is an expert and does a lot of sewing in crewel as she makes up stuff for Phillipa sometimes. If you want to make a similar cushion here's the site. They are very good kits by the way and I have now made up 3 which all look very professional.

Next bit of good news is that I asked DH if he would modify my number 9 foot for my Bernina and take out the front so I can see the needle when I am free motion sewing or quilting and he did it this morning and its great, no rough edges or anything, but then he is a master craftsman with metal. His latest project is coming on very well indeed and I love what he does its so beautiful and it works too.
And lastly, I am about to sew a thing called a 'mug rug' which is all about making a mini quilt or something like it with dimensions of 6" x 9" and then you put your mug of tea or coffee on it and there is also room for a biscuit.  We are all making one for Christmas in our little Cumbria Patchworkers group and then going to exchange them.  I will post a photo if it turns out ok.

Neglecting this blog

Today's mayhem

Well yes, I have been busy on my other blog and rather 'blogged' down with doing my C2C posting, but I finished it a few days ago now and still did not have anything new to show on this blog.  But hey I went to Wasdale over the mountain passes last weekend carrying all my gear in a rucksack and back the next day, so I have been busy. Trouble brewed with my back though as it had been a bit tetchy the couple of days before we left and by the time we came back on Sunday it was telling me it was not happy. Result, see that hot water bottle and the messed up sofa, that's where yours truly has been hanging out since Monday, apart from when I crept up to bed and gingerly slid in. However, the stiff back is better tonight and maybe tomorrow I will be able to help out with a few chores around here as DH has been a brick as usual. The good news is that having immobilised myself I did not know what to do and no current novel was lined up either, blast I thought, then I remembered my crewelwork....Yes its been a while in this frame, if I want to find out I only need to check back in this blog, but I don't think I'll bother.  I also intend to finish it this time round and not leave it again, so wish me luck. Oh well back to the hot water bottle treatment.