Cushion Cover Embroidery Part 2 : Snowman

It took me very long to finish this second square. The result is quite satisfying though.

There are quite a few stitches that make up this little snowman.

1. Split Stitch
2. French knots
3. Granitos
4. Satin Stitch
5. Back Stitch

I have started working on the next square and what is getting brewed in it is a suspense. Any guesses?

Cushion Cover Embroidery Part 1 : Candle and Holly

A project that was supposed to be completed by Christmas is just beginning. Better late than never.
So, here's the first design done all in chain Stitch.

I just outlined the candle and Holly leaves instead of filling it, as I felt filling those would make the design look too bulky, and also, the highlights of cherries and the flame would be lost.
What do you say?

Cross Stitch Sampler

My daughter is stitching this sampler for her school exhibition.

This is a stitch as you go sampler and doesn't follow any pattern.

Curiously waiting to see how this turns out to be.

I am loving the rainbow tulips.

Happy and colorful stitching!!

Updates on this project can be found in the following links:

1. Bunny finished

2. Wreath 

Schwalm Whitework Sampler So Far...

The December' 2014 Challenge is over, BUT the Work continues............

Initially, I just made the circle motif to learn the Schwalm Whitework. Later I added the tulip motifs to learn the other stitches. Now I have to add more elements and motifs to this sampler. Lets see what comes up next.

Schwalm White Work Embroidery : December 2014 Challenge

White work has been such a divine form of embroidery due to its beauty and mesmerizing effect.Originally worked on white linen with white thread, this form of embroidery has broadened its possibilities.

For me it is definitely a challenge to do a white work embroidery.

Traditional design elements are based on the 'tree of life'. These include hearts, tulips, the sun, pine cones, flowers, fruit, leaves, tendrils, and the pigeon dove.

White work in itself is a wide form of embroidery involving many types of work. 

The different forms of works involved in White work embroidery are:

• Schwalm White work
• Drawn thread work
• Pulled Work
• Hardanger
• Needlelace
• Cut work embroidery
• Richelieu
• Reticella
• Hollie Point

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 Index

• Embroidery Stitches used in Schwalm White Work

• Introduction / Materials / First Stitches

• Drawn Thread Work

• Basic Marburg Filling Stitch on circle motif

• Tulip Motif and the Basic Filling Stitch 

• Four Sided Filling Stitch 

• Waffle Stitch 

• Joining Two Fabric Pieces 

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Schwalm White Work Embroidery

Schwalm White work embroidery includes  one or more of the following stitches or works:

• The reinforcement stitches
• Outline stitches
• Decorative Stitches
• Drawn Thread work and Filling Stitches
• Needle weaving
• Needle lace 

 

Materials Used 

• Even weave fabric / linen

• Thread  - Coton a broder is the ideal thread (like the divisible embroidery flossb but is non divisible). 

• Needles - Chenille or tapestry needles depending on the work.
• Embroidery hoop
• Magnifying system esp for fine linens 
• a seam ripper for drawn thread work ( I use a needle to pick thread and sharp blade to cut)

Design

 

The First Stitches / Reinforcement Stitches

Coral Stitch and Chain Stitch

Stitch for outlining

Buttonhole Stitch / scallop  ( not the actual buttonhole stitch  but the blanket stitch)

Not very symmetrical though ( asymmetry accentuated due to the angulation too),
I am more excited to start the Drawn thread work.

To be continued.........
 

The Chicken Scratch Embroidery Sampler

The chicken scratch embroidery sampler is getting ready.
Will be back with more details and the stitches used.
You can find the Stitches used in Chicken Scratch/ Gingham Embroidery here

Cutwork Embroidery Project Completed

Find all the posts related to Cutwork Embroidery andthe Tutorial  here
OR
Follow the links below 

1. Stitching the buttonhole bar
2. Stitching the cut edges
3. Completed Cutwork

Here is the  finished Cutwork Embroidery Project .

The stems have been worked with stem stitch and the leaves with satin stitch .

Shadow Work : The Bunny Project

I have started a new Shadow embroidery project. I wish to share with you all my work progress .

You are welcome to join me if you want to stitch along .

Index

Shadow Work : The Bunny Project

Granito Stitch for the Eye

The Bunny Project : Stitching The Tail

The Bunny Project: Ears and Face

The Bunny Project: Body 

The Bunny Project : Feet 
Bunny Project : Completed

 

I am going to post a step by step pictorial presentation of a Shadow work project on this blog for few days / weeks ( as and when I finish the work) from now.

It will be a very good tutorial to understand in detail about shadow embroidery, how to modify it in various areas of design and how to work the overlapping designs in shadow embroidery

This particular design will use two types of shadow embroidery :   Reverse Herring bone and  Darning on reverse side.

Here is the design that I am going to work on .

Materials required and the Basics of Shadow embroidery have been already discussed here 

Thread : 
you can use single strand of the 6- strand DMC thread. I have used 2 strands as the original bunny project is being stitched on a very loosely woven fabric.

Dimensions of the design :

 
I am using the above mentioned dimensions for this project and I found it difficult to work on a larger bunny may be because the stitches would not remain as tight as I need them to be.


Tips: 
The fabric should be drum-tight on the hoop for a good finish.

Stay tuned for upcoming posts for interesting details of this project.